The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-03-21
OKLAHOMA
PRISONERS
AT LANSING G
Rev. McBrian Gives Some De-
tails About Them.
TERRILL is PERSISTENT
In His Protests of His InnO-
cence TO the Warden.

Guthrie, o. T.. March 21.-Rev. ]. D.
McBrian, chaplain of the Lansing peni-
Tertiary. is visiting his son, c. A Nc
Brian, private secretary to Governor Fer
guson. Rev. McBrian is well acquainted
with the prisoners from Oklahoma and
says that they are getting along as well
as could be expected.
Ira n. TerriI. said Rev AcBran,
is carpenter in the penitentiary and
does odd jobs around the institution. lie
is a most persistent man and always in
sists that he is innocent. regardless OF
the fact that he is there for life He
wants steps taken TO secure his release
and IS constantly talking about his case.
'AIrs. Burda is the only female pris-
oner We have from Oklahoma sentenced
for life. She IS about 80 years of age and
is a seamstress. She gives mo trouble
and is one OF the best prisoners in the
penitentiary
We some times have some very. obsU-
nate cases. There We're two 3Iexicsns
sent there from Oklahoma for minor
crimes and these fellows were always
looking for trouble. They were closely
watched and outside Of some small deeds
gave no particular trouble. The majority
Of the Oklahoma convicts are in good
health and very few have died since 1
have been at Lansing.
There are some peculiar things about
the conVicts. Now. we have fifty-three
persons from Kansas sentenced TO hang.
Twenty-Five per cent Of these persons
were convicted under twenty-seven years
of age. Fifty per cent We're convicted
undr twenty-five years Of age. Early as
sociations and the rapid formation Of
character had much TO do with these
conditions,
Six per cent Of the whites sent to
Lansing are in Cor the highest crime.
Three per cent Of the negroes in the in
stitution are there for the highest crimes
on the criminal calendar.
In your estimation. what causes the
difference in per cent between white and
blaek?'
We'll. I explain it in this manner:
When a white man gets angry and goes
after his gun, he really intends to use
It. and does use it. if he has an oppor-
tunity It makes no difference, if it is
cold bloOded murder he shoots just the
same that is, if he is still as angry when
he meets his man as be was when he
got his gun. With the negro it is differ
ent. When he draws a gun on man,
nine times out of ten it is more of "A
bluff than anything else. and is intended
as such. Now, in cases of assault and
minor crimes the percent is larger among
negroes than white, and bears out the
idea that the negro VIII not hesitate long
in committing a minor crime. which a
white man would not do.
Warden Jewett recently made the
statement In chapel. that IS per cent Of
the convicts were really trying to live up
to the prison regulations. L think that
50 per cent can be called good prisoners.
The other twenty per cent, however. are
always looking for an opportunity to
make trouble and 10 these men. peni-
tentiary means nothing and when they
get out will go back TO their old haunts
and ways.
clyde Mattox IS the official photo
grapher of the penitentiary. He is mild
hammered. but Of course 7 do not trust
him. He is closely watched all Of the
time
Rev. McBian had several PICTURES Of
himself taken by Mattox. which are good
specimens OF the photographers art.