the twin hells(两个地狱)-第1节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
THE TWIN HELLS
THE TWIN HELLS
BY JOHN N。 REYNOLDS ATCHISON； KANSAS。
1
… Page 2…
THE TWIN HELLS
TO MY DEAR OLD MOTHER AND TO THE MEMORY OF MY
SAINTED WIFE THIS BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED BY
THE AUTHOR。
2
… Page 3…
THE TWIN HELLS
PREFACE
The following pages treat of hellA Kansas hell and a Missouri hell。
Those who desire to peruse works that tell about Heaven only； are urged to
drop this book and run。 I was an inmate of the Kansas penitentiary for
sixteen months； and make mention of what came under my own
observation in connection with what I experienced。 While an inmate of
this prison I occupied cells at various times with convicts who had served
terms in the Missouri prison。 From these persons I gathered much useful
material for my book。 After my release I visited the Missouri penitentiary；
and verified the statements of those criminals； and gathered additional
material from the prison records and the officials。 I have written chiefly
for the youth of the country； but all ages will be deeply interested in the
following pages。 A large majority of the convicts are young men from
sixteen to twenty…five years of age。 They had no idea of the terrible
sufferings of a convict life； or they surely would have resisted temptation
and kept out of crime。 The following pages will impart to the reader some
idea of what he may expect to endure in case he becomes entangled in the
meshes of the law； and is compelled to do service for the State without any
remuneration。 Every penitentiary is a veritable hell。 Deprive a person of
his liberty； punish and maltreat him； and you fill his life with misery akin
to those who wander in the darkness of 〃eternal night；〃 I think； when the
reader has perused the following pages； he will agree with me； that the
book has the proper title。 That this volume may prove an 〃eye…opener〃 to
the boys who may read it； and prove interesting and instructive to those of
mature years； is the earnest wish of the author。
3
… Page 4…
THE TWIN HELLS
A KANSAS HELL
4
… Page 5…
THE TWIN HELLS
CHAPTER I
MY INITIATION AND CRIME
Guilty！ This word； so replete with sadness and sorrow； fell on my ear
on that blackest of all black Fridays； October 14； 1887。
Penitentiary lightning struck me in the city of Leavenworth； Kansas。 I
was tried in the United States District Court； hence； a United States
prisoner。
The offense for which I was tried and convicted was that of using the
mails for fraudulent purposes。 My sentence was eighteen months in the
penitentiary； and a fine of two hundred dollars。 I served sixteen months； at
the end of which time I was given my liberty。 During the period I was in
prison I dug coal six months in the penitentiary coal mines； and was one of
the clerks of the institution the remainder of the term。 Getting permission
to have writing material in my cell； I first mastered short…hand writing； or
phonography； and then wrote my book： 〃A Kansas Hell； or； Life in the
Kansas Penitentiary。〃 My manuscript being in short…hand； none of the
prison officials were able to read it； and did not know what I was doing
until I obtained my liberty and had my book published。
This； no doubt； will be the proper place to give some of my
antecedents； as well as a few of the details of the crime for which I was
sent to the penitentiary。 I spent my youth and early manhood at Indianola；
Iowa； from which place I removed to Nebraska。 After residing for some
time in Columbus； of that State； I was appointed by the governor to assist
in organizing the Pawnee Indian Reservation into a county。 When
organized it was called Nance County； being named for Hon。 Albinus
Nance； then governor of the State。 I held the position of county clerk of
that county for four consecutive years。 During this time I organized the
Citizens' Bank。 I was its cashier at first； and； later on； its president。 I had a
lucrative business and was doing well。 My wife's health failed her； she
became consumptive。 My family physician advised a removal to the South。
I closed out my business at a great sacrifice； and came to Atchison； Kansas。
Here I located； and made it my future home。 Soon after my arrival I
commenced the publication of a daily newspaper； known as the 〃Times。〃
5
… Page 6…
THE TWIN HELLS
In the county in which I located I found one of the worst and most corrupt
political rings on the face of the earth。 This combination had controlled the
politics of the county for almost a quarter of a century。 Soon I became
involved in a terrific newspaper war with the members of this political
organization。 An election of county and State officials was soon to take
place。 In order to test the strength of the contending elements； in my
newspaper； I presented the name of Hon。 W。 D。 Gilbert as a candidate for
district judge in opposition to the ring candidate。 A sharp fight ensued。 Mr。
Gilbert was elected by an overwhelming majority。 This was the first time
for twenty…five years that this ring had been defeated。 The members of it
were very sore。 Looking upon me as the principal spirit； I was the object
toward which they directed all their shafts of spite。
Some time before this an insurance company had been organized in
the city of Atchison。 I was invited to become its president。 I examined the
books of the corporation； and found it to be organized according to the
laws of Kansas； that the company had a charter from the State； and also
certified authority to issue policies of insurance； granted by the State
insurance commissioner。 I accepted the presidency on condition that the
company was simply to have the use of my name； and that I was not
expected to give any of my time to the company； as I was otherwise
engaged。 I was editor of a daily newspaper； and could not attend to
anything else。 While this company was doing business a printed circular
was used； stating that the corporation had one hundred thousand dollars
PAID up capital。 This circular was sent out through the mails over the
State advertising the business。 It was charged this circular was fraudulent；
that the company did not have that amount of capital paid in。 My name
was attached to this printed circular。 For this； I was indicted in the United
States District Court； on the charge of using the mails for fraudulent
purposes。 The advertised capital of this corporation was SUBSCRIBED；
but not all paid in； as it was not needed in the business of the company。
After indictment I was arrested； and gave bonds for my appearance at the
next term of court； which was held soon after。
Not being able to secure the attendance of all my witnesses； my
attorney wrote the prosecuting attorney asking his consent that my case be
6
… Page 7…
THE TWIN HELLS
continued。 The request was granted。 When the case was called； my
attorney appeared and introduced a motion to continue the case； filing
affidavits necessary in such cases。 The prosecuting attorney having given
his consent； there was no doubt in the minds of those interested as to the
continuance of the case。 For some cause best known to himself； the judge
would not grant the continuance； and forced me to trial without having a
single witness。 It was my intention to have some fifty witnesses
subpoenaed； to prove that the insurance company of which I was president
was not a fraud。 No
