USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > East Granby > Newgate of Connecticut : its origin and early history : being a full description of the famous and wonderful Simsbury mines and caverns, and the prison build over them > Part 8
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being at that time one of the guard. One day a large, power- ful negro employed in the cook-room noticing that the guard, Mr. Lott Thompson (a very pious man) was intently reading his Bible, suddenly seized a stick of wood and knocked him senseless to the floor. The negro than ran for the open gate, but fortunately the keeper, Captain Washburne, happened to be returning at the same time, and the negro seeing his plan so unexpectedly frustrated, turned and ran back into a room, and hid himself in a meal chest. The Captain followed and pulled him out, well powdered over with meal, and placed him in irons and close quarters. He was afterwards con- victed of the offence, and sentenced to a further term of imprisonment. Mr. Thompson was at length restored to consciousness, but never fully recovered from his injuries.
In contrast with the grim aspect of the dungeons below ground, Newgate witnessed occasionally high carnival above ground. The officers and guard with people outside the walls used a room in one of the prison buildings as a dancing hall in the evening, occasionally, where, with the aforesaid hero of the meal-chest as fiddler, they "tripped the light fantastic toe."
A thief by the name of James Smith, a native of Groton, Conu., was imprisoned for horse-stealing, in 1822, for the term of six years. He had been a great counterfeiter, and circumstances which afterwards came to light are evidence that he had been a barbarous pirate. The piratical crew had sailed in a French vessel, and after obtaining much plunder, fearing to enter any port without regular papers, they sunk their vessel on the coast of North Carolina, carried their specie in three boats, and buried it all, except one large trunk full, on the beach in Currituck county. In corroboration of the above it appears that while he was a prisoner in Newgate, he offered David Foster, a guard, $200 if he would assist him to escape, telling him he had a great quantity of specie buried on the coast of North Carolina. Foster refused, but promised to say nothing about it. This he testified in court when afterwards called upon as a witness. Smith in a few
6
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months afterwards escaped from prison, as was supposed, by bribery.
The following respecting him is related by Mr. Benjamin Taylor, a planter recently living in North Carolina. Smith and seven or eight others came to his house in the year 1822, and hired of him a room ; they employed him with four of his slaves to cross Currituck sound, and obtained a large trunk, very heavy, and returned to his house, where they all remained about one week. While there he saw them divide a large sum of specie among themselves, and Smith, appearing to be at their head, took the largest sum. They were arrested on suspicion of being robbers, but for want of sufficient evidence discharged. They all then left for Norfolk, Va., except Smith, who remained several weeks. During this time he often appeared to be deranged, would talk to himself, and told the servants that he "had made many a man walk the plank overboard." He then went to the north, and was imprisoned at Newgate for stealing a horse. After his escape from prison as above stated, he re- turned to the house of Mr. Taylor and staid about one week. While there he employed several men in digging on the beach. Their search was fruitless, for the storms and waves had dashed upon the beach too long, and it is supposed swept the treasures into the ocean. He then went away to some place unknown to Mr. Taylor. It now appears from the prison records that he came to Connecticut, where he was taken and again sentenced for twenty-three years on four indictments for horse-stealing. His last home on earth was in prison, and there he died in 1836.
The following sad misfortune which happened to one of the convicts has afforded material for several absurd and exaggerated tales, fabricated about the old prison :-
An old negro, named Jake, a shoemaker, accused of burn- ing his leather, was shackled and put into a dark cell in the cavern used for solitary confinement. This small room was partitioned off with a thick wall and a strong plank and iron door. It was, and is now known as the "sounding-
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room;" and if the visitor is curious as to the origin of the term, let him sing or speak in a full bass tone and he will be .surprised at the loud, sepulchral reverberations. Here refrac- tory prisoners were confined in solitude, chained to a heavy ring and staple in the rock, and fed on bread and water until subdued. The negro, as appears by his own story, busy with tricks and experiments in his solitude, pulled his fetters from their proper position on his ankles up over the calves of his legs, innocently supposing that he could push them down again at will. But the venous blood began to accumu- late below the iron bands; and his legs were soon so swollen that the fetters could not be pushed down. When the guard went down to carry him his bread he found the negro in great agony. A surgeon was summoned who ascertained that the irons were so embedded in the swollen flesh that they could not be cut, and in order to save his life he was obliged to amputate both his legs. The old fellow survived the operation, and was soon after discharged from prison by order of the legislature-it being quite evident, doubtless, that he had been sufficiently punished, and that he was not left in such a physical condition as to trouble the outside world any more. He used afterwards to labor, in his crippled way, for people in the neighborhood, and was living until a few years ago.
The last tragedy developed at Newgate took place on the night previous to the removal to Wethersfield. Abel N. Starkey, an ingenious criminal, was the victim. He was a native of Roxbury, Mass., was committed in 1824 for twenty years, for the crime of making counterfeit money. By his ingenuity and industry at the prison he had amassed $100 in cash. On the night of September 28th, 1827, being the day previous to the removal of the prisoners to Wethersfield, he requested permission to lodge in the dungeon, which was granted to him. From some cause which has never been explained. the hatch which covered one of the wells com- municating with the cavern, was unfastened. During the night he laid hold of the well-rope and ascended upon it
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part of the way up, when it broke and precipitated him into the water, and a bucket fell upon his head; the noise was heard above, and he was found dead. His feet were tied together with a handkerchief for the purpose, as is supposed, of assisting him in climbing the rope. Only $50 were found in his possession ; the balance was probably the price paid to some confederate for unfastening the hatch.
It would seem that Newgate prison, in the course of its duration, had contained all which was various in character, determined in crime, and deep in degradation. It com- passed all ages, from boyhood to extreme old age; both sexes, colors, and different occupations ; students from college, and others unable to read or write. Those skilled in phrenology might have had a rich treat in exploring the bumps on some of those hard heads, and the solving of their characteristics would have afforded amusement and perhaps instruction.
Seriously, it is difficult to account for the wayward incli- nation of some of them, especially those who were imprisoned a number of times, and for the same kind of offence each term, unless it can be accounted for on phrenologieal prin- ciples. It may be said to indicate only a depraved heart, but a depraved heart must have a strange kind of head to run repeatedly into the same crime and get back to the same prison. But I leave it to those who understand the science to defend the ground, presuming that the truth of their cause will insure them a triumphant issue.
When the number and difference of characters kept in that prison is considered, and the treatment which they re- ceived is appreciated, it will at once be seen how unavailing the system must have been for their security or their reform- ation. The custom of fastening their feet to bars of iron to which chains were attached from their necks, chaining them to the block, and likewise to a beam above, while at their work, scourging their bodies like beasts, &c., taught them to look upon themselves in a measure as they were looked upon by others, objects of dread, and possessing cha- racters more like fiends than men. With such treatment,
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reformation must have been, and was, entirely out of the question. The system was very well suited to turn men into devils, but it never could transform devils into men. Instead of putting them in cells separately at night, where they might have opportunity for reflection, they were suffered to congregate together, good and bad, young and old to brew mischief, and to teach new vices to those unpracticed. Their midnight revels, as may be supposed, were often like the howling in a pandemonium of tigers, banishing sleep and forbidding rest.
It is not desired that these remarks, however, should be so construed as to impute blame to the officers or guard of the prison. Although they were many times in fault, still, as the prison was constructed, and in the way that service was required of them, it was impossible to preserve that degree of order and discipline so essential to success. They had no approved system of prison discipline to study, no correct views of punishment connected with reformation were at that day generally known, and but few branches of business were thought of, which would yield a fair compensation and save the State expense.
The insecurity of Newgate prison, and the constant bur- den upon the treasury of the State for its support, excited a very strong discussion in the public prints, and in the legis- lature, for several years. The subject of a new prison on a more modern plan, aud the abandonment of the old one raised a powerful party in its support. Among the foremost in this enterprise was Martin Welles, Esq., of Wethersfield, who labored zealously for its accomplishment. The propro- sition was opposed by others living in the vicinity of Newgate, among whom was Major Orson P. Phelps, an enterprising contractor, who had furnished the prison with beef, and other necessaries. The Major indulged his ready poetic wit, on one occasion, by the following sentiment :
"O'er the dark side on Copper hill, Martin Welles has stopped their treading mill.
'Tis ten to one if he don't miss it,
For Doctor Buck can't deal out physic."
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He was well answered by the author of another couplet :
"Say what you will, old Newgate helps The becf contractor, Major Phelps.
The following song was composed by Dr. Eliphalet Buck, and sung on the occasion of completing the walls of New- gate prison in 1802. Dr. Buck was for many years the estab- lished physician for Newgate, and was a complete embodi- ment of fun as well as physic, but had not made the art of poetry a study, evidently :
Attend, all ye villains, that live in the state, Consider the walls that encircle Newgate, Your place of abode, if justice were done. The assembly in wisdom, when they did behold The first wooden pickets, grown ruined and old, They granted a sum to the wise overseers, Which, amply sufficient to make the repairs, And they did decide to repair with hewn stone.
In the year one thousand eight hundred and two. A party collected, to split and to hew. Their names in my song, shall last with the wall; First, Lieutenant Barber the job undertakes; Beneath his strong labor, old Copper Hill shakes, With his workmen in order, the stone for to square, And others strong burdens with cheerfulness bear, While each one delights to attend to his call.
The next in the column is sage Pettibone, Whose skill in the work is exceeded by none.
To handle the gravel, or poise the great maul ; With him senior Jared an equal part bears, And in the hard labor he equally shares : While Gillett, and Holcomb, and Cosset appear, And Hillyer all anxious the fabric to rear,
To lay the foundation-to strengthen the Wall.
Bold Harrington, Goddard, and Lieutenant Reed, Each lend their assistance the work to proceed.
Perhaps there are others, whose names I don't call, With hammers, and chisels, and crowbars and gads, And Wanrax, with other poor prisoner lads, To hand up the mortar, or carry the hod; Which may, to some strangers appear very odd, To think the poor culprits help build their own Wall.
November the tenth, for the good of the state, They finished the wall and completed the gate, Which for numerous years may swing and not fall. Then each one returns to his sweetheart or wife,
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With plenty of cash to support them in life With joy and gladness for what they had done, In hewing and squaring, and laying the stone, Not wholly unmindful of building the Wall.
Now here's to the landlord, before that we go, We wish him success, and his lady also,
For their kind assistance to great and to small, For the benefit had from his plentiful bar, And the free intercourse which produces no jar ; To him and his neighbors, and every good man, Who always we've wanted to lend us a hand To drive on the work, and finish the Wall.
Now last, to the prisoners, we make this remark, Who are left to the keeping of Commodore Clark. It may be of service, to one and to all,
Repine not too much, though your lot may seem hard, You've a judicious keeper, and well-disposed guard ; If you behave well you have nothing to dread -- You've beef, pork, and sauce, and a plenty of bread, So behave well, and get the outside of the Wall.
Some of the prisoners were made to assist in building the wall, and it appears that they were permitted to participate in the jollification after it was completed. An Irish prisoner, named Patrick, offered upon the occasion the following toast :
" Here's to Lieutenant Barber's great wall-May it be like the walls of Jericho, and tumble down at the sound of a ram's horn."
The toast given by Dublin was equally sarcastic, viz :
" Here's health to the Captain and all the rest of the prisoners."
During the fifty-four years in which Newgate was used as a prison, fourteen persons had held the office of overseer, viz : Erastus Wolcott, Josiah Bissell, Jonathan Humphrey, Asahel Holcomb, James Forward, Matthew Griswold, Roger Newberry, John Treadwell, Pliny Hillyer, Samuel Wood- ruff, Martin Sheldon, Reuben Barker, Jonathan Pettibone, Jr., Thomas K. Brace. Keepers :- John Viets, Peter Cur- tis, Reuben Humphreys, Thomas Sheldon, Salmon Clark, Charles Washburn, Elam Tuller, Alexander H. Griswold, Andrew Denison.
CONNECTICUT STATE PRISON.
THE present penitentiary of Connecticut is situated on the margin of a beautiful cove in the town of Wethersfield, about three miles from Hartford, and is regarded as a peni- tentiary of the first order. Its location, its construction, its financial management and discipline, have won the admira- tion of every State in the Union. It has proved to the world that criminal punishment can be made a safeguard to society, a protection to the honest industry of the people, and also a benefit to the moral and physical condition of the convicts. The prison limits comprise about one and a half acres of ground, which is enclosed by a wall of hard sandstone, 18 feet high, 3 feet thick at its base, and inclining to 13 feet at the top. Within and adjoining this wall, are buildings of the same material, and of brick, used as the warden's apart- ment, hospital, and chapel, and for workshops and cells. In the yard is a cistern underground, for water, of the capacity of 100 hogsheads. Water is also brought to the prison in pipes from Hartford. Gas made at the prison is used to light the premises.
A portion of the cell building is whitewashed with lime each day, which purifies the air, and gives to the lodging apartments an appearance of neatness. Most of the convicts enjoy that blessing of punishment, a separate cell at night, but the largely increased number of late (now 264) requires more room for proper accommodation. No one is allowed while at work to look at any visitor, or to catch the eye of his fellow, but all are intent upon the business before them.
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A library of suitable books, comprising about 1400 volumes, is provided for such as can read, and those who cannot are instructed by the chaplain, who is assisted occasionally by the warden and other officers. The library is highly prized by the convicts, who spend many of their solitary hours in reading, and the benefits have been so apparent, that the State has usually appropriated annually $200 for the purchase of books for their use. Male convicts are employed at pres- ent in the manufacture of mechanics' tools, boot and shoe and cigar making. The females are under the charge of a matron, and are employed in making and mending clothes, and in general laundry work. The services of most of the male convicts are let by the warden to companies or con- tractors, who pay monthly a stipulated price per day for the services of each prisoner, and no able-bodied person is ex- empt from labor. Reverses in business and other causes occasionally vary the net income in all penitentiaries, but the net profits of the State prison at Wethersfield have usually averaged about $2000 per annum, while most other State prisons show a large annual indebtedness.
It is interesting to observe how much depends in the suc- cess of a prison, upon skill and discipline in its management. For seventeen years previous to the removal of the prison, in 1827, the average annual tax upon the State treasury for the support of Newgate, including buildings and repairs, was over $7000. The present institution has paid for all its buildings and fixtures, and seventeen acres of land. It paid $7000 dollars to the counties of the State, for the erection of county jails on the improved penitentiary system, and $7000 to the school districts in the State for school apparatus, thus causing ignorance and crime to help to educate the rising generation.
Strict order and discipline are apparent in every depart- ment, and yet without any vain show of power. No bars or fetters are worn by the prisoners ; no armed sentinel is seen, except upon the two towers; no muskets, swords, or pistols are carried daily within the walls, and only within
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the guard-room are any weapons of death to be seen. The prison force consists of the warden, deputy warden, matron, six watchmen, and eight overseers for the shops-which latter are usually paid by the contractors.
HEALTH OF THE CONVICTS.
By the reports of the prison physicians for several years past, and the remarkably small number usually under treat- ment in the hospital, its appears that this prison, from its excellent hygienic management, ranks high in respect of its healthfulness. The directors in their report say, "The average health of the prisoners has been better, in fact, than an average equal number of the inhabitants of the surround- ing towns."
In all penitentiaries there are criminals possessing strange and unaccountable characteristics ; but whatever their general propensities, they are influenced by one motive while in the prison, which is common to all of them, and that is a desire to escape from confinement. But the Connecticut peniten- tiary has furnished one singular exception to this general rule, or rather the rule has been transposed in one singular case. A young female named Abby Jane was committed in 1853 for the term of four years, for the crime of horse- stealing. She served out her term, was duly discharged, and presented with her former articles of clothing, etc .; and with the present then usually given to all at their departure, of two dollars in money. She soon after obtained employ- ment at housework in the neighborhood, and for a while appeared to behave herself well; but at length her former habit of thieving predominated, and some of her pilfering was detected by the family. Abby took her leave, but soon privately returned, and stealing a horse-blanket from General Welles, living near by, she ensconced herself under his barn floor, which she appropriated as her lodging apartment, with the stolen blanket for her coverlid. Here she lived for sev- eral days, subsisting upon whatever plunder she could get, and by milking the cows in the neighborhood in the night, retreating each day to her kennel under the barn.
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But the remembrance of prison life had such fascinating charms, that she contrived a plan to scale the walls, and get into the prison, by climbing a tree which stood near. She leaped down from the top of the wall into the yard of the female apartment, and secreted herself among the rubbish in the wood-pile. Her female cronies, surprised and gratified to enjoy again the company of their cunning visitor, clan- destinely supplied her with food, whenever they found opportunity. In this manner she lived four or five days, thieving whenever she could, and finally took up her lodging in an old ash-hole, or oven. The matron had missed pro- visions and other articles, and was puzzled to account for the loss. A general search was made, when the warden, on re- moving some pieces of refuse stove-pipe under the oven, discovered the once fair face of Abby, peering through the sooty canopy, and she was again in the clutches of the law. No one, however, seemed willing to indict her for the novel crime of breaking into a prison, and she was sentenced for theft to the county jail for one year. There she served out her time and was released, but soon after she broke into a dwelling, and appropriated to herself a pair of pantaloons, containing in the pockets $500, besides other articles, for which she was again committed to Hartford jail. After her term had expired, the jailor, relying on her earnest promises of reformation, sent her into the country to his father's house, for employment. But there, true to her propensity, she again began to steal and was consequently discharged. As to her whereabouts afterwards report says not.
SOME OF THE NOTORIOUS CONVICTS FOR LIFE.
William H. Greene, aged 61, was born in Virginia, and convicted at Litchfield in 1869. He had murdered his wife, and committed other crimes ; had been an ordained clergy- man, and claimed that he had been at one time a presiding elder of the Methodist church. He had been a political public speaker, possessed of a good education and eloquent oratorical powers. In this man's career the fact is apparent that mere education of the brain, unaccompanied by moral
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influences, is of little avail in restraining any being from committing crime; and it is a positive error in the manage- ment of some of our schools and seminaries that this vital subject is so strangely overlooked.
Lydia Sherman, a female convict, was born in New Jer- sey, and is 51 years of age. She was convicted at New Haven in 1873, of murder in the second degree. By her own confession she had poisoned three husbands and four of her children! She seemed to possess a strange mono- mania for dispatching her nearest relatives, and although admitting that she had always lived pleasantly with them, she claimed "they were better off in the other world than in this one of misery." In her appearance she seemed like a simple, harmless woman, and said she " was in as comfortable a situation as she could reasonably expect." The fact that her family was very poor, and that she had murdered seven of them, probably impressed the jury with the idea that she was partially insane, which induced them to render the sin- gular verdict of murder in the second degree.
The annals of crime do not, perhaps, afford a character more remarkable for perversity and desperation than that of a convict by the name of Dave Kentley, alias James Wilson and several other aliases which he had at various times assumed. This fiend in human form, while in prison, mur- dered Warden Willard, in 1870.
He was born in Belfast, Ireland, and was 47 years of age when he committed the murder. He said he had never attended school a day in his life; and the return of his parents to Ireland left him here without parental control.
In justification of his propensities he claimed that all boys are born natural thieves and robbers, and only need the opportunity to develop, as he had, their perverse natures. He took his first lessons in crime in a small way, at the Five Points, New York, when ten or twelve years of age; and, connecting himself with other desperadoes, he was afterwards engaged in robberies at Philadelphia, New York New Lon- don, Hartford, and some cities at the West.
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He had, during his career, escaped from four prisons in different states. In escaping from prison in Michigan, in the winter season, he had frozen both his feet, and was obliged to suffer partial amputation.
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