the twin hells(两个地狱)-第25节
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companion an affectionate farewell。 Wending his way to the southwestern
portion of the State he was arrested for additional crimes and
misdemeanors。 Knowing that the officers had not sufficient evidence
against him he bravely stood trial and was acquitted。 However； as he was
going forth from his prison cell a free man； much to his surprise； an
official from Sedalia put in an appearance and took him back to the scene
of his small…pox escapade。 At his trial he was convicted and received a
sentence of six and one…half years。 He now took a cell in the Jefferson
City penitentiary。 After four years of imprisonment this notorious criminal
makes an application for pardon； setting up an alibi as the basis of the
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application； and succeeded in influencing the Governor to believe the
testimony； and was set at liberty； promising that he would leave the State
of Missouri； never to return。 The conscience of the said Thomas never
troubled him over failing to keep his word with the officers of the law。 He
did not leave Missouri； as he agreed； but betook himself to the pleasant
little city of Carthage。 Scarcely three moths had elapsed before he found
himself again in durance vile for stealing horses。 He was tried； convicted
and returned to Jefferson City penitentiary under a sentence of six years。
He took an appeal to the Supreme Court。 The judgment of the lower court
was reversed。 He was taken back to Carthage for another trial； and was
convicted the second time； and again received a sentence of six years at
hard labor in the penitentiary。 As before； he appealed the case； and the
governor； thinking the State was getting the worst of the matter； and that a
large amount of costs were being made； pardoned the convict under
another promise that he would leave the State。 Currens； now following
Greeley's advice； turns his eyes toward the setting sun。 He crosses the Big
Muddy； and plants his feet upon the sacred soil of Kansas。 He makes a raid
upon Lawrence； breaks into a house； and is caught in the act of trying to
carry off the household goods。 A courteous policeman takes charge of
himnow deeply steeped in crimesoon landing him behind the bars。 In
the presence of the court he next makes a solemn statement that； prior to
this； he had been a Sunday…school teacher； that misfortune had overtaken
him； and he was forced to enter some friend's kitchen or starve。 Those who
listened to his pathetic appeal inform me that the stern judge was moved to
tears； and that while he had contemplated giving the wayward Thomas six
years； he made it three。 This was the first introduction of our hero to the
principal brown stone front of Lansing。 It was not long after his arrival at
the Kansas penitentiary before he gained the confidence of the authorities；
and was made a 〃trusty。〃 He had an easy place given him。
His three years' sentence soon passed away。 His term was reduced
three months because of his excellent conduct while in prison。 Bearing
with him the good wishes of a majority of the prison officials； and
followed by the prayers of the pious chaplain； he goes forth to engage in
life's battle again。 Thomas could not fully enjoy the sweets of liberty
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unless on horseback。 He makes his way to the capital of Kansas； and
engages at once in the dangerous business of stealing horses。 He had not
continued this course long before he was arrested； tried； convicted and
returned to Lansing for five years more。 Thomas had not been in the
Kansas penitentiary the second time but a few months； when he called
upon the chaplain； and with tears rolling down his face confessed he was a
great sinner； promised to lead a different life； and urged the chaplain to
pray for him。 Delighted at the prospect of snatching such a brand from the
eternal burning； the man of God took Thomas into a private room； and the
two knelt down。 The chaplain offered a fervent prayer that the loving
Father would take to His embrace the returning； sinful prodigal。 At the
conclusion of this prayer the chaplain called upon the 〃sin sick soul〃 to
pray for himself。 This was an unexpected movement by the chaplain； and
Thomas was hardly prepared for the emergency。 However； he prayed。 He
was converted on the spot。 At least； the chaplain thought so。 Strange as it
may appear to my readers； instead of this noted convict having to remain
and serve out his five years' sentence； through the influence of this
minister he secured a pardon。 At the expiration of eighteen months the
shrewd convict was a free man。 That chaplain was 〃worked。〃
The fortunate Thomas next visits Atchison。 A farmer came to the city
one day； driving a beautiful horse。 The temptation was too great； and the
man who had been an inmate of a penitentiary seven different times
followed the unsuspecting farmer to his home； and that night rode away
the coveted prize。 The Atchison County Vigilance Committee traced and
soon caught the guilty horse…thief； landing him in Atchison County's
beautiful jail。 Shortly after； Thomas had an interview with the county
attorney； and it was agreed by and between them； if the horse…thief would
plead guilty； he should be let off with one year in the penitentiary。 To this
the grave offender agreed； and； presenting himself before the tribunal of
justice； Hon。 W。 D。 Gilbert presiding； plead guilty。 The county attorney
being absent； the court gave Thomas； instead of twelve months； a year and
a half at hard labor。 I met him in the penitentiary a few days ago； and
learned that he is putting forth an effort to secure a pardon on the ground
that had he not been promised only a one year's sentence； he would have
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stood trial and been acquitted。 He claims that he should be given his
liberty when his one year is up。
Thomas was out of the penitentiary long enough to go into the army
and get a bullet through his ankle； and therefor draws a pension of twenty…
four dollars per month。 He takes good care of his money； and has enough
on hand to enable him to get a good start in life when he obtains his
freedom。 He is a well…behaved prisoner。 He is true to his pals in crime；
never having been known to turn State's evidence。 He has a mania for
taking things that do not belong to him。 He claims that he never would
have been caught the last time had not his housekeeper 〃given him away。〃
The two had a domestic quarrel； and in her efforts to get even； she told the
authorities of his theft。 After his trial and conviction； womanlike； she
repented in sackcloth and ashes； but Thomas would have no more to do
with her。 Later； she went over into Missouri； where she has since died。
One of the first things Thomas will do on regaining his liberty will be to
secure another housekeeper； and probably the the next thing will be to
steal some farmer's horse。
This convict is now serving out his eighth term in the penitentiary。 It is
fearful to contemplate these human wrecks。 A wasted life； golden
opportunities unimproved； a dark and dismal future will constitute the
death knell of such fallen beings。 Young man； remember the life of this
convict； and shun such a course。
SKILLED LABOR
William Hurst。Some of the narratives in this book read like the story
of Aladin's Lamp； and we have no doubt some of them so reading are
absolutely true； while for the Lamp story nothing is claimed。 For many
ages men； and particularly those engaged in the literary field of thought；
