Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1905-08-11

MFR is the more usual method, No
ma tier where the convict may turn,
he drags with him the unwelcome
burden, He even sleeps with it on q
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"
approached the bed" The head
emf of the bench is worn out with
the friction of the chain. Tire wood
had rubbed up against the iron for
Ave years. Even the wood wears
out, grumbles tho convict.
The punishment is very.cplel and
wo id be intolecable if the convicts
did not ease their burdens now and
then. Ii is impossible to chain tho
COZ Yicts so fast as to absolutely pre-
vert their freeing themselves. With
the help of their mates sometimes
thef 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
the nselves of their incubus. -.
4 II around us we see angry faces.
THY peer hopelessly into the future.
Tht glances are cold, hard, somber
anu bitter. >.
A. nong the chained convicts many
are captured fugitives, relapsed muir
derurs, and many still waiting to- be
SEN enced.
Why were you convicted?" Sus-
pee ed of murder And your "Sus,
pec@ed of theft" "And your" "sus-
pec!ed Of murder" Nothing but
"suapects!" "And you?" KILLED two
meA." The reply came frank, sharp
and firm. -.
The Female Prison.
TIE prison for women is very small.
1t Consists of one ward which holds
ten persons. The women convicts of
Sahhalin are punished for their crimes
in q special manner They are given
|
mates" Only those are in prison
whose cases have not been finally
passed upon. Two women arise as we
ent4r. One is an old Tcherkessian
from the hills of Caucasus, who does
not speak word of Russian. The
oth.r is young woman. She was
ban!shed for life because she had
induced her godfather to kill her hus
band.
'"Nhy?"
Il was married to him against my
will. and | loved my godfather.
: thought they would send us away
together. But they sent him to one
!, place and me. to another"
In Sakhalin she committed crime
rare in the annals of the island. She
had defended her life mate with a
gun. He got himself into a fight
with the settlers. Nine men sur
rot nded him, and were beating him
She rushed to her hut, grabbed g
rite, and shot into the group.
lOu liiuSI nave lCdl ucu W lUNt
yUIr life mate?"
"Of course; would | have fought
= for him? | might have been killed
I. He's a good fellow; hoped | coult
! live with him to the end, and now
there's 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 ONT
Of the distant settlements. Womel
in SakhaEn are not punished"
Perhaps some people may conside
this impun'ty But what greater pen
atty could there be for woman VIII,
loved well enough to risk her life
and who was sentenced now to b
given away" to another man?
What a dI eadful custom, reminding
one of bygoi ages! In the days O
serfdom it was customary to Civ
people away" toying with their lif
and happiness Of all the prisons i
Rykoffsk this little prison impresse
rAe most sadl.'.
The Executioners.
Halo, baiy!" Halo, uncle!
Don't you call me nucle baby, for
am your godfEher, or really you
life mates godfather" merrily e,
claims Tolstyca, the old executions
Of Sakhalin.
"And how dn you come to be hi
godfather" | ask.
''Ha, ha, Your honor, knoute
him"
Have you knouted many pc,
ple?" Tolstycll smiles. We'll, jus
as many as you see hereabouts, you
honor" Tolstych is about 60 year
old. He does not look a day owe
40. He is a good-looking man, wit
fine mustache and carefully shave
chin. He is wealthy, according
Sakhalin ideas, and is somewhat
dude. Tolstych wears a coat, tc
boots, and even leather cap, whic
is the acme Of Sakhalin fashions. +
always jokes and is full of fun. 'Wf
were you banished?" Because of Il
old woman!" He had killed his wi
nc with Ratchet. why did you do it
VI L.