The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1912-04-05

searched by matron for concealed
weapons, humiliating ordeal, 10
which even the richest and most in
finential visitors must submit with as
good grace as possible The matron
was hard looking woman of about
90 years, in whom every spark of hui
man pity and sympathy had been
killed during her many years of con-
slant association with criminals. The
word prison" had lost its meaning to
her. She saw nothing undesirable In
jail life, but looked upon the Tombs
rather as kind of boarding house in
which people made short or long So
1ourns, according to their luck. She
treated Annie unceremoniously, yet
not unkindly.
so you're the wife of Jeffries,
whom they've got for murder, eh?"
she said, as she rapidly ran her hands
through the visitors clothing.
Yes" faltered Annie, but it's all
mistake, assure you. My husbands
perfectly innocent. He wouldn't hurt
fly"
The woman grinned.
They all say that, NM" Lugubri.
ously she added: Il hope you'll be
more lucky than some others were"
Annie felt herself grow cold. Was
this sinister prophecy? She shud-
dered and, hastily taking a dollar from
her purse, slipped it into the matrons
hand.
May go now?' she said.
Yes, my dear; I guess you've got
nothing dangerous on you. We have
to be very careful. l remember once
when we had that Hoboken murderer
here. He's the Teller that cut his
wifes head off and stuffed the body
in barrel. His mother came here to
see him one day and what did | find
inside her stocking but an innocent
looking little round pill, and if you
please, 1t was nothing less than prus-
sic acid. He would have swallowed it
and the electric chair would have
been cheated. So you see how careful
we has to be-"
Annie could not listen to any more.
The horror of having Howard classed
with fiends of that description sickened
her. To the keeper she said quickly:
please take me to my husband"
Taking another dollar from her
purse, she slipped the bill into the
mans hand, feeling that. here as
everywhere else, one must pay for
privileges and courtesies. Her guide
led the way and ushered her into an
elevator, which, at a signal, started
slowly upwards.
The cells in the Tombs are arranged
in rows in the form of an ellipse in
the center of each of the six floors.
There is room to accommodate 900
prisoners of both sexes. The men are
confined in the new prison; the won.
en-, fewer in number, in what remains of
the old building. Only the center of each
floor being taken up with the rows
of narrow cells, there remains broad
corridor, running all the way round
and t1anked on the right by high walls
with small barred windows. An OBJ.
server from the street glancing up at
the windows might conclude that they
were those of the cells in which pris.
oners were confined. AS a matter of
TACT, the cells have no windows, only a
grating which looks directly out into
the circular corridor.
At the fourth floor the elevator
stopped and the heavy iron door
swung back.
This way" said the keeper, step
ping out and quickly walking along
the corridor. He's in cell No. ass"
A lump rose in Armies throat The
place was we'll ventilated, yet she
thought she would faint from a cho
king feeling of restraint. All along
the corridor to the left were iron
doors painted yellow. In the upper
part of the door were half dozen
broad Sits through which one could
see what was going on inside.
Those are the cells" volunteered
her guide.
Annie shuddered as, mentally, she
pictured Howard locked up in such a
dreadful place. She peered through
one of the Sits and saw a narrow cell
about ten feet long by six wide. The
only furnishings were a folding cot
with blanket, a wash bowl and lava.
tory. Each cell had it's occupant, men
and youths of all ages. Some were
reading, some playing cards. Some
were lying asleep on their cots, per.
haps dreaming of home. but most of
them leaning dejectedly against the
iron bars wondering when they would
regain their liberty.
(TO BE CONTINUED)