xt7bk35m9817 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7bk35m9817/data/mets.xml Calhoun, John S. 1847 books b92hv6248g6c32009 English Calhoun, John S. : Augusta, [Me.] Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Anderson, Jan How, Mary Jane Gordon, Life and confession of Mary Jane Gordon. Who was tried, condemned, and hung on the 24th day of June, 1847 for the murder of Jane Anderson...of Vassalboro, Maine. text Life and confession of Mary Jane Gordon. Who was tried, condemned, and hung on the 24th day of June, 1847 for the murder of Jane Anderson...of Vassalboro, Maine. 1847 2009 true xt7bk35m9817 section xt7bk35m9817

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LIFE AND CONFESSION

MARY JANE GORDON,

WHO WAS TRIED, CONDEMNED, AND HUNG,

ON THE

TWENTY-FOURTH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 1849,

FOB THE

MURDER, OF JANE ANDERSON,

A NATIVE OF COVINGTON, KENTUCKY.

HER TBIAL, COUNCIL LOBS* DEBATES, JUDGE'S CHARGE TO THE JURY, FINAL SENTENCE, . CONDEMNATION AND EXECUTION, ETC.

CAREFULLY COLLECTED BY THE AUTHOR.

J. S. CALHOUN,

attorney at law, covington, kentucky.

COVINGTON:

published by tiik author.

1849.
PREFACE.

Tun object of this Edition is twofold: first, to lay befdre the World an entire Confession of an inhuman Murderer, whose cruel deeds no language can describe, nor mind conceive their atrocity, perpetrated in the midst of society ; secondly, as a warning to all, both old and young, not lo allow themselves to be drawn by the fair pretensions of 6uch females, so that they may avoid the unmerciful grasp of delusion lying in wait for them; and hoping a perusal of this may teach a lesson to old and young, knowing it is a subject of the most momentous ever presented to the Public from the mouth of a dying Criminal. I have spared neither time nor trouble in collecting every incident of her Life with exactness, together with her Confession, from the hands of the Rev. Mr. Leman, Pastoral Minister, Covington, Kentucky

J. S. C.

Entered nccordiiur to the Act of Congress, in the year of our Lord IP49,by J. 0>. Calhoun, iu the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Covington, Kentucky.
LIFE AND CONFESSION

As time revolves, and with it brings before the world those momentous circumstances which the reader will perceive, to his astonishment, in the important pages of this production, a full, explicit, and satisfactory account of this unfortunate female, whose inhuman murders no language can describe, nor mind conceive their atrocity, perpetrated in the midst of society. As a citizen, and a friend of humanity and society, I feel myself hound by an impulse of duty to direct the attention of tho solicitous reader to the narrative containing her infamous career, whoso atrocious, cruel, and daring murders are of such a shocking nature that no mind can fathom their awful consequences, nor for one moment dwell upon the sad story of her life without being sensibly affected at the horror of tho perpetration and of her guilt, without the least shade of remorse to accompany her disgraceful and deplorable end. Yes I for a female, whose sex, by the laws of morality and religion so inconsistent for her sex, we find her sink into the abyss of misfortune, and distinguished with every vice that can disgrace humanity, and the accomplishment of the most brutal murders ever recorded on the pages of crime ancient or modern.

The origin of this work is Mary Jaxe Gordon, whose life has paid the penalty of the crime which she committed, for the willful murder of Jane Anderson, a native of Covington, in the State of Kentucky, whose life she took on the morning of the 7th of October, 1848, which the reader will see, every thing being carefully collected to his satisfaction, as her life is so unparalleled lor atrocious and inhuman murders, such as shock the mind on their reality, committed in those days when religion is penetrating the far distant climes of the ciirth 5 and, at the same time, contemplating with serious consideration those unmerciful cruelties which cry to Heaven tor vengeance ! The transitory events which have rolled from generation to generation immemorial, written on the pages which records crime, are nothing in comparison when contrasted with the present inhuman murders committed in the, enlightened age we now live to enjoy ; when compared to the events that occurred in those remote periods of lime which aro passed, and are to be no more ; those days when religion and morality assumes so high a standing in all Christian lands. Indeed, I may truly assert, wo ought not to be much surprised at those eventful transactions so inconsistent to feelings, had we lived in those days that are passed and are to be no more, when barbarity and cruelty overshadowed the face of nature. Yet crime, and vice, and murder aro
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every year increasing perpetrated under the roof of seemingly apparent hospitality and perpetrated, too, by a female, so inconsistent for her sex.

In order to proceed to the events of her life, for the satisfaction of the solicitous reader, he will perceive the murder which she was hung for was the least in comparison, when compared to the great and important ones which will appear in her confession ; and, also, in a concise history of her life, carefully collected by the minister who attended her on the last brink of eternity before she suffered an ignominious death on tho scaffold, exposed in the presence of thousands who came to witness her miserable and disgraceful end ! indulging in the hope, no matter what standing in life tho reader may move in, he can, if ho wishes, learn a lesson of useful knowledge from the important pages which record her fatal end. I have examined the hidden mysteries of her life with scrutiny, omitting nothing of interest to the reader ; unraveled the cruel murders she has committed the shrewd and treacherous designs ever modeled by woman and I assure you, reader, I feel it a duly incumbent upon me, as a friend of society, to expose to the world the vice and wickedness which exists and lives among the human family, and more especially in the larger cities and towns ; for it is there vice and wickedness grows and increases without limit. In truth, they are a Sodom in themselves! The traveler, on his entering a city, should inquire and ascertain the character of the place he intends to stop at, and, in doing so, may avoid something more serious which has befallen many a traveler in his journey through this wicked world, and which will appear by the confession of this unfortunate female. When, for a moment, I think of those unfortunate people who have slept under the roof of seemingly apparent hospitality, never more in this world to rise, to become a victim to one so unrelenting, their remains lying mouldering in their mother earth, without a tomb or mark to point out to their friends they ever lived, their rela-tives believing they are making a home, perhaps, in the West, my blood chills with horror. As the responsibility of collecting the inci-dentsoi'-her life from the best authority as undeniable as her shameful end and pleasing myself by giving it the earliest publication to the community, hoping it will prove a subject of the. highest importance to the community, and one of the most serious consideration in every respect, and one of the newest,ever published.

Mary Jane Gordon was a native of Scotland, born in the year of our Lord, 1816, in the suburbs of the city of Edinburgh. Her father, George Gordon, was a native of Westchester county, in,the State of New York ; her mother, Maria Bruce, became very wcahhy after the death of her father, she being the only heiress for his property. Her relations were all wealthy and respectable ; so much cannot be said of her husband, George Gordon. After the breaking out of the American war of 1812 and 1813, he abanduned his country, and became a pirate on the. Eastern coast, during which time he committed many outrages on humanity. But getting tired of the sea, he made up his
mind to retire for the remainder of his life to some strange city or village where he would not be known ; at the same lime well aware that he dare not return to his own native state. Finding he was compelled to abandon his native land, which grieved him much, he resolved to cross the Atlantic Ocean to some part of Europe. He started from St. John, Now Brunswick, to Montreal, and from thence down the St. Lawrence River to Quebec. A few days afier his arrival, he shipped as an able seaman on a voyage to Glasgow, Scotland. He remained in that city for a few days, and from thence proceeded to Edinburgh, where he settled down, and got married to my mother. They had a family of two daughters, Mary Jane and Matilda, the former being the oldest; there she spent the first flower of her youth a youth of personal beauty and attraction as ever the sun or dew of heaven descended on. She possessed an intelligent appearance; a perceptive eye ; her personal formation in every respect commanded admiration in every society. Her parents were far above indigence. They in-dulged her too soon in the enjoyments of society, which laid the work of her future ruin. Her haughty disposition prevented her from uniting in the bands of matrimony until she arrived at the age of twenty years, when she received the addresses of Charles How, an American, from the city of New York, who was captain of the barque Eliza Jane, trading to and from New York. After the lapse of some time, they got married, and lived in apparent friendship together; but, previous to her marriage, she reveled in all the enjoyments of a city life. Her husband's limited means not being able to meet her demands and extra, vagance, she became careless about him, and did not show him that respect he merited, which he very soon apprehended, jealousy becoming clear, and continued to grow by. degrees in proportion as time advanced. His vessel being loaded and ready for sea, he had to prepare and go, expecting, long before his return, she would be confined. ' One mouth," she says, " after my husband went to sea, I was delivered of a fine healthy male child ; in truth, I felt much rejoiced to Providence who blessed me with such a gift. Shortly atter the birth of my son, I became acquainted with Anna Gow, which the reader will hereafter see. A|ler I recovered from my bed of sickness, I loved the infant for a little time; my mind became uneasy, and the thoughts of its father accusing me of bad conduct aroused my mind and feelings to revenge ; and how to be revenged, that was the question to solved I not being able, I applied to my adviser, Miss Gow: she proposed to destroy the infant, and that would be a victory gained over my husband. To be revenged on him, of course, that was every thing ; and, in the moment of my passion, the mode in which I should accomplish it, in order to make the murder a secret for ever. I made a bag, the mouthpiece to close by a drawing-string, so as to keep it tight when cast into the water. When I had the bag completed, which I done in a short time, and as soon as night appeared, 1 immediately repaired to the bank of the River Clyde. I opened the mouth of the bag, and placing the child into it, I stooped down, and picking up some gravel, I
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put it into the bag, and, drawing the string tight, I thought I heard a noise; and, casting my eyes around to see, 1 observed nothing. At that moment my tlesh quivered and my frame trembled as if I were laboring under delirium tremens, at the thoughts of such a crime ! Hut in a moment my husband appeared before my eyes, which strengthened my determination. I cast my eyes to look at the infant, and I thought it stared me in the face. My heart revolted at such an act; but the thought of returning home to my residence nerved my soul to the crime of murder! And, on the moment, I cast tho child from me into the mighty waters, where vanished all traces of its existence in this world. For a few minutes I stood motionless in thought. Being aroused by a noise, which I fancied I heard close by, I immediately regained my senses and repaired to the main road, unconscious of fear, and made my way home. On entering my own -residence, Miss Gow met me first, and, of course, asked mo how I had succeeded in my venturesome undertaking. As soon as I got seated, and my senses nearly recovered, I told her all; but, at the same, time my feelings were sad, Miss Gow seemed to feel rejoiced at my good luck, and pictured to me, at the same time, the field of enterprize and speculation that was before us; pointing out the. policy we could pursue, in order to bo revenged on my husband. All those expressions sounded like music in my ears. The night wearing late, and, as I did not feel well proceeding from the agitation of my mind in the accomplishment of such a dreadful act, which I, myself, perpetrated on my own infant I felt like retiring to my bed, which I did in a few minutes. In the course of the night I was attacked with cramps which deprived me of my reason and senses, and which continued all night; and, as the physician remarked to mo in the morning, I was in a critical state. Medicine seemed to have no effect on my system. After some time I felt a little better, and requested some drink, as I fell thirsty. Anna Gow handed me some, which quenched my thirst. I became restored again to my thoughts and judgment. She who partook and shared with me in all my joys and sorrows, we lived together many a long day, enjoying the pleasures of society. I looked, and saw my condition in life in a critical position, if my husband should cast me from him, knowing full well my conduct merited it from him." The term of three months elapsed since he leti the port of Glasgow; it is full time he returned. The following week he arrived; and in a short time, of course, proceeded to his residence. He. was rejoiced to see her look so well and healthy in every respect: but, to his great astonishment, he could neither hear nor see any appearance of her having been confined. Still he looked complacent, and in good humor. Sometimes he thought she had con-coaled it in fun, in order to see how he would take it; but, after the lapse of some time,, he determined to inquire, into circumstances, and accordingly did so. In reply, she emphatically denied she was ever favored wiih such, and that it was some other disease she was laboring under at the time he was there, from which she recovered ; and she reasoned with him on tho solemnity of the fact. However, her logic
9

hn.fi but little weight on his inind, and ho remained unconvinced of the ideas he had harbored ; but respect for his character prevented him exposing her, from the hct thai he could prove nothing; therefore, he had to remain as he was. He became more and more discontented every day, until, at length, he denied her as his wile, and withdrew his support from her. Then she availed herself of the law of the country, to compel'him% and he exposed her conduct both publicly and privately. Proofs and, in fact, circumstances being so strong against her private character, the court could do nothing for her; consequently, she was depiived of a living from that source.

These circumstances coming to the ears of her parents, they fled to St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, which is situated on the bank of the River Mississippi, with their only remaining daughter, Matilda, who, shortly after they settled in that city, got married to James Hamilton, who then kept in Green-street. After her marriage, her parents lived with her for the term of nine months, at the end of which time she took sick and died. The prior parents were left alone. Shortly after her mother also died, leaving the old man solitary and alone !

We shall now sec the fate of Mary Jane; and, for the satisliiction of the reader, I shall hereafter show that her condition became precarious. Despised by her husband, and disowned and shunned by ail her relations and friends; reduced to such an extremity, seeing her parents had fled on account of her misconduct, and having no resource under the canopy of heaven to resort to, unless to more licentiousness than usual; and, to gratify her ambitious and reveogeiiil desire, she contemplated upon some design to take her husband's life. And it being.necessary to avail herself of every opportunity in her power to accomplish it, !f many plans," she says, " I proposed ; but one which struck me forcibly, if accomplished, would fulfill my desired motive ; therefore, 1 resolved to give it a trial. It was to this effect: to induce him to come secretly to me in the darkness of the night, when ho would be unperceived, under the peculiar circumstances which will appear in my letter. 1 knew of nothing that would do so well, understanding his character and reputation. 1 adopted the pl.in, and it failed me not. 1 sat down and wrote to him thd following letter, to effect my design." The letter ran as follows :

"My peak Charles. I'ardon my presumption for writing those few lines to you. 1 am solicitous to speak a tew words to you. under the painful circumstances lam at present laboring. Iam within a few days of my departure from my native land, the home, of my childhood, the place of my nativity a home so dear, notwithstanding my lamentable separation from you which has ensued, and for which I mourn so grievously. 1 pray you, as my departure is so near, and as I am so forlorn, dejected, and despised by all my relations and friends, you, who know the frailty of human nature, cannot think for one moment to deny me my last request for the many happy hours we spent under the rural shades of bliss, untarnished by the thought of crime, to
iq

cause our separation. I am well aware of your reputation ; but favor me, I entreat you, when the clouds of darkness covers the universe ; a few moments will ease a troubled mind one, you know, forlorn and friendless. I conjure you to excuse my sentimental remarks. I fail to excuse myself yours, most respectfully,

" MARY JANE GORDON." "To Chahles How, Captain of the Barque Eliza Jane."

He received the letter and gazed upon it attentively, he perused it over and over as he passed the deck, becoming forgetful of their unhappy separation, his spirit softened into tenderness, and reflected on times that were gone, no more to return, and on the frailty of human nature, believing, as he did at one time, he had the best wife in the world, but alas he felt the change too soon which lessened his ambition, he buret into tears, and wept bitterly as he gazed over the letter on which her sentiments were written. Though glad, yet sorrowful for her departure, he determined, regardless of everything, to visit her secretly, although no alternative could enter his mind which would cause the least symptom of forgiveness in his heart; at the same time grieving over her misfortune and that of his own, when he pictured to his immagination, his being united in the bonds of matrimony, that holy ordinance from which all love and comfort should emanate, but far different, nothing but scandal and misfortune was the produce. Oh! how happy should I have been had I never seen her ! but the frailty of human nature I must overlook, I will go and see her before she departs ; perhaps when in a foreign land she will be unknown ; I am deeply affected for her misfortune, nevertheless, I will go and see her before she leaves, and hear what she has to say, perhaps when in a strange land she might think me cruel. The mantle of misfortune being cast around him. the. veil of delusion suspended over his eyes, which blinded his way, increasing with the delusion of woman that it became predominant, the reader will see the inhuman treachery of this unrelenting mortal. Oh, when I meditate on the conduct of this horrible creature with serious consideration, man, the most noble work of God, seduced into a snare and murdered by a female, a companion by nature, driven to her abode by a tempest of overwhelming sorrow for her misfortune and that of his own, and to comply with her last request to console as it were her dejected mind before she departed from her native land, the last tribute of thankfulness she requested from him she so much wronged, and so maneuvering as she was. As soon as evening came he repaired to her residence, he was admitted by herself, and welcomed most kindly, they entered into the proceedings of their lives, spoke with familiarity on the past and present, and in terms of friendship she related the youthful events of her life, and reasoned with him on the frailty of human nature, and at the same time he seemed heedless of her entreaties, and finding them of no avail, she addressed him in a low voice to the following effect, " Man was born in vain to listen to the in-
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treaties of a female ; this night you fall a victim, unconscious of your approaching fate." In a moment's time she stepped into the kitchen, and seizing a carving knife she returned into the room where he was sitting, and struck him in the left breast, he fell senseless on the floor and expired in a few minutes. We dragged the body into the cellar, where we found a large box, in which we concealed it until our fancy man had dug a hole in the cellar large enough to contain it. When this transaction had been accomplished I thought my mind would be more at case. In a few days my husband was missed, and handbills posted on the walls, offering a reward of lifty pounds for the recovery of the body of Charles How, Captain of the bark Eliza Jane. Fears rushed on my mind on account of my writing to him not knowing l it some of the crew might have seen the letter or heard something of it, and the neighbours well aware of our separation. As these suspicions rushed into ray mind it caused me to feel unhappy ; but it seems I had longer to live. At length the city authorities gave np the search, and the voice of the people subsided; the citizens attributed his murder to some of the crew of his own ship, consequently his murder remained a secret to the present day ; this being the second murder I committed, my child being the first who fell a victim at my hands. I concluded that my sins were so numerous, that nothing could pardon them but the justice of God. Believing I was as bad as I could bo, me and Maria resolved never to part in this world until death should separate us, and to have recourse to every means in our power to make ourselves a good living ; we resorted as usual to all licentiousness, which was not the least disagreeable to our feelings, which we eon-tinucd for a long time. We kept what is called in that country a lodging house for the accommodation of travelers, which gave is a double opportunity to carry out ur policy to perfection, and do our work smoothly, Avithout being suspected, consequently we embraced every opportunity in our power to carry out our policy to a good advantage for our own interest. We had such good practice th*t we could hit our mark in one moment, and we succeeued in nearly even case we took in haad.

As my life is one unexceptionable lor crime, I confess I have i any times murdered young and old in my bed at night, the mode by v. :ich I did it, was by applying a plaster on their mouth when I found ihem sleeping, the object of the plaster when applied to the flesh it was impossible to get it off until the flesh came with it, consequently hey could make no noise, and a well directed blow from my hand ^oon deprived them of lile ; those who are acquainted with the history of the Burke and Hair family I am aware will not be much surpris I on reading this dreadful account, This practice has been carried on to a great extent in that part of the country. To my mortification I < mot .recollect their names as they were strangers to me. 1 have, I c< ' ss, murdered three by these means. I always found their bodies disposable to the physicians, as they were always ready to receive all I sent thetoj nor did they inquire from whence they came, as it was an easy way
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to obtain them. In a short time suspicion began to grow in many quarters that our house was not of the best character, my custom became limited. Shortly alter, as Miss Gow and I were walking one evening in the upper part of the city she observed a little girl on tho side walk ; she observed her for some time, and seeing no one with her at so late an hour in the evening, she said to me here's a chance, and coming up to her slipped the plaster on, and we took her home. On our arrival wo immediately dispatched one of our men to the doctor with the body, which added a little to our pocket. Although I mention this murder 1 did not mean to commit it, but stood by and saw it done, and was an accessary to it. Wo were but a few minutes home when we observed Alexander Robinson and Samuel Smith standing opposite our door; they of course came in and sat down, and called for the best Scotch whiskey punch, drank hearty and treated freely, and paid liberally. Finding they had plenty of money we made up our minds to have it. We gave them as much as they requested inr order to make the job more easy for us to accomplish, and that very night we murdered Alexander Robinson and Samuel Smith. We searched their pockets, and from their contents all the value we could find in them. After committing the murder and robbery we set the plan to convey their hodies ont of town. Willi the assistance of our friends we conveyed them part of the way; night being tar advanced we considered it dangerous to proceed much further, consequently we came to a determinaion to lay them down, and at the same time placing their remains in such a position as to cause a belief in the mind of the citizens that they were murdered in that neighbourhood ; as soon as we had it completed we rersirnecHmmediately to our residence, and after a short time repaired to bed. The following morning the bodies were (bund in the same position we left lliem, and an inquest held on (heir remains, a verdict was returned, (hat they came to their death by blows inflicted on the head by a person or persons unknown to the jury. In a few days after the city authorities offered a reward of one hundred pounds for the apprehension and conviction if the murderers. The following day John Lyons, and Charles Canning, were taken for the murder of the above named. A reward having been offered for the conviction of (he murderers, land Miss Gow came forward and swore it plump against them, that I saw the same party in company and drinking together the same evening which terminated in the los of life. My object fordoing this was, the same afternoon the murder was committed I saw John Lyons and Charles Canning, stand opposite my door, and as 1 feared suspicion from that quarter, I knew it was the best policy to prosecute them, Self-preservation is die first law of nature ; i took an early stand against any such ; the term approached for the assizes, this (rial was the second on the book, in a few days the case was called, the prisoners were ready for trial, they were exam in ed on both sides after the counsellors finished their summing up, which occupied the court for tho space of three days. Able counsel were employed on both side3, the prisoners were found guilty on tho
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grounds of my testimony, it being so clear and undeviating. On the scaffold before their execution they addressed the crowd in a few and appropriate remarks, that they were innocent of the murder they were then about to suffer for ; which took place on the second day of December, 1888, in the city of Glasgow.

However, for the gratification of the reader, to give him a full form of the proceedings at the tiial; when the prisoners were arraigned at the bar, they assumed an undaunted appearance, and being asked by the court if they were ready for trial, replied that thsy were ; after they were examined, and the counsellors summed up the case, the. judge addressed the jury in a few brief remarks : Gentlemen of the jury, the prisoners, John Lyons and Charles Canning, now arraigned before you for the wilful murder of Robinson and Smith, you have heard the evidence produced from such testimony that you must judge and at the same time examine it carefully and impartially. I must say that the evidence produced seems to me clear and undeviating. Under the painful circumstances in which I am placed as minister of the. law, I am compelled to say the evidence is clear and unwavering, hut as jurymen I trust to your good sense to do justice to the prisoners, and act in accordance to the dictates of your minds ; let no selfish motive or predjtidice sway your mind from doing justice to the prisoners ; bear in mind the life of two of your fellow beings are in your hands ; weigh the evidence impartially, and if you can be convinced of their innocence, the laws of the land and humanity claims an impartial verdict from you. The jury retired, and in a short time returned into court wtth a verdict of guilty. The crown prosecutor moved for the sentence of the law, upon which the court asked the prisoners if they had anything to say why the sentence of the law should not be pronounced against them, replied, nothing, but they were innocent; upon which the judge pronounced that they should be taken to the place of their confinement, there to remain until the second day of December, when they should be hung by the neck until their bodies were dead, between the hours of eight and four o'clock.

Thus terminated the existence of two innocent men. Let us imagine, for a moment, this cruel and unrelenting being one which no language can describe, nor mind conceive perpetrated by a female--; and when he considers how long Providence permitted her to pursue such a course of life, we must consider him a just and bountiful Being. When we find the tempest blowing most hard, it is a sure sign that Providence shall visit us. Her days were nearly numbered in that land, previous to the following, as the reader will perceive. Still Anna Gow remained with her, as usual. They were paid the prosecuting money, which was very acceptable.

" After the lapse of some time," she continues, " we were apprehended for the poisoning of Alice Hamilton, a young lady who visited my house. She noticed some of our doings. Slight reports coming to our ears, from her interfering with us, we determined to place her where she could tell no tales. We invited her to come and spend the
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afternoon in our family, as she usually had done before. Not coming, we continued our invitation until she did. We prepared a decent refreshment for the evening, I sitting at the head of the table, of course. I made myself useful. 1 slipped the arsenic into her cup of tea ; she got sick shortly afterwards. I immediately sent the waiter for a hack to take her home to her residence, which was some distance from my house. She was but a lew hours home when she died. The physicians were immediately called in, in order to relieve her sickness; it was of no avail; the dose was fatal. The physicians took the poison out of her stomach. We were immediately taken, and bound in irons, to await our trial. The term fast approaching, under the circumstances which I was to be tried, as 1 well knew 1 would be found guilty, and death would be my unavoidable fate, knowing well I deserved it, and it had appeared to me it had arrived. 1 had ofltimes thought in my own mind, could there be any possibility of escaping] as 1 knew the localities of the prison so well, sometimes thinking it impossible, and at other times feeding my vanity. As I noticed there might as I heard of one attempting it not many years previous to that lime. I was aware it would be either life or death, and I resolved to give it a trial if such an opportunity offered. I resolved to keep my secrets even from my companion in crime. At this season of the year, being in the month of May, the streets and drains being dry, the thought struck me, if 1 could only work my way out of the jail-yard into some of the subteraneous p