Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1902-09-17

tnan the privileges OIL CnCSe TWO Hlen
and what Williams said to me- He has
never given me or anyone in my hear
ing a civil word or look since
Thirty-nine had to wait until the
next visit from the justices for his an
swer from the home Office, and in the
meantime he had discovered little that
supported his suspicious. But the let
ter the justice brought him gave him
the utmost satisfaction.
1t gave a list of convictions against
the two prisoners whom Thirty-nine
had inquired about. Starting as boy,
with petty larceny, Seventy-eight had
turned to burglary, purse snatchins,
long-firm frauds and coming.
Twenty-four, a younger many the
son Of the notorious Jim Crow" His
first conviction was for stealing lead
piping from an empty house. He was
known to have assisted his father in
extensive counterfeit-coinings schemes
and, upon the death of Jim Crow" in
herited $4,000 or $4,000, with which
he started himself as a bookmaker
He lost his money, and was mobbed for
"welshing" at the Liverpol meeting in
18-. Next he was arrested for at
tempting to pass bad money in Not
tingham, where large quantity OF
base coin had been circulating for a
period which corresponded with the
length of time he had been in the town.
Later he was sentenced TO four years
for passing base coins.
ANY message to take back? You
had better not keep this paper" said
the justice.
mo. Will you return it to the Of
fee? l will write message back"
He took a pencil from his visitor, and
wrote:
"Endeavor to trace movements Of
every coiner who has passed through
here-moVements since they left. Want
TnfeT days later a warden entered
the cell of Thirty-nine and threw
down upon the pallet bundle of
clothes. They were Chose in which
Thirty-nine had entered the prison.
You've got to change an come to
the governors" he said.
Thirty-nine changed and followed
the warden down the corridor, across
the central hall, into the governors
Office
The governor sat at his table, and
two men in ordinary clothes stood by.
You're transferred to Portland,
Thirty-nine, under an order from the
home Office" said the governor. These
officers are here to fetch you. If you
give me your word not to molest them
or attempt TO escape you shall not be
handcuffed.'
81 won't get up to no game, sir, and
thank you," Thirty nine replied.
He was struck by the fact that his
escort were in plain clothes. But it
occurred to him that prisoners were not
then conveyed from prison to prison
in their convict dress, as had been the
rule, and it was therefore only consist
ent that wardens should not be Ill their
uniform, or the spirit of the reform
would be lost.
His custodian ushercd him into a fly
that was waiting in the prison yard,
and as they took their seats facing
him, the elder man smiled, and said
quietly:
81 expect you can see through
this, sir?"
81 think so," Thirty-nine replied.
"We shall take you to the station, if
you've no objection, or the the driver
may smell rat There is first-class
to London, and two sovereigns was
instructed to hand you for your re-
turn expenses"
They alighted at the station and
passed through the booking lobby.
"That is your train waiting, sir"
said the second officer, so We'll wish
you respectful good morning. We're
not returning till later train.'
Good morning." replied Captain
Richmond, as the train moved out Of
the station.
Arrived at the metropolitan termi-
nus, ex-Thirty-nine got into hanson
and drove away to his chambers. An
hour later, attired in smart morning
suit, he was shaking hands with the
home secretary.
"You were il Y to get out" the
secretary said, with deprecating
smile. I'm afraid you cannot have
discovered much in the time"
81 don't think l could have learnt
more had l remained" Richmond re-
spoDded 81 have drawn some surpris-
ing conclusions, and the test must be
put from outside. have only to wait
now for the reports concerning the
movements of coiners who have passed
through Shasnal."
Here are the records of three cases.
l can get others for you, if necessary.
Why you pick upon coiners l don't
understand
"On the other hand, these records" !"
Richmond returned, slight color
mounting to his face, appear to con-
firm my suspicious. Does it not strike
you as being strange, sir, that each of
these men left the country almost i'm
mediately upon being released from
Shasnal? l note one went to Australia,
where he bought a small farm, which
he has since successfully cultivated;
another went to America, where he
quickly ran through a sum of money
which was considerable for man Of
his position, and then turned his atten-
tion to forgery; the last went out to
Durhan bought the good will of a