The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-07-24
Evening Chat

Life at the Marion county jail Is
not always as dark as 1t is painted and
the prisoners have their toys and
pleasant hours as well as those who
are outside the walls OF the institu-
ton. Music now fills the cells and
comes out into the free air beyond the
thick stone walls. Many %passersby
today were hurrying down the alley
toward the post Office paused a mo-
ment and forgot the cares OF the world
as they listened 10 the plaintive
strains OF the violin and the chorus
Of deep male voices. All day long
the prisoners listened to Ben Merrell.
as he lovingly caressed his old violin
and coaxed out the simple old.fash.
Toned melodies that compose his roper
toire. They would all Join in on the
chorus SO that II q stranger had not
noticed the heavy iron bars over the
windows OF the building he might have
thought 1t a school Of music or con.
seryatory.
Merrell Is the man who was arrest.
ed for burglary recently In connection
with Worthy Lanham and is being
held for the October grand Jury. He
begged and pleaded with the officers
at the Jail until they allowed him to
send for his violin. Since obtaining
1t he has been happy and contented
and devotes many hours each day to
the charm that soothes the savage
breast.
The officials say that since the in.
PRODUCTION of the violin the prison
ers eat and sleep better and that com.
plants concerning their food and the
hot weather are not so frequent.
According to the tale OF another pris.
oner who enjoys the confidence Of
Merrell, a part Of the proceeds OF the
money stolen from Bill Bailey went
to purchase the cheap violin at one
of the local pawn shops. The price
said to have been paid was only So,
but to the prisoners the music 1t makes
Is as sweet as II It came from the
rarest Stradivarus.
seyite to an innocent bystander in
Fairmont.
Beach Haven, N. ] July 90, 1915.
Dear Wes:-You haven't been hear.
ing from me for several days because
have been scared to death for some.
time. Jack and Mig and . went
swimming Saturday and although we
had heard Of sharks we had no idea
there were any In dear old Barnagat
bay, but by jolly you ought to have
seen those things! We swan from
Beach Haven to Sea Side Park Just
inside the Barnagat light and didn't
see a thing. At Barnagat light we
thought We had gone out far enough
and turned north with Mig leading.
began to notice weak fish Just as we
turned toward Asbury Park. We were
going good when Mig let a scream out
II him literally jumped five feet out
81 the water. Mig was drinking some
before he went in. Lookout fellers,
a shark swan right under mel" he
yelled and believe muh Jack and ]
did look out. l bet we turned 40 dit.
ferent colors and then. (all within q
fraction Of a second), decided to dive
under the shark. AS / dived I also
saw the shark and saw that II was
going toward sea without bothering
any of us, Jack. you knaw Jacks a pro.
hibitionist, he saw II also and laugh
ed until he almost croaked. He swears
1t was nothing more than a 12.inch
weak fish. But Jack never did have
any sense you know and he said he
would stay out and catch the shark
and bring 1t in. He stayed out while
Mig and ! worked like the deuce to
get to shore on Sea Side Park. Jack
stayed out past the light. When Mig
and I got to Sea Side and was near
shore somebody yelled from shore.
Lookout for a shark right along the
surf" We turned toward sea again