Indiana State Sentinel, Volume 24, Number 44, Indianapolis, Marion County, 24 June 1875 — Page 6
THE INDIANA STATE SENTINEL. THURSDAY JUNE 24 1875
FATAL FRIDAY.
DUAL DANGLING.
Illinois Hangs John Casey, Wife Slayer, at Paris, and Nathan Burgess, the Vandalia Bridge Murderer, at Efflngham.
nrtWooiAv nioAobed .-.rid examined the Next came Judge Jones, of tbe County
body, and pronounced bis neck dislocated by tbe fall. At 1:."G tbe body was cut down and placed in a neat cofdn a d turned over to John G. Wooley aud J. R. Jaquetb, bis attorneys, whom be hud requested to bury hi body by the murdered woman at Eld rid'.
THE PARIS EXECUTION. tASKV'a DEMEANOR RELIGIOC4 Sr-ÜVIPFA MR-SAO RS TO HIS FBI ES DM II K I'H'I.I!I HIS INNOCENCE ON THE KC FtuLV 111 ti MURDERER'S NECK BROKEN. By Telegraph to the Fentlnel.j Paris, III., June 18. Ti-.i mnrr.ir.g dawned clear and beautiful, and. Ion U f r? "o'clock, crowds bgan aenibllfg ir t Ptrc?t, prisons of all axes and lvb Tbe women were ia tbe prepord rancfl and were on every corntr, aiid iuuh speculation was if. dulled in in re-gird to tbe hargisgof Casey, known that a powerlul influenca bad been brcugiv. to bear on Gov. Beveridge fur a wmmiration of tbe sentence, and tni fret caused tbe interest to grow in tbe cae, until it was p-itlvely learned that Gov. Beveiida co'uMnotbe reached, and thnt vtutbr.;iW thefrieudsof the doomed man ohtaiu h coramutaflon with his excellency tiiero wan little or no hope lor cleoiency. About ball past 7 o'clock the militia aseihbltd at the court bcu-e. and the
jail waa guarded in every
direction. It was estimated il.at 3G0J xk)j-
nle were in tbe street. During tbe morn-
M log, Casey dipUiyod a great amouLt of cool
nes, and while the barbe rs were dres-iuc
him he jested and laughed us if he v.-ero to
have honors heaped upon him. On one occasion, the barber who was drrssitg Lis
hair gave the towel, which was pinned tbon:
his neck, a. Blight jerk. lie it-marked, "Don't begin that btiore it conies time." Oa another occasion, he said tiiat Le didn't want anything f tbe kind until i; was
forced upon hiru. The repot tors were toM to call in about au hoar, wbeu Le would be dressed and READY 10 RECEIVE VISITOR. When tbe time had elapsed, the Itr. it. X Davis and lour ladies, together with some members of the press, were admitted. Casey maniiested no sign whatever of un easiness or contrition. Mr. Davis rcid a chapter from the Bible, and a.tera prayer, the hymn "Jesus, Lover oi My Sju!, Let Me to Thy Bosom Fly," was sun, and ether impressive religious exerciss gone through with. Tbe reportets iT.en attempted to interview him. He eiid that h9 bad written letters the previous evening until 11 o'clock. He then went to his cell and slept soundly until morning. He manifested not the leat show of weak eaing, and when the party bade him good bye his voica was as steady as ever. It was a apposed that he would have been 8hulli3d off at 10 o'clock, but the hour went by, and tbe town clock struck lO.startling the waiting crowd outside. Tbe drop was six feet four inches, bo that ho haJ over two feet space .between th9 ground an! tie slack of the rope. One o'cleck arrived and the f-beriff
and deputy entered the j iil ani bade Casey say good bye to the other inmates, which be did without tbe least show of feeling. His cheeka showing a deeper pallor than usual, e wai given a wine-glass full of whisky to brace bis nerves. Just before he stepped out of the cell he gave the MESSAGE to Walter LTadnall, of the Peoria Democrat,
who knows his parents in Mason county,
Illinois : "I die happy, and I am an Inno
cent man. I know that I do not deserve death." This was to be delivered also to his diughter at Peoria. He also tjld Mr. Hudnall that the murdsred
woman was his fourth wife. I a the
morning bo cad eent a copy cl the following letter to Dr. Whitehead, tbe loreman cf the jury who. convicted him, copies
ol wh:ch he alsoseut to John J. Logan, a detective, who made some remark as to his
guilt after bis first confession, and John 21.
Bishop, one oi tha attorneys lor tho prose
cution: Dr. Whitehead M.D.:
It is my djlng request tbat you be not. at
my execution. John casey.
At 1:27 p. m. the sheriff and deputy led him tbrougä the house and into the enclosure. He walked bravely up the steps, merely stopping ta shake hands with one oi his attorneys, Mr. John G. Woolley. He was smoking a cigar aa coolly as thoujhJie were in a bar room, not a Binde muscle
seeming to move. Ho immediately occupied
the chair under the rope. Atter the reading of the -death warrent, Casey was asked by sheriff if he tad anything to say. Without
throwing away his cigir, but simply remov
ing it from his lips, Le arose and said, iu an
audible voice, "I die . AN INNOCENT MAN.
I am not afraid to die. I was lalsely sworn
to death. I thank God that I am an inno
cent man, and I am a glad man. Bat I am not afraid to meet my God. 1 have the name of killing my wife, but not the crime. I do not have this
thing to answer for. Ida not blame inili
Tlduals so much, but I do blame tbe people of this county, whose fault it is tbat I am
aantenced to death. I am a poor man and a penniless man. If I Lad had money it would have been different with me. God's blessing on my enemies and those who have sworn against me. I have not received Justice here, but I am going to God, who is a just man and who will Judge me Jastly.for
Tie is a last man and a true judge." Here the prisoner got on tip toe andtookalong( lingering look in the direction of the town
clock, which was almost directly opposite
ym hut which he could not
see on account of the Blockade. He continued. "I have a great deal
more to say, bat will not take the time
away. lie was then allowed to shake bands ..with severflof bis friends, after which tie threw bis cigar away and his arms were pinioned by the sheriff and deputy. The black cap was adjusted, the sharp hatchet handed to the sheriff, and at 1 :37, r. M.t tbe body ol Casey lelU There were roar convulsive movements of the chest and stomach and 1I wm still.' At 1:47 Drs. Masseyj Inbrook j
THE EFFINGHAM HANGING.
EXriIKMCSTH THE VILLAGE VITT TO THE
CONDEMNED HK TAKES NO PAKT IN RE
t(iint'4 vuvirw THE hCENU AT THE
fcCAFFOLD. By Telegraph to the Sentinel.!
Effingham, III, June lS.r-This afternoon at 2o'oioc!t, Nathan Barg-ss was hanged by
the reck nntil Le was dead, dead, (lead, in
the yard of the county jil. Tbe quiet little
town was filled with p?ople lrora uiffsrent
parts of the fctate, an well as from all parts ol theeouaty. While it is true that nore, t the larce number as-
"r J seiiibled bd anv thought of getting a view
of the hanging, yet the vicinity of tbe jail
was crowded from early in the mnrrint until a lona time alter' Burgess
wa mit ditwn. and the body taken
awav. The entire ccuntv seemed to be im
bued with a wonderful amount of morbid
curiosity which could hardly be satisfied.
The small boy paitially forgot the lesson ol the day in the financial success consequent on selling pictures of the condemned man.
and extras of the local newspaper?, gotten
cut for tho occasion, as a startling bit of en
terprise. Even while it ws known tbat tho condemned man was stepping oil the tatl tran. the bovs were reaping a harvest
of ten cent pieces by the sale of pictures.
At half pas; 9 this morning, when a Sentinel reporter visited the condemned man he as
f.Minri n hir'.U in MiDDiiDV with Sheriff
v u v w V Jennings, of Fayette county, of which Van
dalia, where the murder was perpetrateo, is
the county scat, and Mr. Iteinhert, the mur
derer's attorney. Burgess was LOOSELY DRESSED,
and seemed to feel the relief of having his festers removed, which wa3 dcnetheDight before, havin been kept in chains lor some
time past. He did Dot have on any shoes, and had not as yet put on the clothing in which be was to be hung. He was disposed to converse freely, and for quite awbiie en-
eKfrd Lis attorney in a corner of the cell,
detailing hi3 personal affaira and giving di
rpc'.iocs as to the disposal thereof. He Informed your representative that he had slept from 3 o'clock to tf, o'colck. The rest of the night, he said, he
passed in meditation. He was not much
worked up by being sleepless, but, to the
contrary, Reined in perfect repose, as he lay in his bunk and thought over bis past life. He ate a f9v mouthluh at breakfast,
and was confident that a pardon would come
from the governor. His attorneys, who had
b en to see Governor Beveridge the day.before, reported that his excellency would not listen to any arguments in his case. Nevertheless, tbe poor man maintained that
there was room for hope. He did not seem to have any capability of fine feeling, but made one think by
his manner that his conviction was all the result of a conspiracy. He expressed him
self as being satisfied with the efforts of bis counsel for his life, Two o( bis witnesses, he said, were ab3dat at the time cf the trial, and if they had been present he-could easily have PROVED AN ALIBI. He had no idea who th9 person was tha committed the murder. As for him, he was not cr the locality at the time and know
nothiis about ii until his arrest. Four
ministers . came ia to see him, and
remained EOme time praying for and con
versing with him. He reverentially bowed his head while a prayer was offered, but
would say nothing to show that ho had ac
cepted the promises contained in the good
book. The ministers were the Rev. Mr
Pollock or the Presbyterian Church, the
Kev.Mr.McNally of the Southern Methodist, the Rev. Mr. Perkins of the Baptist, and the Rav. J. N. Laphatn of the Methodist. They returned at noon and remained with him
until the execution. Several days sc
Catholic priest called on him, but te refused
to see him, saying tha' be would see only
ministers of the Protestant church. At
dinner he ate a bite or two oi bread and
drank a little water, and then ar
raved himself ia a new black suit of
clothing, new sh03s, bläck necktie and a black slouch hat. At 1 :15 the doors of the
Jail were opened for all who bad ticket.
Your representative's ticket read as fol
lows:
Admit correspondent ol the Sentinel to the
execution of is a than Uurgessat l.fflnehaai.
Jane 18, 1875, between the hours of 10 o'clock
A. m. and 4 p. M, wm. u. baty, Sherin.
Passing through the jail we entered the
enclosure, and about forty persons, that be
ing the number admitted, involuntary
shuddered at the death dealing contrivance
It was then tnat even those who were
always willing to cry: "Hang him. That Is what society demands," first felt tbat the
question of capital punishment was a pio found one. THE PLATFORM
was about twelve Jept square, and about
seven feet from tbe ground. A large cros
beam ran overhead, about seven feet from
the platform, In the center of which was a
common augur hole, through which passed
tbe inch and a quarter rope. This rope was
fastened at one end of the beam, and. when the noose on tbe uther end huDg .about right for a man's head, there was at
least six ieet of slack rope hang
log on tbe beam, which only needed a Blight weight to pull it through. Directly
below this hole in the beam was the trap
door, about three feet square, and loosely fütened with a spring catch. Everything was in readiness and looked so well prepared es to be tempting-, if tucb a remark willeocnrebukcd. At 1:32 tte procession came out of the rear door of the jail into the enclosure, which was only large enough to ' allow ' , two persons to pass around tbe scaffold. First iu the, procession came the prosecuting
attorney, W. II. Gilmore, who was followed f
by Deputy Sheriff Nuxall Then came the
prisoner, led by Sheriff Baty and City Mar
shall Dobbs, dressed as described above.
Court, and tbe attending physician and min
isters. They had to walk partially around the scaffold to the' flight of seven or eight steps which led up to the platform. Tbe condemned man gave one look at the
fatal noose and trap and was noticed by those who watched him to shudder
just tbe least bit. He dropped bis eyes to
another part of the floor of tbe platform immediately alter, and kept them there for
some time, not showing any signs of emo
tion, however. The Rev. Mr. Pollock of
fered a fervent and solemn prayer, while those Ir.siJe paid breathless attention. On
the outside oi the twenty foot 'walls enclos
ins tbe eallows there was a continual mur
mur, as if the crowd of between two and three thousand people were conversing iu
wblfpers. Sheriff Bity, w bo U a email but resolute man, arose and said: It became bis
painful duty to read the following: THE DEATH WARRANT. State ok Illinois Effingham County, es.
Tbe People of the State of Illinois to the Sheriff
or said uoaoty.ureeitng:
Whereas, On the 19th day of March, in tbe year of our Ljrd one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, it being tbe fifth regular day of the regular March term A. D. 1875, of ihe Circuit Court of said conn'v. Nathan r.urxress wa.i
duly convicted by a Jury oi his country of the murder of Of eJoKt-ph Bobbins; and. Whereas. On the 21st day of March, A.D. 1875, being a continuation of said term ol said court, the said Nathan liurgess was duly arraigned tax sentence, and was there and then, bv the judge of said coo rt, sentenced In these words: Therefore it is considered ordered and adjudged by the
oourt I) ere mat inesaid Hainan üurge be la Ken from the bar of this court to the common lall ol
Kltingham county, and there be securely kept
until rnuay, ue istn day oi June, in the year of our Lord A. r. 1875.
and then on the said day, between the hours of 10 o'clock in the morn i Dir and 4 o'clocfc in the
artercoon or said day, within the walls ot said Jail or within an enclosure adjoining, be hung
by the neck until dead." We. therefore, com
hi a uu yon, in accordance of said sentence, and
order that on the isth day of June, A. 1). 1S75, between the hours of 10 o'clock in the morning and i o'clock in tne afternoon of said day, you take the said Nathan Burgess within tbe walls
or said jail, or within an enclosure adjoin! Dg, and Lang him by the neck until he is dead. And
that yon cause a certificate that you have done so to bs filed with the clerk of said court, as the law directs. Herein fall not. Witness. W. C lacrone, clerk ol our said court ,
aou neat iueeoi, at me city ol tinogham, In
said county, this Kith day of Jane, A. D. 1875.
: L.. is.
W. C. Lac o ne, Clerk .
tue snrnzME moment.
At the conclusion oi the reading of the
above, the sheriff added, "And may God
have mercy on ycur soul," in a rery loud
tone or voice. "I will give you," said the
little sheriff, "ten minutes, during which time you may say anything you may de
sire." The doomed man sat still and, with
out raising his head or showing' any sign3 ol emotion, saU in an almost inaudible voice, "I have notLing to say only this, that I die
an innocent man. I am net guilty." The Rev. Mr. BarUs then offered
a snort prayer, Iu which he
urged all to remember that tho Lord was ready ai any time to pardon our sins. Burgess then shook hands with the following persons in the order their names are given: the Rev, Mr. Pollock, tbe prosecuticg attorney. Sheriff Jennings, City Marshall Döbbs, Deputy Sheriff Nuxall, the Rev.Mr. Barkis, the Rev. Mr. Lapham, the Rev. Mr. Mc-
Nally, Judge Jones and Sheriff Baty. They,
with the exceptions of Sheriff Baty, Dobbs",
Sheriff Jennings, and the Rev. Mr. Lapham,
then left the platform. Burgess still gazed at
the planks with an absent-minded, Indiffer
ent stare. At 57 minutes past 1 Sheriff Baty said, "Burgess, you have but three minutes, left. Have yon anything more to say?" There was no reply. A minute passed, and the sheriff falteringly said, "Barges?, two minutes more." The poor fellow RAISED HIS EYES to the sheriff's watch and turned pale. "One minute more, Burgfs?," said the sheriff. This was to.) close and he reached out his hand and his lips worked as if ho were trying to say something. The Sheriff offered to shake hands with him, supposing that this was what he wanted, bat he gasped, "Charley Hausmao," as he pointed to where that person was standing in the yard. Hausman came 'upon the platform, and as tbe prisoner caught him by the . band, the tears began running down Lis facp.
Said Burgess, "Charley, you are the only
witness who told the truth against me." Hausman replied that he had to tell the
truth. Sheriff Bity then . announced,
"time's up," and with his deputy raised the
overcome man to his feet. They walked
across to the center of the trap,
placed the white csp over his lace and tied his hands to his hips, . he
aided them in this. The noose was placed
around the neck and the knot under the right ear. Dobbs unfastened tbe little
catch in the trap door, Baty gave tte door
a kich with his foot, and Nathan Barg ess
was shot into eternity. The body fell lik a dart, and your correspondent will venture
to say that no one of tbe 40 or 50 who viewed the horrible drop
were free from a chilling sensation
until after they got out of sight ot the place.
Tbe fall broke the neck, and alter tbe dull
thud there was cot even tbe sound of
breath. Two or three times the legs were
drawn up Btraight in front of the body, but
were quicaiy iowereu. ilia puise was seventy-eight, strong, directiy after falling, which wm exactly two and a" half "minute after 2 o'clock. At2;7 it was"J20, Weak,
ar.dat2:12
worthy, but poor, residents of that town.
It took some time for tbe town to become settled again. Although the people were far
from boisterous, there was a deep feeling very evident all day. THEIR CRIMES. CASEY'S MURDEB OF HIS WIFE EURO ESS's KILLING! OF ROB BINS. (By the Associated Press. Terre Haute, Ind., June 13. Two exe
cutions took place in this vicinity to-day
At 7:30, on the evening of August 20, 1871
the body of a woman was found on the bank
ol Big Sugar creek,near Elbridge.Edgar coun A Till . 1 . . ...
vy, iiuuois, me tnroai cut clear across, Search wm instituted for the perpetator,
and after many efforts had been made, John
Casey was arreared at Charleston, Ills. The
v nujttu uiu ueen ns wiie. lie was
ia Ken to I'aris, tbe county seat of
Ldgar, in which the crime bad
been committed. At the March term of the
Criminal Circuit Court, tte Jury, alter being
jufc twenty minutes, returned a ver
THE STATE PRISON SOUTH.
The Status of the Institution.
PULSATION HAD CEASED.
The attending physicians were Dr. Groves, Dr. Evisham and Dr. Lacrone, At 2:15 a
neat coffiu was placed under tbe body, which was perfectly still then, and at 2:22 it
was cut down and laid in the casket. Tbe
inscription on Nathan Bargess's tombstone Till say that be was Just twenty-eigbt years of age at the time of his death. Tbe door into tbe enclosure
was opened, and the coffin and contents
carried into the street, where it was placed
on view for an boar. Tbe race was not mach discolored. Th3 crowd rushed lato
the place oi death, and in a moment ths rope wss cut into small pieces and carried
away by tbe crowd. Tbe women especially were anxious to see all, and crowded around
the coffin in the hot sun, as if their lives de
pended on seeing the body. LTausman, who
was an old friend of Burgess, too X the body to Vandalia later In tbe afternoon, and de,liverod It over to the parents, who are
out
diet of murder in the first degree, assessing tbe penalty as death. He has been kept in jail ever since tbe crime. Strenuous efloits have been made to secure a commutation ol
the sentence, but Governor Beveridge was firm and refused to interfere. To-day being
tue uay Bet ior ms banging, be was
executed at 1:37. An immense crowd filled the streets of Paris
and surged about the jail yard, but was kept
u-y uy me munis, ai zi minutes ras
1, be was taken out and ascended the scaf
fold with a firm step. He addressed the
crowd, saying that be was dying happily
teat ne was an innocent man, and tbat the
people were to blame for murdering him , . t I- tap Tri i . .
a, i;o( oucriu iioicomDcut tne rope and the body fell. The neck was dislocated bv
the fall. He struggled but little, and at 1:56
ne was cut aown aDd hU body turned over to his attorneys. He made a confession
shortly alter bis arrest, but akerward main
tained bis innocence and dune to it to the
last. He said tbat he was going to God who
is just, un tbe 20tb ol October last, Joseph
uooDins, a watchman employed by the
andalia Railroad Company at the Kaskas
Kia Dridge in Illinois, was murdered and NATHAN RCRGESS
was convicted of the murder, and to-day
suffered the extreme penalty of the law, at Effingham, 111. It was proved that Burgess
had committed the crime for a two-fold ob
ject: first, to revenge "an imagined wrong
aud second, to seenre the money be believed Bobbins to bo possessed of. Having obtained a change of venue from Fayette
caunty. Burgess was tried at Efflneham. the
county seat of an adjoining county, on the
iy:a aay oi waren ia,t, and on the 17th day of the tame month was sentenced to be bung to day. Numerous efforts have been made to secure his pardon, cr a commutation of his sentence, but tbev proved futile. Burgess, the doomed man.
siept sounaiy iroma too a. M.tbis morning,
wnen re arose ana at 7 partook of break
lasr. lie persisted all day In denying bis
guilt. Although he bad heretofore pub
iisnea a conieseion, be denied tbat he had
written or caused the same to be written
and denounced it as a forgery. He was Visited during the day .by ministers of the Gospel and ether friends. He refused to
join any sect. The execution took place in au enclosure adjeing the Effingham
county jail, snortly alter 2 p. m.. and
was witnessed by probably fifty persons. He
was iea irom ms ceil at i: o'clock p. m. He
walked up firmly, although not in a spirit
oi Dravado, ana took a seat on the platform. A short prayer was offered, the reading of
tne aeatn warrant took place, an interval
of ten minutes for leave taking was given.
mo arms were pinionea, tne wnue can Disced
cn his head, the noose adjusted and Nathan
Burgess was launched Into eternity. His
neck was broken and pulsation ceased in
12U minutes. He died game, protesting his
innocence to the last and without a pretense
oi reugioD.
MACHINE MUSIC.
AN ELECTRICAL MACHINE THAT READS NOTES
AND PLAYS AN ORGAN WITH TWO HUN DRED FINGERS BUT IT ISN'T A HAND OR GAN.
The Philadelphia correspondent of the
New York Tribune writrs that the acme of
machine music appears to have been at
tained in aningenious invention just per
fected by Messrs. Schmoele, of this city.
which was exhibited last evening in Hor
ticultural Hall, to a few Invited guets
The apparatus reads notes and plays upon
an organ with absolute correctness of time
and touch, tbe only assistance given it by tho operator being to feed in
the end of a roll - ol music and
start the machinery in motion. Organs have
be6n p'aved by electricity before, but the
only part performed by tbe electric fluid has
beeu to transmit the power from a distant
bank or keys-to opeu the valves of the inr
strument. such an electric organ has been exhibited in London for some time pa-t. In the Schmoele instrument the electric current is endued with a seeming intelligence, and distinguishes the notes in the same wav
that a blind man dee j by feeling. Mar
velous as this appears at first thought, it is
simple enougn. ine score is written on a
loDg roll of paper by cutting holes through
it in tbe form ol squares or parallelograms
rne reading instrument wnicn is about as
large an a sewing machine, is provided with
a multitude of small brass fingers, each of
which is connected by wire wltn tbe p?pe of
the organ which It operates. THE ROLL OF MUSIC i3 fed in over a brass tube. When the fin
gers rest on the paper no electric current Is
transmitted, because the paper is a non-conductor; but when they fall into the holes cut in it they touch tbe brasa below, the current is transmitted, and the sound produced. Tbe length of the note is governed by tbe length of the slit in the paper. A noiseless belicws-
macbine, run Dy wsna conaucieu tnroush a
pipe from the organ, works the feeding apparatus. To aid in producing orchestral eifects, drums, cymbalo, bells, etc., are aided to the ordinary pipe organ, and operated by electricity in the same manner as the pipes. A greatly increased volume of sound and much richer barmonio combinations can be made by thU instrument than it is possible for a single performer to produce upon an organ, in consequence of the fact that the performer bas enly his ten fingers, while the electrical inichine bas 200, and can strike as many notes at once as desired. All tbe notes on the organ tbat can be combined into a chord can be brought out together. The overtures to"5emiramIde" and "William Tell" were performed last eyenlng with pleasing effect. Aa the reading Instrument is mechanically accurate, and the- score correctly written, there wera of course no false notec. It was obviously machine music, however, but machine uinsic of tbe highest order, and might readily have besn mistaken for the performance of a well-drilled but rather spirit-
less orcbentra. Tbe inventors hope soon to
apply their device to a piauo.
Public sympathy bas turned in the di
rection of Acapulco, Mexico, where two more orphans have jnst been added to the
ling list of the world's bereaved ones Their mother, aged 132 years, died suddenly
the other day, when tbe oldest one had barely reached hisone hundredth birth dav. He and bis young brother, who is only 00, will now have to fctump it through Ufa tu
best they can.
THE LATE MISMANAGEMENT. BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE INSTITUTION AND LIST OF,LSS3EES AND WARDENS SINCE 1822 CRIMES, TERMS OF SENTENCE, A1IVITT, FORMER OCCUPATION AND GRADE, FORMER HABITS AND 80CIAL RELATIONS OF CONVICTS. The State Prison South, its lae mismanagement and present condition is thus sketched by the Nßw Albany Ledger Standard of Wednesday evening: A change In the wardecship of the Southern Prison took place yesterday, Capt. A. J. Iloward,warden elect, taking the place of Col. L. S.Shuier, resigned. Our reporter visited thatinstitulion for the purpose of gaining such ficts concerning it that might be ol interest to the readers of tbe Ledger-Standard. There are 419 convicts, many of wtom are i lie and an absolute expense to the state. The prison seems to be in -a filthy condition, and out ot repair, notwithstanding large sums of money have been expended for additions and repairs, if the late warden's report can be relied on. It is said the Institution is in debt to the amount of something near fiO.OOO, and unless a great charge takes place soon an enormous debt will be created for the taxpayers of the state to settle by a still more burdensome taxation than at present exists. The immense sums of money that have been expended, without scarcely any warrant or legality, have been the result of but little good tithe untortunate cor.vi ts, no credit to the frtate, and the officers who so wantonly squandered tbe people's money. We have every reason to believe tbat a change for the better will ensue under the new management that has Just ueen inaugurated, and if not, tho who nw have control will be held to a strict accountability, and will not be allowed to escape by ill health, res ignation, or other convenient modes. BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH. A law was passed by the legislature in the
year lS22for the erection of "an Institution
for the punishment and reformation of con
victed criminals," and tbe site of the Dresent
prison was the place selected, on account of
us contiguity to Louisville, and as the best
market for convict labor.- At first one acre
of ground was donated, one-balf of which
was enclosed by a brick wall fifteen feet
high. A cell bouse about 100 feet long, t wo stories fcigb, one or'two work shops "and a
guard nouse were erected. It is said a few cells were prepared for penitential visitors. TLdy were rudely and strongly made of beech logs. In Westover, David Starkwether and George Spencer were the first lessees, and commenced with seven convicts. They paid the state a bones of $300 for the labor of the convicts for the first vear. In the year 1828. James Keigwin leased the prison and paid the state an annual rental ol $500, having 33 convicts when he took possession. By economy and management he amassed a considerable amount of money, and gave considerable satisfaction. The number of cells was increased, the building enlarged, provisions, clothing, medicine and a physician were furnished and promptly paid for. Samuel H. Patterson succeeded Keigwin in 1S3Ö. and continued the lease for many years. In lSIti William Lee wss elected warden and served until June, 1819, when Lemuel Ford wa 6lected and served nntil 1S51, when A. Ruter filled his place, D. W. Miller was elected in 1842, and June 15, 18Ö6, the contract of S. H. Patterson, les
see, having expired, and the prison passed
into tbe band- of tbe ttate. Mr. Miller continued in office, if we are not mistaken,
about fourteen jeais, when Samuel Donald son took his place. He resigned after a
short service, and Gov. Morton appointed a man named Wright to the position. James B. Merriwether served as warden about
two years, and resigned December 23, 1S63. Lawrence S. Shuler has been warden ever since, and he resigned, as did Merriwether, June 15, 1S75.
THE PRISON REGISTER.
The first name entered on the register is that
of "James Mills, laborer, 35 years old, five
feet nine inches high, light complexior, blue
eyes, brown hair, and born in North Caro
una, convicted in Crawford county for pas
sine? haaa min nnfl nH Vniramhoi t lti"
for eighteen months. Broke prison and es
caped August 13, 1823, apprehended August
19. 1823, and discharged January 10, 1S25
hiving lost timo by his escape." During the year 1823 there was received only 5 convicts, and in 1S24 there was 24. Up to June
10, 1825, 70 were sentenced, mostly for
short tenis, the longest 7 years. "Negro
Jerry," ot Clark county, was sentenced to
lo years, June, 1826, lor murder, and pa r-
doned January 24. 1S34. This is the firt
murder case. "Pardoned by Gov. Wallace"
is a frequent entry in tbe remarks column on the register. Michael
Brennan and Harlin Crothy, sen
tenced . October, 1837, from Jennings
county, for lile, for murder, were the first
"life-lime men" sentenced m tne state
They were aged 26 and 24, born in Ireland,
and were ultimately pardoned. Thonia
Giles was sentenced from Floyd county tor five years, on a charge of larceny, March 12,
1839. He soon made his escape, and wan
shortly afterward captured. On the 30th ol
March. 1841. while at work oatsiae tne wans,
but under tbe eye ot tbe guard, ne aeiiper
ately sat down and pulled off bis shoes.
and, taking them in his hand, started for the
woods. He was retaken in aoout one
month afterward. On the 19th of June, tbe
same year, be jumped tne wan ana was
gone nearly a year before being retaken.
He lost -123 days, owing to bis numerous es
capes, and served nntil October 28, 1844. II.
was formerly in tne rew xork scale prison
"John Wilson," Clark county, nine years
forgery, escaped July lo. 1842, and lound
dead in Silver creek, July 17, supposed to
have been
SHOT AT TUE TIME OF HIS ESCAPE.
Leander B. McKlnney was sentenced lrom Bartholomew county, Juue 4, 1S57, for li?e,
charged with murder, be tne oldt-a; con
vict in tbe prison, was 32 at the time ot bis sentence and - is now 50, having served IS
years, ue na uvea to see an mat were in
side of the walls at tbe time be was impris
oned go out, and see all that were received
in tbat space of time. Higbteen years witbin
these wails to those outside would seem to be several life-times Ue i3 known by the
name of Buck McKlnney; will fight at the
drop or a; bat and drop it himself, out is not
very aimcuit to manage by the omcers oi tbe
prison. Ue is engaged in the cell-house,cleaHS
up.maKes beds, and is said to be a useful manHenry Harding waa sentenced from War-
rick county for ten years, April 27, 18tfl. He was the convict who murdered Peter Yesley, ot this city, who was guard at tbe prison, April 27, 1803, by cutting his throat with a knife. For this offense Harding
was convicted of murder in. the first degree,
and was executed at Charleetown, tbe county seat of Clark county. There are
very many other interesting incidents that
nrght be given from tbe records ' ot thio
prison, but tbey occupy too much space. At
present the reilth Of. tbe COnTlCtS, gen
erally, is good, there being but few in the
uuapuai. io pnymcian in- dim report to toe
board of directors, December 15, 1874, says
You will see that oar mortuary list is very
large this year, having lost altogether 24 by
death. Tbe mumps found its way into the
rrison. 01 this disease we treated 41 cases.
It is a fact well known to the officers of this prison that a large majority of deaths tbat occur are among those tbat hav? led lives of dissipation and debauchery, having contracted diseases before coming here. I think the territory of our prison district has something to do in filling our prison with
srih man a I. ....
wh7'fl .uKWln IltDe riTertons. !lc!f efind the greatest number of anrh COUNTIES REPRESENTED AND NUMBER FROM EACH. According to the warden's report to tbe folTnLnf estate. Wmber 15, 1S71. tbe loiiowingia shown:
Vigo Vanderbarg.I Jefferson Knox Hoyd Hendricks lsey.... .... Kip ey Bartholomew. Itecatnr...., , Marlon Clay Warriclc.... Mon;an...,... I avles
Marlin.
57 bH IS 9 1.1 IS 10 11 4 H h 4 Ö a
Monroe....
Switzerland-..
uancocü Crawford
Kusu , Gibon.-., Kranklin... Parke Tange Wayne - Brown.... aporte Washington
uwen..
lubeis
Henry
Sullivan Kayette Spincer........ Johnson
J season
1 4 7 1 O 11 4 4 14 1 1 5 4 4
11 B 4 4
Dearborn-
Ureene Putnam Perry
Jennings..., She: by L.ö. Uiitrict...
Total CRIMES OF CONVICTS AND NUMBER OF E4CH.
r."I!".r.I 14 ""-iftt in i 3(. '
20 21 Hi S 7 10 24
Murder Manslaughter
I tape.... . -il ......... ......... (ir&nd la:wny BarglaryLriZZ:V. Assault and battery with intent to killAssault And battery with intent to rapeAssault tnd battery with Intent to rob..Robbery - Larceny and burglary. ,., "
-ein. larceny.
Burglary and larceny and recelvTog tTolen goods.... .....-... Pei jury Ä Obtaining money by false pretense iigamy - -. - Arsou I-orgery . Obtaining goods by falsa r retenas " Aiding prisoners to escape-.
oeuueuou. .
Life... ....... .... Twenty-one years., Twenty years Nineteen yearn-;-.
tgnteen years.
Sixteen years . . , Fifteen years..... Fourteen years-. Twelve years .... Ten years .-.. Nine years Weht years..-.
Seven years Six years-
Five years.... Four and oae-half years - . Four rears
Thiee years
i wo and one-balf years
One and one-balf years One year
NATIVITY OF CONVICTS.
Indiana.
Kentucky.
Ohio-
Pennsylvania.
Ireland.
tJermany ....
re lOiK
Virginia-.. England
Canada.
Georgia
lennessee,
North Carolina..
South Carolina Massachusetts-
France. Illinois.
Denmark
Missouri
Texas.... Michigan. Prussia Scotland-. Louisiana. Delaware-
Wales
12 2 1 I 1
i U 4 7 S4 2 2 i a la i 21
rTi ......... "1
1 ' W I
" t
J. 3 if
..... ..... ......H. ..... 2 j
.... .... . . . 3 t
-.... . 1 ! I " . ' t I
- " 13 -M J
MHt,MMH 1 t I
. ... .MM - .. A I ........... 4 I J
2 ) I
Holland-.,
Arkansas Alabama. Maine
FORMER OCCUPATIONS AND NUMBER OF EACH.'
Laborers Cooks
Barbers -..
Blacksmiths.... Farmers No occupation Clerks , BookSeepoiH ..
Butchers
MfccnitJHtts .-. . Printern - , Col.nr maters.
Co peri
carp titers...-. P- d Her
Stonecutters..,
Painters
Harne a mxkers
Hboemafcerü...
Moldern
Brick masons miners-......
Miller
Teamsters...,
BaKers Bailrf'Eders
Carriage palmer
Br tender..
Sailors
Llghtniogrod agent.
vamlsher
Cabinet maker....
Whip maker Engineers
CJetr maker..
Huop t-Klrt maker.
LOCKMlütU
Pol t-her .
Caniaze iRaker....,
urucaisi
Cabin boy
Lngraver-
Carjbuilder
Siil maker,
Watchman .
Trank maker....
Dai y man.. .
Musician-.
Broom ma Her
Wsicon. makers
Physician
itoatniru
Traders ...
Saloon keeper..
GRADE OF EDUCATION OF CONVICTS.
Read and write. . .
Head only..-.
Noeducalion .....
FORMER HABITS OF CONVICTS.
Intemperate .. Moderate... T T ...
Temperate- .
SOCIAL. RELATION OF CONVICTS.
Si r f 1 r 'lilv .... . mmm ... . .
Wluowers
272 4S , Vi
145 12S HI.
lithe centennial dots bring its troubles
and its rare, the cloud bas a silver lining in tha promise of a grand double lever escape- -
raentceutrxnl.tlpoeoi by Wals Whitman,.
or. as b tsriiM it, "two llowing chains ot proe kad verse, eineuatiox tbe real and
ideal."
How quickly people recall their acquaint
ance with you, the minute jou strike a big; bonanza. New Haven papers didn't lose a
day in discovering tbat the Norfolk man
who got the Cumberland's sale was. a ratlveaud former resident oi thtir vicinity.
' Foreman Carpenter "smiles."
W '
I