The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-09-13
Fl. DILLON & co.

There have been twenty-four execu- tions here in my time, and not sin gle miShap has taken place at any of them. had that to do, and al- ways saw that it was done right. Our method of hanging, if properly car ried out, is d most humane one. The one essential thing is to have the rope right. I usually spent about eight days preparing the rope for an execu- tion. Every day during that time would take it out in the yard and make two crews of men pull on 1t, until all the give had been taken out of it. It would take me at least three days to tie the knot in the rope. A new rope is easily affected by temperature, and knot tied today may be too loose or too tight tomor- row. When the time for the execu- tion came, I was always sure that everything was ready, and the plan could be carried out without the. least jar I would never allow any one to interfere with me in this work when I had it to do.''
 The average time for hanging in the Connecticut prison is about twen- ty seconds from the time the con- demned man is led from his cell in an adjoining room until the trap is sprung. The method is such that the mans neck is broken at the first spring of the trap. and so it is prac- tically a painless death.
 In his time, MT. Baisden has had charge of many noted convicts. There was .Gentleman Jim'' Birchey, alias William Travers, who was electrocuted for murder in New Jersey about q year ago. Years ago there was a con- vict named Hamlin, who killed a priS- on guard and was executed in the Hartford county jail for it. His part ner in the crime, named Allen, died in the Connecticut Hospital for the Insane. There was Ed Stoddard, a forger, who served two terms in this prison, and once forged his own par don out of a Kentucky prison. He was handwriting expert, and it was one of his claims that no person could tell his own writing. To test this the ory once, he had thirty-eight persons write their name in a hotel register. He copied them, and with such exact ness that none could tell the original from the copy.
 Half dozen different times prison CTS have attempted to take the life of the deputy warden. Knives and bludgeons have figured in these fights, but the deputy warden seemed to bear charmed life He carries only one scar as a reminder Accompanying this scar is a souvenir of the occasion "a heavy iron slug, which a prisoner
  ing for chance to use it. The chance came, and he hurled it at MT Bais- den's head, but it struck only glanc- ing Low, and tore his scalp open. Had it. struck him squarely, the force of the blow would undoubtedly have kill ed him outright.
 There is only one way to get along with convicts, and that is to maintain the strictest discipline and keep abreast of : them always I would rather handle such people as Gentle man Jim, desperate as he was reputed to be, than a crowd of tramps The latter class is always trying to shirk. The other class is smarter. Once they realize that you are as smart as they are, they will do their work and have no trouble. But we can never take anything for granted. Whenever have gone into any part of the prison, I knew just who should be there. first stopped and saw that every one was in, his place. If I did not see would go nc farther until ] knew the facts for myself. Guessing does not go in this business. As soon as man begins to guess, his prisoners find it out, and sooner or later he will have trouble''
 During MT. Baisden's time. the whole theory of Imprisonment has
 
 was put in prison because he had done something wrong and was to be pun ished. Whenever a man is convicted now, an effort is made to reform him. He is taught a trade and given a chance to make an honest living, when he is again. set at liberty When asked what he thought of the theory of reform, Mr. Baisden said:
 T do not believe that 20 per cent. of the people sent to prison are any better when they come out When I say 20 per cent, I am making the estimate very high. Not many inno- convicts trade now, but I do not believe Fer cent. of them work at it when they get out. A crook will not consider trade that means only s250 or S3 day to him when he gets out. He cannot see how he will be better off at the end of the year than by stealing and taking his chan ces. They laugh at the idea. In fact, I only recall one case when a man left prison and stuck to the trade he had learned. That was, a young fellow who afterward made good in the shoe business. I know of number who have started out with good intentions, but have fallen by not many but finished crooks get into prison. They have all the chance in the world to reform through the pro- bation system and clemency of the courts before they get here. If they