the twin hells(两个地狱)-第47节
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thereafter。
NINE TIMES
As I was walking through the penitentiary； in company with Deputy
Warden Bradbury； he pointed out an old convict； and said； 〃There is a
fellow that has seen prison life。 He is here this time under the name of Gus
Loman。 He is now serving his NINTH term in this prison。 At the
expiration of one of his sentences he went away and was gone over a year；
and when he came back I asked him where he had been so long。 His reply
was； 'Simply rusticating at Joliet； Ill。； with some friends。' Every time he is
sent to prison he gives in a new and different name and； of course； no one
but himself knows what his real name is。〃 When asked why he comes to
the prison so often； he remarked that； when once in prison it is impossible
to get work to do on the outside； and he had made up his mind to spend the
rest of his days in prison。 He claimed that the fates were against him and
he could not make a living on the outside； as no one would employ him；
that he had tried it several times and failed； and now he had given up all
hope。 He is a bold； bad and natural thief。 As soon as his term is out he goes
a little distance from the prison； gets on a spree； gets into trouble； steals
something； and soon finds himself back again in the penitentiary。 He is
now over seventy years of age； and is both a physical and moral wreck。
What an awful warning for the young is the history of such a wasted life。
DESPERADO JOHNSON
This convict is the most daring and desperate criminal in the Missouri
penitentiary。 The prison authorities have had more trouble with him than
with any other man who ever found a home behind the walls of this great
institution。 He was sent up from Jackson County； and was charged with
murdering two men before he was finally convicted of crime。 On trial for
these two murders be was successful in proving an alibi。 The last time be
was not so successful； and received a sentence of twelve years。 Soon after
his arrival at the prison he was set to work in one of the shops。 When he
became a little acquainted； his innate cussedness induced him to raise a
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riot in the prison。 It was a desperate undertaking； but he was equal to the
emergency。 For days and weeks he was on the alert； and when a guard was
not on the watch he would communicate with a convict； and enlist his
services； and give him his instructions as to what part he should perform
when the signal should be given。
At last the day came when all was ready for the plans so well laid to be
carried into execution。 Each of the convicts who were to act in concert
with him piled up a lot of kindling in their respective shops and saturated
it with kerosene。 When the prisoners were being marched out to supper；
they threw matches into the piles of kindling…wood； and soon several
buildings were on fire。 Intense excitement now prevailed among the two
thousand convicts。 The ranks were quickly broken； and all was confusion。
Some of the better disposed convicts tried to assist the officers in putting
out the fires； and were in turn knocked down and trampled upon by those
who were in favor of the riot。 In the midst of this great excitement Johnson；
the leader； with four of his associates； knocked down one of the guards
and stripped him of his clothing。 Johnson put on this suit of blue and
started to one of the towers。 Reaching the same； he asked permission of
the officer on duty to let down the ladder and allow him to ascend and
assist him in 〃holding the fort；〃 as this was Captain Bradbury's orders。
Johnson's intentions were to get on top of the wall and into the tower；
where the guard opened the large gate below by the use of a lever。 The
convict； once inside the tower； would knock the officer down； seize his
gun； raise the lever； throw open the large gate in the wall； and permit the
prisoners all to rush out。 This was a bold scheme； and it is a wonder；
during the great excitement that prevailed； that it was not successful。 The
officer on duty； when requested by the convict to allow him to ascend the
ladder； coolly drew his gun； and told him if he dared to ascend he would
send buckshot into his body。
Foiled in this； the desperado returns to where the officials are fighting
the flames； and began cutting the hose so as to stop the supply of water。
The fire raged furiously。 A strong wind sprung up adding intensity to the
flames。 Over 200；000 worth of property was soon swept away in this
direful storm of fire。 After a fearful conflict the prisoners were
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overpowered and driven into their cells。
A number of them were severely wounded。 Several died of the injuries
received。 The prison directors had a called meeting and investigated the
riot。 The blame fell upon convict Johnson。 A criminal charge was preferred
against him in the courts； for arson。 He was convicted and served an
additional sentence of twelve years。 This； added to his former sentence；
makes twenty…four years of imprisonment for this desperado。 When he
was taken out of the penitentiary to stand trial for setting fire to the prison；
he was heavily loaded with chains； and in the custody of six prison
officials。 It was feared he would make a desperate effort to escape during
this trial。 On his return to the prison he was placed in a dark dungeon； and
has been kept caged up ever since； like a wild beast。 When he is given
exercise he wears a ball and chain and an officer walks immediately
behind him； with a loaded Winchester； ready to shoot him down if he
makes any bad breaks。 The officials are very careful when they enter his
cell for any purpose； as he is liable to kill them。 Captain Bradbury； the
deputy warden； in speaking of him； says； he is the most desperate criminal
he has met during his thirty…three years of prison experience。
HENRY BUTLER；
a colored representative of Pettis County； has served the longest
consecutive term of any of the male prisoners。 Henry killed his man； and
for this mistake has been doing service for the State of Missouri 〃without
money and without price〃 for the past fifteen years。 The story of his
downfall is very romantic。 He was a married man； and the father of an
interesting family。 There lived near him a young lady of color； very
handsome and attractive； so the story goes； and for whom Henry had a
great liking。 There was nothing wrong about all this； perhaps； if Henry had
not permitted his affections to go too far。 Instead of admiring this dusky
maiden at a distance； as he should have done； he brought her to his home；
and cared for her there in a manner too affectionate for the tastes of his
colored neighbors。 Henry was remonstrated with； but to no purpose。 At the
close of church services one moonlight Sunday evening his neighbors held
an indignation meeting； and it was resolved to put a stop to Henry's little
love scheme； as it was now very evident that his wife was getting tired of
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having the maiden about her so much。 The meeting adjourned that evening
to have the next one the following night at Henry's front gate。 During the
ensuing day he was apprised of the intentions of his callers； and was urged
to let the young lady depart from under his roof。 Henry refused； since love
is blind。 He got his shotgun in readiness to protect his home and his rights。
At the appointed hour some twenty…five or thirty neighbors gathered at the
place selected； and demanded of Henry that he should give up the maiden
loved； or pull hemp。 At this juncture Henry called into requisition his
double… barreled shotgun and turned both barrels loose on the excited
throng。 The res
