Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1913-12-03
How Plots Among Prisoners Are
Discovered by Agents.
sleuth In convIet's Garb-"Green
Hand" ls 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 a mans mental
faculties and deadening his wits, in
generation in one of the frowning
fortresses with the gray, grim exte-
rior 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 the 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 stan beyond re.
preach. 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
was for some years a member, are en-
listed. 1t Is an organization of which
little is heard. Composed OF a mum
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 o.
convict in any prison where the au
thorities are bafled by some mys
terry.
This Is how joined the secret serv
ice staff: After leaving the army will
4 a good character, applied for a pos
as assistant prison warder, filled VI
a form answering lot of questions
and inclosed copies of my testimoni
ais. AS / only received formal &C
acknowledgement called at the office o
the prison commissioners, and, beinI
told that | would be written to whel
my services were required, | was re
. firing very unhappily. Just then, how
ever, keen faced man, with bundl
of papers In his hands, recalled IN
into private room, and asked me
l would undertake the duties OF on
OF the secret service staff for a time
Having been idle for months,
agreed gladly. And then the ofticis
told me something of the arduou'
dangerous and difficult work whic
was to fall to my lot.
= In accordance with his first instru,
+, Ntions, reported myself on the follow
ing day at 5 a. N. at a certain COZ
vict prison, prepared for tire
weeks stay. was ushered into pr
vate room, my clothes were take
away, my hair cropped, and col
victs suit was given to me. A fe
moments later | stood in the presenC
of the governor, and only the wa
the exact nature of my mission
tailed 10 me-
The story was that the officials hs
been baffled by an extensive seer
correspondence which had been ca
ried- on, The secret service stan h5
been sent down twice, and on eaC
occasion their efforts had failed to d
tect the offenders 1t was according
- resolved to employ a perfectly gre,
nand. Hence my selection.
The governor gave me an adore