Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1905-08-04

AT one time the barrows were weld.
ed to the handouts, but now the for
mer is the more usual method. No
matter where the convict may turn,
he drags with him the unwelcome
burden. He even sleeps with it on a
bench made specially for the purpose.
How long is he condemned to be
chained to the barrow" asked.
For two years; and the convict be-
fore him had slept in this bed for three
years"
l approached the bed" The head
end of the bench is worn out with
the friction of the chain. The wood
had rubbed up against the iron for
five years. "Even the wood wears
out" grumbles the convict.
The punishment is very cruel, and
would be intolerable if the convicts
did not ease their burdens now and
then. 1t is impossible to chain the
convicts so fast as to absolutely pre-
vent their freeing themselves. With
the help of their mates sometimes
they grease the chains with soap and
take off their burden at night under
incredible agonies. But still for few
hours each month they manage to rid
themselves Of their incubus. -.
All around us we see angry faces.
They peer hopelessly into the future.
The glances are cold, hard, somber
and bitter. -.
Among the chained convicts many
are captured fugitives, relapsed muir
derers, and many still waiting to be
sentenced.
why were you convicted?" Sus-
pected of murder" And you?" "Suz-
pected of theft" And you?" "Sus-
pected of murder" Nothing but
"suspects!" And you?" "Killed two
men," The reply came frank, sharp
| and firm. -.
The Female Prison.
The prison for women is very small
1t consists of one ward which holds
ten persons. The women co2victs OF
Sakhalin are punished for their crimes
in a special manner. They are given
away to settlers as so-called "life
mates" Only those are in prison
whose cases have not been finally
passed upon. Two women arise as we
enter. Cne is an old Tcherkessiar
from the hills of Caucasus, who does
not speak a word of Russian. The
other is young woman. She was
banished for life because she haG
induced her godfather to kill her hus
band.
'Why?"
81 was married to him against my
will, and 1 loved my godfather.
thought they would send us ava!
together. But they sent him to one
place and me to another"
In Sallhalin she committed crime
rare in the annals of the island. She
had defended her life mate with {
gun. He got himself into a fgh
with the settlers. Nine men sur
rounded him, and were beating him
She rushed to her hut, grabbed ;
rifle, and shot into the group.
You must have learned to low
your life mate?"
"Of course; would have tough
for him? 1 might have been killed
He's a good fellow; l hoped l coult
live with him to the end, and nov
there's a fine mess to be in
She dries her tears and sobs 81
lently.
Nothing will happen to her." say
the inspector. She will be convict
ed and given to some settler in on
of the distant settlements. Wome
in Sakhalin are not punished"
Perhaps some people may conside
this impunity. But what greater per
atty could there be for woman VIII
loved well enough to risk her lift
and who was sentenced now to b
'given away" to another man?
What dreadful custom, remindin
one of bygone ages In the days {
serfdom it was customary to Civ
people away" toying with their lii
and happiness. OF all the prisons
Rykoffsl this little prison impresse
me most sadly.
The Execlltioners.
Halo, baby!" "Hallo, uncle!
Don't you call me nucle, baby, for
am your godfEher, or really yor
life mates godfather" merrily e,
claims Tolstych, the old executions
of Sakhalin.
And how do you come to be h
godfather" l ask.
'Ha, ha, your honor, knoute
him"
Have you knouted many pc
ple?" Tolstych smiles. well, ju
as many as you see hereabouts, yol
honor" Tolstych is about 60 yea
old. He does not look a day ov,
40. He is a good-loolsing man, wit
fine mustache and carefully shave
chin. He is wealthy, according
Sakhalin ideas, and is somewhat
dude. Tolstych wears a coat, tt
boots, and even a leather cap, viii,
is the acme of Sakhalin fashions. +
always jokes and is full of fun "Wl
were you banished?" Because of Il
old woman!" He had killed his wi
10 with hatchet. "Why did you do it