The Twin Hells: A Thrilling Narrative of Life in the Kansas and Missouri PenitentiariesReynolds, John N. (John Newton)
History
The Twin Hells: A Thrilling Narrative of Life in the Kansas and Missouri Penitentiaries
Reynolds, John N. (John Newton)
Prisons -- Kansas; Prisons -- Missouri
Wandering about several months after his escape, he arrives in Sedalia,
Missouri. Among other little articles he was accused of stealing at
this place was an eight hundred dollar barouche, the property of
Judge Ferguson, of that place. Again this noted thief was arrested
and confined in the county jail to await trial. He was not anxious for
trial, for he knew the "yawning pen" was waiting to receive him. For
eleven months he remained in this jail, having his trial continued from
term to term. When his case was called up for the first time he feigned
sickness. The next time one of the principal witnesses was absent, and
thus for eleven months his case was continued. Thomas now yearned for
freedom. How to get out of that jail was the problem. Another term of
court would soon convene. He had no grounds for further continuance.
Fortune favored him. At this time a man was arrested and placed in the
same cell with Currens. The face of the new arrival was covered over
with blotches. The next morning Currens in a confidential manner stated
to the sheriff that his cell mate had the small-pox. Being interrogated
the prisoner said he had been exposed recently, and a physician being
called, on examination it was decided to remove him to the pest-house.
Currens was sent along on account of his exposure to the contagion. An
officer was placed in charge of the two jail-birds at the pest-house.
During the night following their arrival at this out-of-the-way place,
the officer was pounced upon by the two desperate criminals, bound hand
and foot, and with a large cork placed between his teeth, was gently
laid on the floor. His gold watch and chain, and all the loose change he
had with him were taken from his person, and the two small-pox patients
walked forth into the darkness and gloom of that night unattended by any
friendly official.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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