Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1902-07-24
WHERE HOPE DIES.
The Emotions Of q Prisoner on
Entering the State Prison.
Pathetic Scenes in Which Merry Grim.
mails Break Down.

inst Few hours ago L was
standing in the warden's Office
Of the Eddyville state prison,
when a stout, clean shaven, bright
faced young man with shackled
feet and manacled hands came in
the custody of the law officers. His
appearance was far from that of a
murderer Scarcely line of his
countenance was coarse, while his
EXPRESSION was open and pleasing.
Taken altogether he was a boy,
Just passed his majority, of far
above average attractiveness and
mentality. AS the heavy iron gate
rang a farewell to the outer world,
closing behind him, a convulsive
culver swept over his face, but the
steady blaze Of his eye and the de
termined set of his square cut jaw
never faltered. Not even when a
bevy of curious girl visitors gazed
at him with awe struck faces did
his superb nerve forsake him. A
lew moments more and he was
only No. 567 among tue convicts,
and he was within the prison yard
for the rest of his natural life
practically dead to the outside
world. In all human probability,
when he next passes through the
penitentiary doors he will be
brought feet foremost, or emerge
a. old. decrepid man into a world
so long forgotten that il will be as
new to him as 10 child just ava
kening into the joys of life. The
infinite pity of it, / believe God
created the young fellow for some
good purpose-don't you? But
the devil got in his work and he is
doomed TO future worse than
hell itself-for his conscience he
could not leave behind him. This
was grandson of Nose
Akin, one of the most famous
free lanes preachers that ever stir
red up Kentucky sinners. In his
day Nose was a holy terror and
his nights were cut along the same
pattern. He was an Intellectual
prodigy, a rough diamond III elo-
luence, and possessed of the pas.
sions of half dozen brutes. A
stranger compound never lived
han Nose Aiken, and if the laws
Of heridity count for aught, the
crimes of the poor fellow who en-
.ered upon lifetime punishment
.oday are not all his own choosing.
| am toid that William Akin, the
prisoner, murdered his aunt and a
little boy for the supposed purpose
If robbery; that his short career
las been violent one. He came
rom Hart, and the case recently
Iffrmed by the court of appeals
s one of the most grewsome and
bloody in the history of the coun-
ry. Aiken protests his innocence
nd claims that he is the victim of
ircumstantial evidence, but those
rho heard the case tell me that
he proof was quite clean and con
incing beyond doubt. At any
ate his fate is tragedy not with.
ut its pathos of youth, good looks
nd brains, and should be a dread
ii warning as to the certainty of
le wages of sin and viciousness.
'ut will itp Not much. We are
Il sinners-more or less.
When prisoner is turned over
} the .penitentiary authorities he
scomes a penitentiary convict.
here is a subtle but wide distinc-
on between a prisoner and a con I
ct-a distinction that lasts thro- {
yh life. The moment a prisoner G
brought inside the door of the {
ate prison it is Immediately clos. i
and locked behind him, so that '
his last dispairing glimpse of I
eedom no desperate dash for lib, i
'ty can avail him. His commit It