The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-09-21
Shawnee County Jail Birds
Have Lots of Fun.
Dancing, Music and Card Play.
ing the Program.
ALL WANT TO GET OUT
LOunsberry Wants to Hurry to
the Penitentiary.
Eight Doors Have to Be IN
locked to Free Prisoners.

Twenty-three prisoners are in the
| county jail-two-thirds of them black.
| a couple of them women. The re-
porter strolled in with the intention CT
! interviewing a few of them; Shelter.
the oldest prisoner, Dick Harris, the
youngest; Porter Patterson, who has
| been there longest; John Riley, the
newest arrival; Lounsberry, the best
J behaved and Riley again, the most
/ troublesome.
It's superfIuous to say that when sn
amateur visits her first Jail, she expects
to plunge into a dark cellar step be-
hind a changing door opened with a
IL inch key, End hersalf in a gloomy
, corridor wherein is heard the clan<
ing of chains accumulated by OCCASION
al Sepulchral groanS.
In the Topeka all such blood curd
ling expectations are turned upside
down; instead of descending, one as
cends a well lighted flight of stairs:
the cross-barred door opens noiseless-
corridor; in the place of the chains
rich alto chants "Everybody's Doin
It," instead of the groans is actually
heard the strum of a jolly guitar.
Say" said the reporter, awesomely.
lis this the jail? Is that some one
dancing? Why, they seem to be hav-
ing good time
Sure" grinned Mich Bundy, the
play cards. This is a lot better place
than some of them are used to-"
Come here, Deane," he called;
"sing for the lady
selling liquor, promptly appeared aud
rendered with guitar accompaniment
a touching ditty entitled why Don't
You Get Lady of Your Own?"
They All Want to Get Out.
''Dick's the youngest boy We've got
hoy
you anyhow"
Twenty-eight,' the alto volunteered,
first time 1 ever been in Jail, and
been here two months. Don't like II
nohow. Say" he whined, rolling be-
seeching eyes toward the reporter,
CANT you hep about gettin' me out?"
The prisoners, like all Gagged things,
collected curiously about the door
Their corridor is boardered by the
cross barred cells and thanked at eth
er end by a heavy gate. A party
of old men marched exclusively at
the other end. One of them was Shell
ton. 70 years old, kept ''as most Of
them are" Bundy explained, for SELL
ing BOOZE" William Clark and Tom
Carroll were the other ancients, white
haired, mild-looking fellows, taking
their morning tramp.
Alone in his cell, paying no atten-
ton to the jests of his fellows, lying
mournfully on his couch was Wells
Lounsberry, train robber. whose case
is to be tried before the federal court
in November.
Il tried to take it to a higher court
he said in a low tone to the reporter,
you know all about that. I wasn't
successful. 1t seemed to me it was
my duty to do-that. I shan't do -
again; my wife made me promise"
How do you feel about your trial?' |
asked the reporter nervously, pretty |
cheerful?"
Train Robber Not Satisfied.
mo hope for me-" said the train |
robber, slowly. 81 realize that. I'm |
ready to go to the penitentiary. Hav- |
ing been in the county jail I think I'd |
prefer the penitentiary. 1 did what
did, knew I did it, and am ready to |
take the consequences"
A smile, almost grave, curved his |
lips and showed a row of excellent |
teeth.
Had a letter from my little boy, |
Philip, this morning." he said. They're |
know why I'm here. He says he's |
being a good boy. but he'd be happier |
if I were at home with him."
The reporter and the jailer contin- |
ued their march. The cells were or |
Derby. in some an attempt had been |
Jordan, a huge negro, doing six months |
for bootlegging, had decorated with a |
struggling fernball, trying to thrive in /
the dim light of an incandescent lamp. |
Want to see the women?' John |
Bundy inquired, we've got only two |
At present-one for jointing. one for
robbery; Mary Floyd and |
Edith Smith. Both of 'em colored. |
Edith's husbands here, too; they held |
up a man as easy as you please"
Women at Top of Building.
Mary and Edith have a large room l
at the top of the building; they do |
light housekeeping on the most ap-
proved scale. They were brealfasting |
when the reporter arrived. but imne-
liately scurried out of sight. Unlike /
most representatives of the feminine |
gender they had no desire to talk.
Poor trash,' said the iailer, but |
hey don't give US much trouble. They /
cook on a little gasoline stove and 1
nave high old time.
In the basement of the Jail is an
1ther set of cells. No hilarity reigned |
mere; all the prisoners except one are
negroes, but there were no guitars. A
couple of negroes and one enormous
white man. Harry Challis, held for
heft, were taking exercise. Thirty
minutes rapid walk, back and forth,
pack and forth, constitutes two miles.
On a box in the corridor sat John
Riley. accused of the murder of Ben |
amin PIatt, but imprisoned for rob-
berry. His hands dropped between his
Knees, his head was bowed low, his
Eyes stared before him.
Riley Feigns Sickness.
Hes playing he's SICK explained
he jailer in a low tone but it won't
20 here. He tried the same thing in
IN Oklahoma jail, tried to make them
hink he was insane, and got sent to
IN asylum. Just what he wanted, you
,et and he cut loose in three days.
1nxr f- fTa f-ar los Ta-Se |