The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-15

and carriages and the street cars linen
she ran back into the prison, crying tha'
she was afraid and never wanted to go OUT
again. 1t was her first sight OF the OUTSIDE
world.
Her mother, Kate Edwards. is TO pc
hanged on Feb. 10 next. SO Ia her reputeu
father. Samuel Greason. They were CON
victed of numbering John Edwards the
woman's husband.
The woman IL white. Greason Ia colored'
Their wretched story has just one feature
TO make It different from other STORES oil
degradation and brutality
Edwards. a farm laborer and quarry
man given TO drink. suspected his wife.
He threatened her with death II the ohllu
sho was soon to bear should prove to be
colored.
For months the woman lived IN terror Oh
this threat She wrote appeals to be taken
away from her husbands wrath lheh on
tho night Of July 3. 1901, Edwards skuli
was crushed with hammer while ne lay
in drunken sleep and his body was thrown
into a cistern
The wife and Greason were arrested
A week later Alma was born IN jail. She
il rnulatto.
The woman and Greason we're found
guilty of murder in the first degree Aiter
a struggle Of four years in the courts. In
the State Legislature and in the Board OF
Pardons both are to hang next month
All these years Alma has been in prison
What kind of child should she be, with suoh
parentage and such bringing up'
The other evening some visitors were in
the iail parlor and Alma was brought in by
one of the under keepers. The child is the
pet OF the prison. She was dressed in white
nuns yelling and her skirts we're trimmed
with lace.
She was conspiouously neat and looked
for all the world like large mulatto doll
Her hair like her mothers, IS raven BLACK
and falls in straight black curls about SIX
inches long. The longest curl was fastened
with n white ribbon bow at the top OF her
head.
Her face Is large, and when she laughs
two dimples are in her cheeks Her eyes
are large. dark and lustrous. Her white
teeth stand apart. She is plump quick
active. restless and pert
The first impression OF the child is very
pleasing, but she Is ever restless never
still Her mind Ia ss active as her oody
and limbs. She ia fun of order. Not a
chair in the room is allowed TO be out OF
Mace when she is around nor bit OF paper
TO lie on the floor.
The next characteristic is her quick change
Of mood. One moment she may appear
pleased and kindly disposed. and the next
she will piayfully strike at friend with
lust shade of malice or passion and then
run away. She is given 10 this half pas
sionate tapping Of any ono she knows ana
then running away
The upper half OF her face is the exact
picture Of her reputed father. Her firm
prominent chin belongs to her mother
The other evening the death warrant was
read to Kate Edwards. The woman walied
In her agony Of despair and wept far into the
night As usual Alma was with her. The
child told her visitors how her mother had
cried.
And did you cry. too, Alma''
-Yes, | dit, she answered. for she speaks
in the broad Pennsylvania German-Ep g.
lish.
did you cry because YOU had pain.
Almn?'
Yes. It dit hurt me. here she answered.
placing her little hand over her heart.
But the next moment the child was full
Of FRANKS, and spoke about the beau Of one
OF the girls she knew. Then come one
asked
And who IA your beau Alma''
Il don't know, but they say liddle Mike, .
she answered.
Mike is the five year old son OF an Italian
woman in jail charged with blowing up
her husband with dynamite. She made
Alna's white dress In her cell. and did It
well
And who is the keeper who Just carried
you iu?' Alma was asked.
He's my big boy she said, srchly
lying dain;ily across a chair
Say a few Of your pieces. Alma said
one who knew her.
without hesitating. the child repeated
n number of nursery rhymes. such as Little
Jack Horner.- Mary had Little Lamb, =
Little 30 Peep" and others, which she
did quite we'll Most Of theee were taught
Alma by tho mntron Of the jail, Mrs. New
comet.
When the warden died, a few months ago,
Alma grieved sorely. and now when asked
where he ia the child answers;
He's In heaven. with the angels Then
she becomes silent and morose, az il won
dering where heaven was.
Il guess ! 90 up to Kate, now, said
Alma. when weary Of her visitors, She
meant up TO the cell OF her mother.
OF course, Alma knows nothing OF the
tragedy before her birth. neither does she
know that her parents are to die on the
ecafold together. In a few days she will
be taken away from the prison for the first
time and put in home far from the place
Of her birth. 1t is planned that she shall
grow up among those who know little il
anything Of her past.
The other children Of Alma's mother
have been sent TO the West, in the hope
that they may escape the faint OF their
mothers crime.
Mrs. Edwards is much attached 10 Alma.
but whether love or pity ia the moving
passion is not known. Since her imprisou-
ment she has greatly improved in appear
ance Her brunette skin is now prison
fair, and strang ely contrasts with her jet
black hair. Since she realized that she is
70 die her appetite has failed She weeps