The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-08-14
New and Amazing Serial Describes Ont
Mans Long But Losing Battle
for Freedom

keepsie newspaper published what
purported to be a diary OF Sing
Sing. Most of the stuff was pure
fabrication, but here and there 1t
contained items and distorted de-
tails sufficient to show that It
was being supplied by someone
employed at the prison.
Twice 1 was approached by &C.
credited representatives Of New
York newspapers and offered "spe-
cial rates" for exclusive stories.
The idea seemed to prevail in jour.
nalistic circles that there was
something wrong" continually
going on at Sing Sing. This was
undoubtedly attributable to crafty
innuendoes Of political enemies
and though I not only Indignantly
declined to betray my employer
and told the emissaaries there was
nothing to betray, they would
not be convinced.
On one occasion a feature writer
for a New York paper remained
in Ossining, the nearby village,
for several days endeavoring to
cook up a STORY from an un-
founded rumor.
Matters finally reached such a
pass between the warden and the
superintendent office that GER
tain papers were stolen from the
prison by the superintendent's
agent and, in recovering them
from the man on the station
platform at Ossining, the warden
was assaulted by the messenger.
A warrant was sworn out, and
the man was tried in the village
court. He was acquitted, and
was heard to say that he had
"only just begun with Osborne"
Disgrace Intensifies Worries
Naturally, with conditions in
such turmoil, it was the time for
me to remain at my best and be
of the greatest service possible,
but I added to Osborne's worries
by falling into disgrace. There
was an element Of mystery In
the occurrence, and I have since
sometimes imagined thaA my
downfall, or stumble, might have
been engineered by our enemies.
I went to New York one eve
ming to take dinner with friends
who had become interested in
the work we were doing. The
dinner took place in one of the
second-story Bohemian restau-
rants in the hotel and theatrical
district, somewhere in the West
Fortieth streets, between Sixth
avenue and Broadway.
The dinner was preceded by a
cocktail and wine was served
with the meal. I left my friends
quite early and walked rapidly
to the Grand Central terminal,
where I arrived just in time to
miss a train for Sing Sing. That
meant an hours wait, and, after
standing about a few minutes,
went out, crossed Forty-second
street and entered a saloon al.
most opposite and west OF Lex
ington avenue.
/ emphasize the location be-
cause what happened to me that
night would be what might be
expected in a dive" or dead
fall" but not in that district. l
know, Notwithstanding the cock
tail and wine at dinner, that I
entered that saloon entirely sober.
The fact that I had walked brisk
ly the half mile or so from the
restaurant to the station must
be borne in mind; also the fact
that I entered the saloon because
I felt the need of a drink.
took a drink Of whiskey-and
woke up in a cell several hours
later. To say that I was astound.
ed at my surroundings is putting
it mildly. 1 had been lying on
the dirty stone floor. Ny clothes
were wrinkled and stained. My
head felt like a steam whistle. /
was sick at the stomach.