The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-10-31
BY WILLIAM ALLEN JOHNSTON.

Co. All rights reserved
In one of the high ceilinged, massive
rooms of the New York postottlce
building heavy, big framed man sits
al his desk reading over a warrant; TO
his right over in "a corner stands n
large leather lounge, with very evi-
dent sag in the center of it.
OF course there are other people IN
the officc-a few clerks. stenographer
or two-and there is other furniture
besides the lounge; but so far as this
story is concerned-aud, indeed, 30 far
as most individuals who enter this prl-
yate room arc onccrned-lGtereSt cen
tcrs altogether about the man and the
sagging sofa.
The man is United States marshal of
The Southern District of New York
which means New York City, and the
sofa is criminals bench, seat not
of the mighty hut of the fallen the
anxious. the terrified, The obduratc,
the hardened. malicious, desperate, rep
rcseniing n small army Of federal pris-
oEers-murderers. thieves, emheZZlers.
meonshincrs. outlaws of this and many
lands, to say nothing OF few very
eminent representatives OF high finance
and international promotion schemes.
For more than a decade they have main
tanned an uncomfortable, unwilling pos
turo in the middle of thus sofa while
they looked AT or talked at the man at
fhe desk, and the springs have simply
given away.
II seems as though the government
might furnish 4 new. solid lounge; or
perhaps the prisoners might be politely
requested to scat themselves elsewhere.
But | fancy that The marshal prefers
10 have them right duwn--dcep down
in that sag. sitting there helpless. inert
and almost knee sprung. while he
stands towering over them. dangling
perhaps a pair of shining handcuffs and
stating in pl9in tcrsc sentences that
hc now is and intcnds-uutl the
courts deprive him of that privilege
to remain their lailcr-
Briefly 1t Is tho marshal IS duty to
arrest offenders of the federal laws,
to put them in iail-civil prisoners in
ludlow street iail criminal prisoners IN
the Tombs--to' bring them before the
courts for trial. and then, if sentenced.
prisons. at Atlanta, Ga, or Fort Lcav-
cnworth, Kan.
During this entire pcriod-betwcep
arrest and final incarccration-the mar
shal is responsible for the safekeeplng
OF each and every prisoner placed IN
his hands-hc alone is accountable, and
the responsibility Is a very heavy one.
man. but still more often q sentenced
man is an exceedingly desperate man.
especially so II the sentence is Tor nfc.
After the Judge has pronounced the
doom OF life term aud until the con,
Wet is safe within those grim gray
walls which IN course of time Will
smother the last spark of hope within
his breast, either one Of two thoughts
is uppermost in his mind. One is the
though; Of self-dcstruction. the other
! is the determination TO escape al any
cost, If need be ut the sacrifice of the
life of the man who stands most in the
way, which Individual of course, is
The marshal himself.
First Size Up the Man.
Whichever thought possesses The
prisoner 5 mind depends entirely upon
his character and past experience. If
he be. a hardened criminal. an expo
rienced Jail bird, he is most apt TO
choose the latter course But in any
event it is the Marshal's business, al.
together his business, first 10 sizo up
his man and then TO cbecl5mate his
every move He must not make the
slightest error either in Judgment OF
in action If he does he fails OF his
duty; moreover he may lose his own
life.
As to this latter chance. T do not be
trict Of New York worries at al about
il. But he is greatly interested IN the
II performance Of his duty. He has
also most remarkable record for
doing Il well. and. coming into
contact with so mauv criminals
aud SO many different kinds, his range
aud depth of character study is very
unusual and interesting one.
" Now, here s a man said be, aud
from under a blue blotter be extracted
handbill giving a brief history and
tour llkcnesscs of one ''Mott Haven
kcd. The man s face was ordinary
enough-you note Il mouotpnous success
SION of similar ones in the lock stepped
mes at any State 5 -pallid, gray
looking. stuGhle bearded. mild eyed, cX-
1 prcSslonIesS rs a mask
Looks mid, doesu t hc?'' said the
marshal. Bat hc ism Z. Fact is, hc>s
As dangerous as dynamite.
on Nc cot 80 watch such man
every second, every fraction of n see
onJ; as much a. q minute is all he
Wanis-catch his eyes,
Doc Of my men laughed whcn l
seaehled this prisoner right here IN The
&fice the moment | set ewes on HIM.
wen; ! II tell you why [ did so.
As he sal ON the sofa there he look.
e1 Ike MOUSE scared. motirsIIcss
mouse Talked in a husky wlisper aud
4 neNet battcd IN cy"lid nor changed cN.
Preston But while | talked 10 him
nSn1Iiea my ewes once OF twice-~ouici.
IKE 'uai-and every tine ! Jid so
caught new light iu his eve
a., What did that mean! Simyly this.
uIai oac6 of his Chinese facg he WAS
moIung every minute aud wfJching Us
Ilpp,c-well, like rat, ready ioiump aud
piie on the instant
!, ro.,l sent four men with him out TO
II az xn-,i r.
par,y with telegram. in which |
SH;arhed the prison officials Eiicrc If they
a,u' look sharp they d lose This man
sho dma inayhe Il life or so. And what S
me marshal opened n yellow en-.