Year: 1875

PHILADELPHIA, August 20 1875.


In tho Eastern Penitentary In this ctty-Cherry Hill
Prison 1t is commonly calcd-tnere is a remarkable
prisoner kept in duress under the terrible system OF
solitary confinement vogue in this place OF punish
ment He is one Of the most daring and full
criminals in this country, and is beyond question the
most expert forger in the United States His name is
John A. Canter known 10 the police records and the
detectives all over tho Union as


JACK cANrER.


Ho was born in Charleston, s. c., the son Of a
wealthy merchant who sent him TO Bordeaux France,
and other parts of the Continent be educated Ho is
accomplished linguist speaking French, Spanish,
German and English He received diploma
matricuated physician and master OF chemistry, is
also engraver, photographer expert shorthand
writer and has dabbled little in the sciences He is
small man, with black eyes, about ty years
old and has bald head, resembling Jay Gould some
what in this his sharp eyes and other characteristics
He is of the gentlemany style OF criminal and II you
visit him on the very occasions on which he is al
lowed TO any one, he win offer you the
single chair his cell contains with all
the grace Of courtier He is a man Of means
and is said to own property He possesses the sole
ownership OF valuable patent right for chemical ink
eraser invented by himself This invention, which
might bo useful one has been perverted by him to
criminal purposes, and he has been in the habit OF sell
ing to dishonest clerks and chcckrascrs who wished
for their purposes to alter 1gurcs written In ink
The right owned by Canter is said to be valuable
He has also several thousand dollars invested in Phla
dephia city skies, in the OF the Warden, as
trustee.





Yet, under the rigid system enforced In this model
institution, his money purchase him no privileges,
and he lives all his fellow convicts do .er tho
rbe rules Of solitary confinement He occupies alone
cell Of iron and stone he speaks to one and
speaks TO him. He seldom his jailer, yet
knows when the eye OF his guard watching him
through the little hole in the iron door of his cage.
Even when the chaplain breaches in the corridor he
hears the sacred word OF Him who promised forgiveness
70 the vilcss criminal, without seeing either
him who reads them his follow prisoners
who listen He is allowed choice OF certain books and
religious newspapers to read, and only in three
months is allowed to see his friends for single half
hour. He is condemned to hard labor and works all
day at Gaming chairs This labor he does cheerfuly
enough and is probably glad to get it, for 1t would
probably be the crueest punishment that could be
vised TO take away all occupation from confined
in such living tomb.


Jack Canters sentence is tor seven years. for COM
plicty in the we'll known of the fraudulent nsur
company, which started in this city with
capital Of share OF railroad stock. Canter is al
legged was employed by William D. Halrman, the
president" Of the COMPANY who is serving out
his sentence in the place, TO ''rase" shares of
Pennsylvania Reading and other stock certificates to
collateral on which to borrow money. He has
served in other prisons in the country for the same
onence-forgery-an not long since in Sing Sing
Prison for the second time.


WHAT HE KNOWS OF SING SING PRISON


Concerning this institution, which is but too we'll
known the most corrupt and worst managed prison
In the country, Canter makes q detailed statement,
charging the most astounding frauds He is anxious
procure a pardon from the Executive Of this State
FOR tho crime for which he Is now under
going punishment at Cherry Hill, and he has
sent to Governor Tiden, of New York, an
interesting narrative Of what he Sing Sing for
the purpose OF aiding the Governor his upon the
Canal Rng-for II 1t is the "ring' OF official
thieves who implicated in these prison frauds-n the
hope that he may enable the taxpayers back
some Of the stolen public money and that the Execu
tive of New York will his official influence TO have
him pardoncd by the Governor of this State.


This statement, which has just been received at
Albany given full below 1t is in the handwriting
of Canter himself and is accompanied by unsigned
blank of acknowledgment (Which he states that
he is ready to sign and II he allowed to see
commissioner declaring that every word of his state
nent is true


Canter because Of his skill a forger was assigned
by the different agents holding the Offices during his
terms Of Imprisonment TO alter the records make out
fictitious bills for supplies, &c, and commit
forgery for the purpose OF enabling certain ''ringr
TO steal money belonging to the people. 1t is not
necessary here recapitulate the shameless frauds
that his statement dscloses 1t will be found verbatim
below. Concerning it he says:-'In my effort TO boil II
down and avoid the appearance of setting down aught in
malice have omitted many side issues occurring dur
ing the epochs named can now verify that nearly all
the parties connected with these frauds camo TO tho
prison in INDECENT circumstances and retired possessing
landed property. An incident there is Of a con-
vict who superseded in my labor for
4 period Of seventeen months, who after his
discharge went to New York possessing S. OoO He
purchased expensive furniture, furnished mansion.
drove in his carriage, and died. in three months after
leaving the prison. from excessive dissipation He pre-
sentcd with 81 900 worth OF furniture before
his death. Before coming 10 prison he had no money
10 pay counsel TO appeal bis case He was penniless


"A these facts can be proved by unmpcachablc wit
resident in New York. This man had opc.
rated under Clerk Franklin before my time anu had
served one previous term In conversation had
with him after supersedDg me therein advised him to
mark every fraudulent voucher Ho significantly
smiled and replied Don't you think have marked
vouchers in the Comptrollers offcc'"


JACK cANTERs STATEMENT.


ALBANY, August %, 1875


The following the astonishing narrative OF the orgcr
Cantcr, which has been sent to Governor Tdcn from
the Eastern Pcnitcntiary Of Philadelphia It alleges
that for many years the Sing Sing Prison management
defraudng the State treasury the crime Of forgery