The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-26
MILLIONAIRE IN PRISON.
Slayer of His SOn-in-Law Plans for
His Daughters Future.
From the Chicago Tribune.

Slayer OF His SOn-tn-Law Plans for
His Daughters Future.
From the Chicago Tribune.
With a million dollars in property,
stocks and bonds, one of Indiana s
richest residents can purchase any
thing in the world that his heart may
desire save that which he longs for
above all else-his liberty. Charged
with murder. to which he has already
ident of Bluffton, is the occupant of
a cell in the Button Jail, and neither
his holdings of stocks or of bonds,
his property or his cash serve him in
the least in the fight that he must
make to save his neck from the gall
lows.
But. unlike others who in similar
unfortunate situations abandon all
hope, Terrell is far from respondent.
To this fact, as we'll as to the wealth
he possesses, is due the reputation
that he has gained as Indianas most
unique prisoner.
John Terrell divides his time by a
schedule that he never varies one
weeks end to another. Tomorrow
will be the same to Terrell as to-day;
to-day is the same as yesterday, and
the only change that will come to his
daily programme will come with the
verdict of the jury that will soon hear
the evidence in his case and decide
Terrell's fate. From his cell in the
Bluffton prison Terrell manages his
vast estate and the many interests in
which his fortune is invested. The
fact that strong steel bars separate
him from the outside world does not
weigh one iota in the balance with
Millionaire Terrell. He has made
himself as comfortable in his cell as
the circumstances permit, and from
the gloomy room he directs his bust
ness as capably as though he sat in
the midst of the comforts of his own
luxurious business office.
This is the way Terrell divides his
day:
Morning
a. m.-Breakfast.
$50 a. m.-EXercise-a walk through
the corridors of the Jail.
a. m.-Receiving and opening morn
ing's mail.
a. m.-Arrival of stenogra pher for
days dictation.
a. m.-Arrival of business callers
oil men, bankers, real estate dealers,
promoters, contractors and others.
IL a. m.--Busness callers dismissed
to permit visits from members of his
family and friends.
IL m.-Dinner.
Afternoon
p. m.-Conference with architect
and contractor engaged in the con-
struction of a new opera house.
p. m.-Appears at his cell window
to survey the progress made on the
perintend some of the details of the
work of construction.
p. m.-Interview and conference
with attorneys.
4:30 D. m.-Diversion and exercise.
p. m.-Supper.
8 p. m.-Bed.
"a time for everything, and every
thing in its time" is John Terrell's
motto But it is significant Of the
character of this millionaire that, in
his working day of twelve hours, he
gives only one brief half hour to the
consideration of his own desperate
case.
Contrary to all precedent the Bluff
ton jailer has permitted Terrell to con-
vert his cell into an Office room. Here,
surrounded by his papers, his certifi-
ers, his account books. his journals and
his day books. Terrell labors unceas-
ingly. He must labor, for he has a
fortune of s1,OO0.000 to care fora task
that is not easy for a man who enjoys
his liberty.
In Terrelrs employ is an army of
clerks and workmen, and every one of
them walking the streets of Bluffton
is happier than this imprisoned mil
dependent for a livelihood.
Probably the strangest fact in con-
nection with TerrelPs Imprisonment is
his personal supervision of the con-
struction of the new opera house he is
building for Button. The structure
is going up on ground that is opposite
his cell window Every afternoon at 2
O'Clock, as his schedule shows, Terrell
drags a heavy stool to his window, and,
mounting the chair. looks out through
the bars, directing the foreman who
comes to the jail yard to receive his
employers orders. Terrell. instead of
depending entirely on his architect, de-
termined to direct many of the finish
ing touches himself, ordering them as
the structure advanced. Therefore,
when he became prisoner in the
Bluffton county Jail his workmen fear
ed that the labor would cease.
But that was not Millionaire John
Terrells idea. He made the best of
circumstances, arranged his plans, and,
in keeping with his determination. set
aside a certain hour every day for the
personal direction of the work of con-
structing the opera house. He could
not visit the building. he could not di-
rect his men on the scene itself. But,
next best thing, he could view the pile
from his cell window and order his
foreman to be within speaking dis
lance each afternoon.
The best that Terrell can hope for
from the hands of the jury that viii
try him is imprisonment. But Terrell
does not care. Dearer to his heart
than his long-cherished plans, dearer