Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 December 1884 — At The County Jail. [ARTICLE]

At The County Jail.

A representation of The Rkihbeican made a brief call at the Jasper* county jail, last Monday. He found that, for its purpose, admirable structure, in the best of order. It is well warmed, well lighted, well vcntil'ated. and withal perfeatly secure. To have a look at, and a talk with the two inmates of -the jail, were the chief objects ofb.ur visit. ( h lauley Mmm. ki;. C harley Mutchler, the Benton county horse thief, is a powerful looking young man. with a large body but a small i head, and is evidently very deficient in ; intellectual pofver. lie wears a ven amiable und even .innocent expression upon his countenance and has bui UttxCof the appearance of the hardened criminal about him. 11c is entire ly without education not being able to j write or even read. He has lead a. roving life for sonic time, li>~iug in | many dill'.-rent places, at JFentpnville, I Mich.,'among the rest, where he has a j sweet heart, lie has the free range of j all that portion of the jail ofitside the ; ceil enclosure, and seems cheerful and resigned to his imprisonment. W ;->iiiN eu Wartn ek. The slayer of John Drager, -is kept more closely confined. Tho only range j allowed h'.ia is his cell.and the narrow gallery fronting, the range of colls. We-found him sitting in his cut! door, with face half buried in his handkerchief, ami evidently absorbed in mos - j unenviable • meditations, fie scarcely glanced up tus the sheriff and visitors 1 vntered the jail, and showed no dis-:

position whatever. to attempt any conversation. A few minutes later Mr. Hamel Fairchild, t-p», and a tornior neighbor, of both Wartner and his victim, entered the jail. Wartner rose and shook hands through the gallery bits, and j'm'nml lately broke into haul ‘weeping, and- remained in that condition during all the. time we remained in the j-aii. He is a strong, well built man, just in the prime of life, physically. 11 is appearance, to a casual observer do,es nothin ahy-degivo, indicate him to be a mau capable pt sti-h a deed as a chain of eire.uei s auces ami his own eotifessin, „htve fastened upon him, For a few days immedat ely after makmg his cdnf. ss on. his bodi'y he ilt!i seemed i:r a very bad condition, b it lie has since rallied, and now appears to enjoy gpo 1 health ! Accpnling to the report of his jail mate, | Mutcliler, lie does not appear to rest j wed at night, however. Wartner’s I entire I amity consists of a wire anl: five children, two of the latter have! been given a home. for. the present, ui ll Mr.Bigler, ot Keener tp , while the. wife and three children nr« now at the county asylum. .