Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-17
LEAVE FOR TRENTON
FIFTEEN PRISONERS ON THEIR
WAY TO PENITENTIARY.
First Commitments to the Prison Since
Contract With West Virginia in
stitution Was Annu1led.

Fifteen prisoners left here this morning
on the 1850 train on the Pennsylvania rail-
road for Trenton, N. j., where they will
serve time in the penitentiary for offenses
committed in this city. 1t has been several
years since District prisoners have been
sent to Trenton, and those who went there
today are the first prisoners sent away since
the authorities decided not to send any
more convicts to Moundsville. Most of
those in the party today expressed them
selves as being sorry that they had not
been sentenced to the West Virginia prison.
At the latter the superintendent has done
away with everything within reason that
will remind the convicts of prison life.
There the lockstep. which prisoners always
regarded as Objectionable, is a thing of the
past, and prisoners are permitted to con-
verse more than they are at most prisons.
In the workshops the men are treated with
consideration, and while on their way
to meals they are permitted to engage in
conversation. Then, too, they are permitted
to visit the library and have reading ma
terial in their rooms. 1t Is said they are
permitted more freedom in Moundsville
than is permitted in any other institution
of its kind In the United States.
The Prisoners and Their Crimes.
Warden Harris arranged yesterday for
the transportation of the prisoners from the
Jail to the train, but by some oversight the
van was late In reaching the prison and
the trip came near having to be postponed.
1t was just about train time when the
fifteen prisoners chained together reached
the station. Leading the party were
Charles Thorn and Robert E. Fennel two
Of the five white prisoners who composed
the party. The former will serve twelve
years for the killing Of his wife, while the
latter will gain his freedom after he has
served a sentence of six years for false
pretenses. Alexander Macgill and James
Reilly, who will spend three years at Tren-
ton for dishonesty, came next E. A. Lei
field who robbed Schmedtie Brothers jew
elTy store, where he was employed brought
up the rear of the white contingent. His
walking companion was a colored prisoner.
Leifield will spend thirty months in the
prison.
The colored prisoners who composed the
party, and the offenses of which they were
convicted, were: Daniel Johnson, assault
with dangerous weapon, two years; James
Quarles, assault with dangerous weapon,
three years; Isaac Laws, rape, twenty
years; George Grimes, housebreaking one
and one-half years; George Corson assault
to kill, eight years; William Ferguson, lar
ceny from United States, one year and one
day; George NJ. Collins, rape, twenty years;
Charles johnson, robbery, one and one-half
years; Jesse Johnson, HOUSEKEEPING one
year and one day; Wallace Ruffon house
breaking, two years. The prisoners had
been on the train only about one minute
when the conductor called, 'All aboard"
and the train pulled out. It is probable
that the men will reach their destination
In time to go through the barber shop and
receive their assignments this afternoon.