led the tongue in an
indiscriminate manner. Since my discharge from the prison I have learned
of the death of Hendricks.

Ed. Miner.--One of the men whose history will be interesting to the
general reader is Ed. Miner. This man is forty-nine years of age.
He served in the Missouri penitentiary two years on the charge and
conviction of assault and battery with intent to kill. After the
expiration of his sentence, drifting down the current of crime, he next
embarked in stealing horses. He was arrested, tried and convicted. He
received a five years' sentence, served his time, and went out into the
world a free man. Again falling into bad company, he tries his hand
once more at the same old trade of riding fast horses, is again caught,
tried, convicted, and received another sentence of five years in the
prison, which he is now serving out. As a prisoner, Miner is one of the
very best. He never violates a prison regulation and was never known to
be punished. During the war he served his country faithfully for four
years as a member of the 12th Illinois Infantry. At the close of the
war, and just before the troops were discharged, one day on review, the
governor of the State of Illinois being present, Miner was asked by the
commanding officer to step from the ranks, and was introduced to the
governor as the bravest and most daring man in the command. The governor
gave him a hearty shake of the hand, and afterward sent him a neat
little golden medal as a token of his esteem. Miner now wears this
suspended on a small gold chain about his neck. He is very proud of it.
One of our prison officers, Mr. Elliott, was in the army with Miner, and
says there never was a braver man. It may be a surprise to the reader
that such a brave man, such a bold defender of his country's rights,
would now be filling a felon's cell. The answer to this is easily given.
It is all contained in the one word--liquor. Miner loves strong drink,
and when he is under its influence appears to have no sense. He is then
ready for the commission of any offense, ready to participate in any
kind of deviltry. Were it not for this baneful appetite there is every
reason to believe he would be a highly respected citizen. I asked him
one day what he would do when he got out. His reply was, "I don't know;
if I could not get the smell of whisky I could be a man; it has downed
me so many times that I fear my life is now a wreck; the future looks
dreary; awful dreary." Wit