the twin hells(两个地狱)-第27节
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detectives stated at one time that a criminal could not keep his secret。 It is
true。 I know it to be a fact。 It has been demonstrated a hundred times in my
association with these convicts in the Kansas penitentiary。 Securing their
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confidence； these men have not only told me of the crimes for which they
have been sent to prison； but also of crimes that they have committed； and；
in the commission of which； they had not been detected； which； if I should
make them known； would cause a number of them to remain in the
penitentiary the rest of their lives。 I am not in the detective business； and
will therefore keep what was confided to me。 I have met but few criminals
in the mines that would not admit their guilt。 I have thought in many cases；
convicts received sentences too severe； and not at all commensurate with
the crime committed。 I have met a few men； however； who would
stubbornly deny their guilt and stoutly affirm their innocence。 I have
worked upon these men day after day； and never got anything out of them
but that they were innocent。 At times； in tears； they would talk of their
sufferings； and wonder if there was a just God silently permitting the
innocent to suffer for the guilty。 I am satisfied these men are innocent； and
they have my sympathy。 They are exceptions。 Others； while admitting
their guilt on general principles； and assenting to the justice of
imprisonment； yet maintain that they were innocent of the particular crime
for which they stand convicted。 I trust the reader will not get his
sympathies wrought too high； as comparatively few angels find their way
into modern prisons。 I will give you a few illustrations。 These are just
samples of scores of histories in my possession。
A hog…thief worked in the mines with me for a few days。 His dose was
five years at hard labor。 He had stolen an old sandy female swine with six
pigs。 I asked him if he was really guilty of carrying on the pork business。
〃Yes；〃 said he； with a low chuckle； 〃I have stolen pigs all my life； and my
daddy and mammy before me were in the same business。 I got caught。
They never did。〃 He then related the details of many thefts。 He made a
considerable amount of money in his wicked traffic； which he had
squandered； and was now penniless。 Money secured in a criminal manner
never does the possessor any good。 I asked him if he had enough of the
hog business； and if it was his intention to quit it； and when he got out of
the pen to earn an honest living。 〃No；〃 he replied； 〃as long as there is a
hog to steal and I am a free man； I propose to steal him。〃 Imprisonment
failed to reform this convict。 Although a hog…thief he was an excellent
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singer and a prominent member of the prison choir。
There are many murderers in the mines。 In fact； nearly all the life men
are there。 Some of them speak of their crimes with a bravado simply
astonishing； showing their utter depravity。 Others； admitting their guilt；
say but little of details。 The following will give the reader some idea of the
stories that greeted my ears almost daily； and led me to conclude that the
coal mines of the penitentiary are not inhabited exclusively by Sunday…
school scholars。 This cruel and heartless wretch had murdered an old man
and his wife。 The old people lived on a farm adjoining the one where this
criminal； who was then a hired man； worked； It was the talk of the
neighborhood that they had money。 This human fiend undertook to secure
their 〃loose change；〃 as he called it。 He procured a shotgun and an axe；
and； in the dead hour of night； went to the house of the old people。 He
forced open the kitchen door and went in。 He had also brought with him a
lantern。 He quietly stole to the bedside of the innocent and aged sleepers。
He had no use for his lantern as the moonlight shone through the window
opposite and fell upon the faces of the unconscious victims。 Setting his
gun down by the side of the bed； so that he could have it handy for use； if
necessary； he took the axe and struck each of his victims a blow upon the
head。 He said； with a demoniac chuckle； that it was more difficult to kill a
woman than a man； as it required two blows from the axe to kill the
woman； while one was sufficient for the man。 He then ransacked the house；
and； between some blankets underneath the straw…bed upon which the old
folks were sleeping； he found a small bag； which contained some gold；
silver and paper money； amounting to over one thousand dollars。 In a cold…
blooded manner he further stated （and as I pen his words my blood nearly
freezes in my veins）； in order to search the bed upon which his victims
were lying； it became necessary for him to remove the bodies； so he lifted
them up one at a time； and placed them upon the floor； face downward； for
the reason； as he said； that their eyes bulged out and seemed to stare at
him。
After securing the money he fled and returned to the farm where he
worked。 He slept in the barn； as is very often the case with farm laborers
during the summer season。 Entering the barn he procured an old bucket；
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places his money in it； covers the top with a piece of board； and buries it in
the earth east of the barn。 He also buried the axe near the bucket。 He said
there were clots of blood and hair on the axe； and he thought best to put it
out of sight。 He then returned to the barn； and； strange to say； soon fell
asleep and slept sweetly until morning。 He went to work the next day as
usual； and his mind was taken up more by thinking of what a good time he
would have after a little； spending that money； than in worrying over the
terrible crime he had committed。 He reasoned that the money would do the
old people no good； but that he could use it to advantage。
The discovery of the murder was made the next day about noon。 The
alarm was given。 The whole country was aroused and excited over the
commission of such a horrible crime two innocent； helpless and highly…
respected old people murdered for their money。 A couple of tramps had
passed through the neighborhood the day before； and； of course；
everybody thought it must have been the tramps that committed the
murder。 The object now was to find them。 They were overtaken the next
day and brought back to the scene of the murder。 They both stoutly denied
any knowledge of the crime。 They were separated； and each was told that
the other had confessed。 This was done that a confession might be forced
from them。 They continued in their affirmation of innocence。 They were
then taken to the woods near by and each hung up until life was almost
extinct； but they still denied the commission of the crime。 They were at
length taken to the county seat； not far distant； and； on a preliminary
examination； were bound over to appear at the next term of the District
Court； and put in the county jail。 The majority of the people believed that
the perpetrators of this crime had been arrested and were now in durance
vile； the excitement soon passed away； and very little was said about it。
〃It was at this time；〃 said my informant； that I made the mistake of my
life。 I had worked hard on the farm for several months； and thought I
would take a lay off。 I felt it was due me。 I now made up my mind to have
a time。 I went to town and soon fell in with a harlot。 I got to drinking。 I am
very fond of strong drink； it has been my ruin。 I became intoxicated； and
during this time I must have betrayed my secret to this wicked woman。 A
large reward had been offered for the murderer of these old people。 This
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woman who kept me company having thus obtained my secret
