the twin hells(两个地狱)-第45节
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learned to do his work well； the contractor will want to keep him instead
of letting him go； and will； no doubt； in an underhanded way； do all
against the poor prisoner he can。 This strong influence in many cases will
have to be counteracted and overcome before the prisoner can receive his
pardon and obtain his liberty。 A pardoning board； when appointed； should
be men who would not be in collusion with the contractors； but be men
who would see that the prisoner had justice。
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THE TWIN HELLS
CHAPTER XIX
NOTED CONVICTS
At the present time there are fifty…six females who find homes in this
living tomb。 Two…thirds of them are colored。 The greater portion are kept
busy making underclothing for the prisoners。 They are detained； during
working hours； in a room； seated at tables； with a lady guard watching
them。 They are not allowed to converse with each other； only as they get
permission from this officer。 They are not permitted to see the male
prisoners。 In fact there is no way of entering the female prison from the
male department。 The dormitory is on the third floor。 The female convicts
wear striped calico dresses； the stripes running lengthwise。 The female
prison is kept scrupulously clean； which reflects great credit upon those
having the management of this department。
In company with Doctor Lewellyn； the prison physician； I passed
through the dormitory。 Here I found a great curiosity。 It was a baby
prisoner； six months old。 The little convict was born in the penitentiary。 It
is a colored childits mother being a mulatto； who was sent to prison for
fifteen years for murdering two of her children。 When on the outside； she
lived with her paramour； a white man； and； as fast as children were born to
them； she would murder them in cold blood。 The white man was tried also
as accessory to the murder； but； owing to her refusal to testify against him；
there was not sufficient evidence to convict him； and he was set at liberty。
He often visits her at the prison； bringing her eatables； which are very
much relished in the penitentiary。 I saw also the notorious Sadie Hayes；
who was sent up from St。 Louis for killing a policeman。 She was under the
influence of strong drink； and； thus crazed with whisky； the officer tried to
arrest her。 She drew a razor； and began to slash away at the officer； and； in
spite of his club and large； muscular frame； she soon cut him to pieces。 He
expired on the sidewalk； where the engagement took place。 She was sent
up for ninety…nine years； and has now been in prison about three years。
She is one of the most desperate looking women I ever saw； and； when
crazed with drink； becomes an infuriated demon。 She is an adept in the use
of the razor。
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THE TWIN HELLS
The oldest female prisoner is an aged German woman by the name of
Oldstein； from Gasconade County。 She has been in the penitentiary
thirteen years； and； doubtless； would get a pardon if she had any place
where she could make her home after securing her liberty。 The old woman
is entirely broken down and is a physical wreck。 She spends the most of
her time knitting。 Aside from keeping her own bedding clean she is not
required to perform any labor。 She was charged with a cold…blooded
murder。 She； her husband and daughter murdered her daughter's husband。
The old man was hung； the daughter was sent up for life； and died in a few
months after entering prison。 The old woman was sentenced to be hung
also with her husband； but the governor commuted her sentence to that of
life imprisonment。 For thirteen long； dreary years she has lived behind
these prison walls。 She longs for death； but death refuses； as yet； to claim
her as his own。 Broken in health； friendless； penniless； this poor old
woman is but another proof that 〃the way of the transgressor is hard。〃 I
also saw Anna Brown； another female prisoner； who； with her step…brother；
planned and carried into execution a terrible cold…blooded murder。 It was
none other than the killing of her aged father。 The boy was sent to prison
for life and the woman received a sentence of forty…nine years。 Her
sentence might just as well have read 〃life imprisonment〃 as forty…nine
years； for she cannot live but a few years longer in confinement。 Nannie
Stair is another interesting prisoner。 She came from Vernon County。 An old
and crippled man was driving through the country。 Night coming on found
him near the house of the Stair family。 He stopped and asked for a night's
lodging。 His request was granted。 That was the old man's last night of
earth。 During the hours of the night Stair and his wife made their way into
the bed…chamber where the helpless traveler lay asleep unconscious of his
doom。 It was not long until the husband sent an axe crushing through his
brain； his wife standing by； a witness to the fearful deed。 During the same
night they dug his grave in the garden back of the house； and buried him。
Next day the husband drove the murdered man's team to a town not far
distant； and sold it。 In a couple of weeks friends began to institute search
for the missing man。 He was traced to the home of the Stair family。 The
husband and wife being separated； and the officers telling the wife that she
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would be let out of the scrape without much punishment in case she would
tell all she knew； she informed them of all the details of the bloody deed；
where the victim lay buried； and what disposition was made of the
murdered man's team and money。 The two were arrested； tried and
convicted。 The husband was hung； and the wife sent to the penitentiary for
six years。 Her time will now soon be served out； and she will once more
be a free woman。 The desire of this family to obtain filthy lucre was too
great。 Of the fifty…six female inmates of of the Missouri penitentiary；
fifteen of them were sent for murder。 Kansas City has several female
representatives。 It is stated； on good authority； that the sentences imposed
by the judges of the Kansas City district are far more excessive than in any
other portion of the State。 I was told that a number of these female
convicts were very desperate characters； while others of them； driven to
deeds of desperation on account of poverty； committed acts that for a time
placed them behind prison bolts and bars。 Something should be done to
aid these poor women； when their terms expire； to get a start in life。 If
something is not done for them； it will be but a short time when they will
drift back again into crime and prison。
The author of this book believes that it is all right to send money to
India and other remote countries to aid the heathen； but instead of sending
it all away to lands beyond the seas； he thinks a portion of it； at least；
could be well expended this side the briny deep in helping some of these
poor unfortunate convicts to get another start in life； and thus lift them out
of a life of crime。
WHISKY AND CARDS
Felix Bagan's history shows the career of many a boy； when thrown
into bad company。 At an early age Felix was left an orphan。 When his
parents both died he had not a relative living that cared anything for him。
Taken from the grave of his mother； who died shortly after the death and
burial of her husband； the unfortunate lad was placed in the orphan's home
in St。 Louis。 Here he remained for several years； and acquired all the
education that he possessed。 After becoming old enough to do some work；
he was given to a farmer； who took him to his home in the country。
Possessed of a genial disposition； he soon made many friends。 He was
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