the twin hells(两个地狱)-第28节
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woman who kept me company having thus obtained my secret； went to the
city marshal and made an arrangement that for half of the reward offered
she would show him the man who had committed the crime。 This was
agreed to。 While I was drinking and having a good time with my 'fast
woman' three men were on the road to the farm where I had been working。
They found and dug up the old bucket containing what money I had left in
it； and the axe。 All this I learned at the trial。 I was arrested and bound over
to the District Court on a charge of murder in the first degree。 The officers
had to keep me secreted for some time； as there was strong talk of
lynching。 In due time I had my trial and got a life sentence。〃
I asked him if he had any hope of pardon。
〃Oh yes；〃 said he； 〃in the course of eight or ten years I will be able to
get out once more。〃
〃What became of the tramps that came so near being compelled to
suffer the penalty of your crime？〃
〃They were released as soon as I was arrested； a snug little sum of
money was raised for them； a new suit of clothes purchased； and they went
on their way rejoicing； thinking themselves creatures of luck。〃
As we sat together in a secluded place in the mines； with the faint light
of my miner's lamp falling on his hideous face； the cool； deliberate manner
in which he related his atrocious doings； the fiendish spirit he displayed；
led me to regard him as one among the most debased and hardened
criminals I had met in the minesa human being utterly devoid of moral
naturea very devil in the form of man！
A NOTED COUNTERFEITER
One of my companions in the mines； and with whom I worked a
couple of weeks； lying almost side by side with him as we dug coal in the
same room； was a noted counterfeiter。 He had plied his trade for many
years successfully。 Whisky finally sent him to the penitentiary。 If
professional criminals would only let strong drink alone not half so many
of them would get caught。 They get drunk； and in this condition expose
themselves。 We don't mean to use this as an argument against the
prohibitory law！ It is； perhaps； proper for them to drink。 This counterfeiter
makes his dies out of plaster paris。 They are very simple and easy of
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construction。 He explained to me the manner in which they were made。 I
would give his method of making these dies were it not for the fact that
some smart boy getting hold of this book and learning the method would
undertake the business； and as a result his good old mother would be going
to the penitentiary to visit him。 When this counterfeiter would run short of
funds he would purchase the necessary material； go into the woods on a
dark night； and in a very short time would have plenty of bogus money。 He
taught the trade to his brother and to some bosom friends； and it was not
long until they had a regular organized gang。 Getting drunk one day one of
them displayed too many shining new pieces of money。 He was 〃spotted。〃
A detective was put on his track。 He was traced to the headquarters of the
gang； and in a few hours thereafter the entire posse were locked up in jail
on a charge of counterfeiting and passing 〃bogus money。〃 They now
formed plans for their escape from jail。 They adopted the plan of seizing
the jailor； as he brought in supper； thrusting him into a cell； locking him in；
and then making good their escape。 They made the attempt。 The jailor was
locked in the cell according to the programme； but so much noise was
made in the struggle that the sheriff put in an appearance with a loaded
revolver。 The prisoners made a dash for liberty。 A brother of my informant
was killed； another of the gang was wounded and dragged back into his
cell in the jail； the others got away。 It was in the winter time。 The
succeeding night was extremely cold。 Wandering about all night in the
snow； their feet were frozen； and they were easily recaptured the next day。
They had their trial； and all were sent to the penitentiary。 They got eight
years apiece； three for counterfeiting and five for breaking jail。 In this
manner was broken up one of the worst counterfeit gangs of the West。
Whisky has trapped many a criminal。 There are but very few that do not
〃indulge。〃 In fact； I cannot now recall a single professional criminal but
would take a drop if he could get it。 They must have whisky to nerve them
for their iniquitous business。 When the crime is committed they drink
again to soothe their wounded consciences。〃
YELLOW BACK LITERATURE
A boy was brought into the hospital one day while I was there； whose
history is worth relating； as it shows the fatal effects of bad literature upon
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the human mind； and to what sad results it may lead。 This youth had
become suddenly ill in the mines； and had to be assisted from his place of
work to the ward for the sick。 He was very ill for several days； but began
to grow convalescent。 An opportunity presenting itself； I got into
conversation with him； and he told me the history of his crime。 He was an
orphan。 At the death of both his parents in the East he had come to Kansas
to make his home with an uncle。 This relative was very kind； and after a
time adopted the boy。 He had a pleasant home； and his prospects for the
future were bright。 How often is it the case that the sky of the future
becomes overcast。 This young criminal was a constant reader of the Life
of Jesse James； and kindred literature； until he made up his mind to go on
the 〃war path〃 and become Jesse James No。 2。 With this in view； he
provided himself with two large revolvers。 One night； after all the
household had retired； he crept stealthily into the bed…room of one of the
hired men and stole seventy dollars。 He goes to the barn and takes one of
his uncle's horses and starts for the Indian Territory。 The uncle was
awakened an hour later on account of some unusual sound at the barn； and
going thither discovered that one of his best horses was gone； and also that
his nephew was away。 He got together several of his neighbors and started
in pursuit； and the next day； about noon； the youthful thief was overtaken
and surrounded。 The uncle rode up to him and began to question him as to
his strange conduct； when the boy drew one of his revolvers； and； pointing
at his uncle； shot him dead。 He was going to play Jesse James to the last。
When he saw his uncle fall dead from his horse； now realizing what he
had done； the bravado spirit forsook him； and he began to quake with fear。
The neighbors closed in upon him and soon took his firearms from him。 In
due time he had his trial and was sent to the penitentiary for life。
Bad books are our worst companions。 I have narrated the history of
this young murderer； and now urge my boy readers to let yellow back
literature alone。 It wrecked the future of this youth； and what it did for one
it may do for another。
A YOUTHFUL MURDERER
Willie Sells。In the prison； this convict is called the 〃baby convict。〃
When he came to the penitentiary in 1886； he was but sixteen years of age；
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and in appearance much younger。 One of the most sickening murders
committed in Kansas is charged to the account of this boy。 His home is in
Neosho County。 His father； a prosperous farmer； lived happily with his
wife and three children。 Willie was the oldest of the children。 Early one
morning he rushed from his home and made his way to the nearest
neighbor； about half a mile distant； and with his face and hands covered
with blood conveyed the startling intelligence that the entire family had
been murdered； and he only had escaped。 Soon an excited crowd o
