the twin hells(两个地狱)-第2节
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subpoenaed； to prove that the insurance company of which I was president
was not a fraud。 Not being allowed to have my witnesses； I was； under the
instructions of the court； which were； indeed； exceedingly pointed； found
guilty； and sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment and to pay a fine
of two hundred dollars。 The political ring now triumphed for a brief period。
In order to prove conclusively to the reader that this was a piece of spite
work； I have only to state that I was the only one of all the officers of that
company that was ever tried for running a bogus insurance company。 Why
was it that I was the only one sent to the penitentiary when there was the
secretary； treasurer； and six directors equally as guilty as myself？
To prove more conclusively that it was political spite work that sent
me to prison； let me inform the readers that about the time the insurance
company at Atchison was organized； a similar one was organized in
Topeka。 They were similar in EVERY RESPECT。 I was president of the
one at Atchison； while a distinguished gentleman by the name of Gen。 J。 C。
Caldwell was president of the one at Topeka。 Both of these companies
failed。 The president of the Atchison company was sent to the penitentiary；
while the president of the Topeka company was appointed by the governor
of the State to the responsible position of chairman of the State Board of
Pardons。 Many persons have asked why this difference in the treatment of
the presidents of these two companies。 The only answer that can be given
is that General Caldwell stood in with the Kansas political ring； while I did
not。 Every sensible man must admit that if it was just for me to serve a
term in prison for the offense charged against me； General Caldwell
should have been prescribed for in the same manner。 I have no fight to
make upon Mr。 Caldwell。 He is an excellent gentlemen。 He was in luck。
The fates were against me。 Had I been a State instead of a United States
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prisoner； no doubt Mr。 Caldwell； as chairman of the Board of Pardons；
would have used his influence to secure for me my liberty。 That I was sent
to prison is wholly due to politics。 It is unnecessary； therefore； for me to
inform the reader that I am now 〃out of politics。〃 Having served out my
term I returned to my home in Atchison。 As to the ring that sent me to
prison； some of them are dead； others have left Atchison to make their
homes in other places； others have failed financially； and still others have
fallen so low that they have scarcely friends enough to bury them should
they happen to die。
The big wheel of life keeps on revolving。 Those who are up to…day
may be down to…morrow； and vice versa。 But to continue my narrative。
Immediately after my conviction and sentence I was taken to the
Leavenworth County jail。 Here I remained until the following Tuesday in
the company of a dozen or more prisoners who were awaiting trial。 On
Sunday； while in this jail； my wife； who died during my imprisonment of a
broken heart； and an account of which is given in a subsequent chapter；
came to see me。 I can never forget this visit。 She remained with me during
the entire day。 During the conversation of the day I said to her that； it
seemed that the future appeared very gloomy。 That it would be a miracle if
I ever was able to survive the disgrace that had been so cruelly placed
upon me。 That all ambition and hope as to the future had fled； and that I
could not blame her if she should now free herself by means of divorce； as
my conviction of crime was a legal ground for divorce in Kansas。 In reply
to this； the noble little woman； her face aglow with the radiance of
womanly devotion； said； that for twenty years of married life our home
had been one of sunshine； that I had been kind to her and made her life
one of happiness； and that now； when misfortune came； it was not only a
duty； but the highest pleasure； to prove her fidelity。 She kept her word。 She
was true to the last。 When dying； her last words were a petition for the
blessings of God upon her husband who was far away behind frowning
prison walls。 On Tuesday morning a deputy United States marshal came to
the jail and gave me notice that in a few moments we would leave for the
penitentiary。 This officer was a gentleman； and did not seek to further
humiliate me by placing irons on my person。 I have often thought of this
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act of kindness on the part of this humane official。 We took the train at
Leavenworth； and in a very few moments were at my future place of
residence。 Lansing； the small village where the penitentiary is located； is
about five miles from the city of Leavenworth。 The entrance to the prison
is from the west。 Under the watchful care of the officer who had me in
charge； I passed under a stone archway； to the left of which was a small
office； where a guard was on duty during the day time。 We were halted by
this officer； who inquired if we had any firearms。 No one visiting the
penitentiary is allowed to carry fire…arms within the enclosure。 The
marshal who had me in custody handed over a large navy revolver。
Between this archway and the western wall of the prison is a beautiful
lawn。 The walks are lined with fragrant flowers； beautiful fountains send
aloft their silvery sprays。 Passing up the roadway leading to the entrance
door； and looking about me upon the rich carpet of green； the flowers and
fountains； I came to the conclusion that the penitentiary was not so bad a
place as I had imagined。 I changed my mind； however； as soon as I had
seen inside the walls。
The prison enclosure contains about ten acres of ground。 This is
surrounded by a stone wall some fifteen feet high； and six feet thick at the
base。 It is not more than four feet at the top。 At each of the four corners
may be found a tower rising some ten feet above the wall。 A guard is on
duty in each of these towers during the day。 He carries a double…barreled
shotgun loaded with buckshot。 In case a prisoner tries to escape he is liable
to get a dose of lead； provided the officer on duty is a good marksman。
The western wall is almost entirely made of a large stone building with its
two long wings。 The main building is four stories。 The wings stretching to
the north and south； each two hundred and fifty feet； contain the cells。 On
the first floor of the main building are the offices of the warden； clerk；
deputy warden and turnkey。 The upper rooms are used by the warden's
family。
I was first conducted into the clerk's office and introduced to Mr。 Jones；
the clerk。 He is a very pleasant gentleman； and spoke kindly to me； which
I can assure all was very acceptable； for just about that time I was feeling
very badly。 His remark was： 〃I am very glad to meet you； Mr。 Reynolds；
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but sorry to meet you under these sad circumstances。〃 On his invitation I
took a chair and sat down to await the next part of the progamme。 As I sat
there and thought of the kind words spoken to me by the clerk； I quickly
reached the conclusion that if all the officers of that institution were as
kind as Mr。 Jones； it would not be as bad a place as I had anticipated。 I had
no experience then that would justify any other conclusion。 Soon a side
door of the office opened and in came the deputy warden； Mr。 John
Higgins。 Mr。 H。 is the sourest appearing man I ever met in my life。 At least；
it seemed so to me on that day。 He can get more vinegar on the outside of
his face than any other person in the State of Kansas。 He did not wait to be
introduced to me。 He never craves an introduction to a criminal。 As soon
as he came into the room he got a pole with which to measure me。 Then；
looking at me； in a harsh； gruff voice he called out： 〃Stand up here。〃 At
f
