nd was sent to the
penitentiary for forgery. On account of his previous good character, on
coming to the penitentiary he was immediately set to work as a "trusty."
Some few months after he was sent to the Missouri River, over a mile
from the prison, to do some work. No officer was with him. Going down
to the banks of the river he discovered a boat tied to the shore. In a
subsequent conversation, he told me when he saw that boat it suggested
the thought of escaping. His wife and children were in the State of
Ohio. They had removed there since his conviction. "The boat," said he,
"seemed to say, 'get in and cross the river.' I thought of my family.
Oh, how I longed to be with them! I could not resist the temptation. I
had some old overalls, and I drew these on over the stripes. I got into
the boat, rowed across, and hid in the woods on the Missouri side until
night. During the night-time I walked, and during the daytime would lay
by in the woods, occasionally going out to a house begging something
to eat. At last I reached my home in Ohio. I was footsore and almost
starved when I arrived." Continuing his narrative, he informed me that
he had no peace of mind. He was in constant dread of pursuing officers.
Every man he saw he took to be a detective in search of him. At last,
so great was his alarm and uneasiness, that he telegraphed the prison
officials where he was. The warden went and brought him back, For
punishment he remained in the dungeon several days and nights, and wore
the ball and chain for over a month. This man has not been tried yet for
making his escape. It will probably be overlooked because of the change
in the prison administration. His original sentence was five years.

Another prisoner made his escape, was away for five years; was then
discovered, brought back, and is at present eight hundred feet below the
surface, digging coal.

One day a young man was brought to the penitentiary under three years'
sentence. He was handsome and had winning ways. It was not long before
the officers had learned to like him. He was a natural confidence man.
It was difficult to resist his influence. After he had been in the
penitentiary a short time he was made a "trusty." For awhile he was very
dutiful and obedient. He was no fool. He gained the confidence of the
officers so that many of them would have confided their pocketbooks
to his care. He was permitted to go beyond the prison walls to quite a
distance. Finally he