The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-23
By ROBERT CARLTON BROWN
-AUTHOR o.
"THE BURDEN OF PROOF

Something compelled him to cry a
warning.
"Better be careful of that Teller. bar
Der. he's in pretty bad condition"
I'm watch out was the response.
For some moments there came the
regular sweep of the BARRIERS razor
over the prisoners stubble.
Then came a quick cry;
Don't try that again.
Phil pressed close to the bars.
vague premonition possessed him.
BE careful he warned again.
II am answered the barber nls
little devil Just tried to force his jugular
vein against the blade.
Agafn the excitement waned and the
regular zip of the razor was the oniy
noise throughout the corridor.
There! I guess that win do" Phil
heard the barber mutter at length
Swish!
There was a sudden hum through the
air. A piercing scream rang out;
''Give me that screamed the barber
Another scream followed
The prisoners pressed close against
their doors and the excitement was
tense as the attendant hurried down the
corridor t. the door of the cell where
the barber was working.
Suddenly something metallic dropped
on the floor of that cell It vibrated
for some seconds and then there was a
dead silence, the attendant standing at
the cell door and peering In with won
derful fascination.
'Ie done itr' cried the prison barber
Done What2" demanded Tommy.
"Snatched the razor away and slashed
his neck open, was the reply.
At the same time the cell d1or was
thrown open and the attendant hurried
in to assist the barber.
I told you fellows TO be careful, >"
cried phil.
There was a dead silence.
you scared him TO the straining
point and he was glad Of chance to
The silence throughout the wing
showed that the men were accusing
themselves.
The attendant blew his emergency
whistle, and in a few minutes two re-
serve guards entered
What's up?" demanded one stopping
al ahe cell where the regular guard and
the barber were working over the sui
New man killed himself" was the
ls cor. reply.
"Gfabbed the BARRIERS razor"
Nothing new about that" remarked
the second attendant, who had hurried
NO" answered the barber in an un-
steady voice. But it's the last lob 1
do in this prison. I'd rather get back
to the ordinary business where a man
don't have TO be so careful
Don't blame you. replied the guard
Phil heard them carry out the corpse
OF the weak Nltte tetiOW VINO had been
driven to suicide.
on, it's Just as WELL" Daring sighed
10 himself. Poor devil. It's only a
question of time here, and If fellow
wants 10 hurry IT along a little who can
blame him, and he was such sorroWful
little man. too"
They won't shave me- again while
m here cried Bob suddenly. in q
frightened tone
The way his cousin said II made Phil
think that possibly ne, too had held
some notion Of committing suicide
The tragedy had q peculiar effect on
Bob All the next day re was quiet
and thoughtful
Nike, Tommy and Bradshaw recov-
cred more quickly Doubtless the thing
was not new to them.
on the next day Tommy volunteered:
never say Weeny one yet that
didn't try to kin himself, but they don't
all get away with il as easy as that lit
tie Teller"
AS ne spoke. the door was thrown
open and two guards came down the
corridor.
They stopped at Tommy's cell and one
OF them told him that in five DAYS the
death watch would he set FOR him.
Well. it's just a toss-up," said Tom
ny. phiiosophically. when the guards
n,1d left. Some dies one way an some
G:es another; as for me, / prefer to be
During the remainder OF the dav Tom
my was very laxative. He reCounted
many and varied experiences he had
had In different prisons His had beeu
long career Of crime, and now that II