The Detroit times., 1909-06-11
HAS spent 45
YEARS IN PRISON
Murderer's Only Friend Is Philip
Corbin, Captain Of Industry
Played Wicket On Same Team.

NEW YORK. June ll.-There Is a
rheumatic man OF seventy In the Con-
necticut state prison at Wethersileld
whose only religion Is gratitude. At
ter 45 years in a cell for murder. he
still dreams and hopes. plots and
plans TO do something before he dies
that Will add to the fame and for
tune OF his only friend. the old cap
tain of his wicket club. who goes 70
see him in his stripes twice a year.
The convict was Charles Gilbert
before his name was lost In prison
number. and the famous leader and
best batter OF the New Britain Wicket
club was Philip Corbin, now Connect
cuts foremost citizen and grand old
man." who. at the age OF S5 Is the ac-
tive head OF great industrial interests
and controls the manufacture OF all
builders hardware used throughout
the country.
IL Is this venerable, but powerful
captain OF industry TO whose fame and
millions the old convict would add.
So year In and year out Gilbert pot
ters away in prison 10 invent new
hinge or door lock or window fasten-
er, that his only friend may put IT on
the market. He cannot realize that
the mechanical lines along which he
must work are those OF 40 years ago,
when he was free and an artisan Of
New Britain. He does not know that
the new devices for locks and fasten-
ings he struggles TO invent are all OF
Anticipated types that burglars laughed
at years ago. And his friend. being
friend does not tell him.
Convict Was ShlftIess.
Why does Gilbert do this? Not be-
cause tho two old men were chums
before the murder On the contrary.
they were not. Philip Corbins way
OF living then gave promise Of what
he is now. And the conyicts early
years were equally prophetic. He
was drunken and shiftless. AS they
say In Connecticut of ne'r-do-wells, be
came OF poor stock. In 1864 he muir
dered Capt. Henry Caldwell. recruit
ing officer Of the United States army,
and robbed his body Of 5000 he had TO
pay men in the central part OF Con-
necticut who were responding to Lin
coins urgent call for more troops.
There were no extenuating circum-
stances. The crime was one of the
blacklist in the history OF the state.
The courts said so then, and Philip
Corbin says so now.
So two such men as that could new
er have been chums That explana-
ton won't do for the semi-annual Wis
Its OF the foremost citizen and for the
gratitude OF the murdered man who is
no citizen.
Perhaps Mr. Corbin has used his III
fluence In efforts to have the convict
pardoned? That Is just what he has
refused to do He has told the white
haired murderer he deserved his SEN
tence. and that he should stay In pris
on until he died. And Gilbert always
replied: "All right. Philip. If you
won't help me. nobody will Isn't
there something that can make for
you that You really want before you
come AGAIN." He doesn't ask for a
pardon any more, but always what he
can do or make for his old friend.
Mr.. Corbin. your visits are all that
keep Gilbert alive and sane. but we
wonder why you make them" said the
warden recently.
Because he wants me to-" replied
the octogenarian. He hasn't any 9TH
er friend or relative living. and ne
didn't have when convicted In 1864
Leaving aside the serious matter
of the murder. Mr.. Corbin has but one
grievance. against Gilbert. The only
time the New Britain wicket team
was ever beaten was in game with
the Bristol club. and that defeat was
due to the fact that the Bristol play
ers got Gilbert, the best bowler on the
opposition team. so drunk the night
before the game he was useless when
the time came to play.
Best Bowler in State.
HE was the best bowler in all Con
necticut," added the old captain of
the club, when he was sober, but we
had to watch him before a game to
keep him in shape. Wickets was the
great game In those days. II was an
american modification OF cricket, in
which the ball was rolled instead Of
pitched against the opponents wicket.
Baseball wasn't heard of around here
before Charlie went To prison. We be-
gan to play that game early in the sew.
enties. | played first base and was
captain. I have tried TO explain the
game to Charlie, but It is too compli-
Gated for him to understand without
ever having seen game. He always
wants to talk about wickets. and
sometimes he tells me he Is sorry
about making us lose that game TO
the Bristol club.
"Reminiscences are Charles only
pleasure now, and | guess | am about
the only man left who knows what n
game OF wickets was like. II Is 10
60 back more than half OF my lifetime
10 see him-back in 1S4S when | came
down here from where I was born In
West Hartford and started my manu-
featuring business by making brass
knobs to put on the horns of oxen. I
sent them to New York and sold them
all over the country"