Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1913-12-03
How Plots Among Prisoners Are
Discovered by Agents.
Sleuth in ConVict's Garb-"Green
Hand" Is Appointed by English
Prison Commissioners, and
Does Effective Work.

New York.-More roguery goes on
behind the walls of convict prison
than most persons imagine.
Instead of bunting mans mental
faculties and deadening his wits, in
generation in one of the frowning
fortresses with the gray, grim exte-
Tior often has the reverse effect. Soil
tude makes a man more cunning than
ever. Plots are Matched, future crimes
planned, and the whereabouts of
stolen property divulged to a convict
about to return to the world, and
cases are not infrequent where ward
ers who are in league with their
charges supply them with food, to-
bacco, snuff, communications from the
outside world and other little COM
forts for handsome money cOnsidera-
tons.
On the governor in English prisons,
of course, devolves the duty of rul-
ing, says a writer in Il q New York
Telegraph. The discipline to the I'M
trained eye may appear perfect, the
code of rules seemingly all that can
be desired, and the staff beyond re-
proach. But appearances are decep-
tive, and the governor is sometimes
brought face to face with cases which
battle all his powers of discernment.
1t is on these occasions that the
services of the secret staff, of which l
was for some years member, are en-
listed. 1t is an organization of which
little is heard. Composed of num-
Der of officers holding the rank and
receiving the pay of principal ward
ers, the duty of these men is to as
sumo for the time being the role of
convict in any prison where the au-
thorities are baffied by some mys-
terry.
This is how joined the secret serv-
ice staff: After leaving the army with
a good character, l applied for post
as assistant prison warder, filled up
a form answering lot of questions
and inclosed copies of my testimoni-
ais. AS l only received a formal &C
acknowledgement l called at the Office OF
the prison commissioners, and, being
told that | would be written to when
my services were required, was re
firing very unhappily. Just then, how
ever, a keen faced man, with bundle
of papers in his hands, recalled me
into private room, and asked me if
l would undertake the duties of one
of the secret service staff for time.
Having been idle for months,
agreed gladly. And then the Official
told me something of the arduous,
dangerous and difficult work which
was to fall to my lot.
In accordance with his first instruc-
tons, l reported myself on the follow
ing day at a. N. at a certain con-
Wet prison, prepared for a three
weeks stay. | was ushered into pri-
vate room, my clothes were taken
away, my hair cropped, and con-
vict's suit was given to me. a few
moments later l stood in the presence
of the governor, and only the was
the exact nature of my mission de-
tailed 10 me-
The story was that the officials had
been bafled by an extensive secret
cores pondence which had been car
ried on. The secret service staff had
been sent down twice, and On each
occasion their efforts had failed to de
tect the offenders. 1t was accordingly
resolved to employ a perfectly green
hand. Hence my selection.
The governor gave me an address