american tragedy

Chapter 151

Chapter 329
This prison "death row" is one of the most stupid structures of human creation, but at its origin, no one should be mainly responsible for it.that's the truth.The whole plan and all the processes of this "death row" are derived only from the earliest decrees.Compulsory regulations were enacted next, all according to the personal temper and decisions of the successive wardens as they considered necessary.Later, it was gradually finalized, and the results could not be attributed to a certain person. All unnecessary, cruel methods without the permission of the authorities and some ignorant and brutal tortures that human beings can think of are finally integrated here.until now.As a result, once a man is convicted by a jury, he not only suffers from the death sentence stipulated in the judgment, but must die a thousand times before that.Because, due to the original design of this house and some regulations on the life and behavior of the prisoners, this kind of torture was randomly imposed on the prisoners.

The cell was thirty feet long and fifty feet wide, and was constructed of stone and reinforced concrete, with a skylight on the roof about thirty feet above the ground.It is said that this is a change from the earlier and worse death row.The earlier death row is still connected with this death row, separated by a door.There is also a wide corridor in the middle that divides the house in two.Along this corridor, there were twelve cells on the lower floor.Above is the second floor, known as balcony cells, five on each side.

However, in the middle of this corridor--this large corridor divides the cells below into equal numbers on each side--a narrower corridor leads at one end to what is now called "Old Death Cell" (now, only visiting " Prisoners in the "New Death Row" can meet prisoners there), and the other end leads to the execution chamber with the electric chair.Down the passage there were two cells - just where the narrower passage intersected - directly opposite the door to the execution chamber.The other two in the corner over there faced the corridor leading to the Old Death Row.If our imagination is richer, we can call this "old death cell" the prisoner's interview room.Here prisoners can meet twice with a family member or a lawyer.However, no one else can visit.

In the "Old Death Cell" (or the current interview room), the original cells are still there, and according to the plan of the original interview room, the prisoners can be prevented from peeking at each other. There is a barbed wire fence in front of each cell; The green door curtain can be pulled down.Because in the past, no matter whether a prisoner was newly arrived or left, or was released every day or went to take a bath, or was finally escorted through the small iron gate on the west to the original execution room, all these curtains had to be pulled down. .According to regulations, he cannot be seen by other prisoners.But precisely because of the so-called etiquette and secrecy measures, this old death row was later designed in accordance with the ideas of those thoughtful and sensitive authorities, this new and more perfect death row.

Of course, the small, gloomy cells that characterized the old death cell were gone in the new death cell.In the old cell the ceiling was high and the sanitation was terrible, now in this new cell the ceiling is low and the sanitation is ok.The rooms, the corridors, were all brightly lit, and each cell was no less than eight feet long by ten feet wide.However, compared with the old prison, there is a big disadvantage here, that is, there is no barbed wire on the door of the cell, although the door curtain is not without it.

Moreover, all the prisoners are kept on these two floors.So every prisoner had to endure the bloodcurdling howls of all these wicked, sick, or totally broken, utterly hopeless people around.There is simply no better way to say it than a personal life.Daytime—blazing sunlight streams down through vaulted skylights in the roof.At night—the electricity is strong, and the bright lights illuminate every corner of the cells, and every crevice is bright.There is no personal life, no entertainment, cards and chess are the only entertainment here, and there is no need to let the prisoner out of the room.Of course, there are books and newspapers.Who will read these under the circumstances and appreciate them, so take it.In addition, there are interviews. According to regulations, a pastor can visit every morning and afternoon.Rabbi and Protestant priests came less often.Whoever will receive them, they come to show your sympathy, hold religious ceremonies, and so on.

But it is precisely these advantages that can be cursed here. Instead of improving the situation, it has made the situation worse.Anyone can see that each prisoner has to be in constant contact day and night with other people, who have long been terrified and paralyzed by the idea of ​​imminent death.People here think that death has rested like a cold hand on their brow or shoulder.And, in fact, no one—no matter how much he brags—could withstand such a torture, and psychologically and physically, no matter how much he brags, could withstand such a torture, and the psychological The vicissitudes are indescribable.Such gloomy, tense, indescribable fear and despair are like a gust of wind, or a breath, constantly blowing over, making everyone distraught and terrified! Often at the most unexpected moment, these appear: curse , sighing, shouting "Sing a song"--My God!--or shouting and groaning that completely inadvertently surprised others.

Worse still, perhaps the most excruciating and heart-wrenching of all the horrors here, was the corridor that led from one end of the old death row to the execution chamber on the other.For,--oh, how many times--the tragedies that are often staged in this place--final executions--are at least part of the venue or stage, and it is this corridor.

Because on the day of the execution, the prisoner will have to be released from this new death cell where he may have been held for a year or two, from his better cell, and through this corridor, let him spend his last hours quietly. , and at the last moment, (ah, the march of death!) Turn back and walk along this narrow corridor (everyone can see this), and be escorted to the execution room at the other end.

In addition, any time a prisoner wanted to see a lawyer or relative who was being brought into the Old Death Row, he had to walk down the middle corridor into this smaller corridor and then into the Old Death Row.In the old death cell, the prisoner was put into a cell.There was an electrical grid two feet away in front of the cell.Between the grid and the cell, there must have been a police officer sitting.When the prisoner talks to the visitor (wife, son, mother, daughter, brother or lawyer), the sergeant hears it perfectly - not even a word escapes the sergeant, no handshake, no kiss, whatever you mean , honesty, sensitivity, or dullness, though perhaps unintentionally, actually make you obliged not to listen to the circumstances of the deathbed—that is, to be able to hear the prisoner being put into the cell of the old death row, and perhaps also hearing the parents and children. The last farewell cry.

None of these circumstances, whether planned or carried out, took any account of how unnecessary and unjust torture it was to others.These people were imprisoned here, definitely not for immediate execution, but to wait for the final judgment of their cases by the higher court-the judgment after appeal.

Of course, at first, Clyde had just had a taste of it, and his mother came at noon the next day.This can relieve some of his mental burden, or it can be said that the mental burden is even heavier.She was not allowed to come with him at first.So she waited there a while, had a final consultation with Belknap and Jefferson, and wrote out her personal impressions of her son in detail—(these heart-rending impressions!) Although she Desperate to find a room on the side of the prison, but as soon as she got to Auburn she hurried to the prison office.She delivered first an order of Judge Oberworth's, and the letter of intercession written by Belknap and Jefferson.The letter hoped to allow her to meet Clyde alone, at least for the first time, and the prison authorities allowed her to see her son in a room separate from the old death cell.Because the warden himself had read about her activities and her spirit of self-sacrifice, etc., not only had he longed to see her, but he also wanted to see Clyde.

However, after Clyde arrived here, an astonishing change suddenly occurred.She was so stunned that she could hardly speak when he walked in.Although she recognized him, how pale and ashen his cheeks were.How dark and intense those eyes were.His hair was made like this, this prison uniform, and in such a bleak place full of iron gates and chains! Every corridor, every turn, was guarded by armed policemen!

For a while, she just shrank back, trembling, and almost fainted because of her nervousness, although she had been to many detention centers and larger prisons before this in Kansas City, Chicago, and Denver. Distributed pamphlets in the aisles, and did everything she could for the prisoners.But this time, this time! Her own son! Her big, strong chest gasped.She took a look, turned her thick, broad back to cover her face, her lips and chin quivered.Flicking her handkerchief in the little bag beside her, she said kindly, "My God: why have you forsaken me?" But as she was saying this, another thought occurred to her, no, no, never. Can't let him see this.How could this work, her tears could only make him weaker, maybe, although she was strong, maybe she couldn't help but just cry.

Although Clyde had made up his mind to hold his breath and say some words of comfort and encouragement to his mother, seeing this scene, he could only say:

"But please don't, Mother, oh, please don't cry. I know you're hurting. But I'll be all right, I'm sure I'll be all right. It's not as bad as I thought it would be." But, He said in his heart, "My God, my God, how bad it is!"

Then Mrs. Griffiths cried: "My poor child! My dear son! But we must not yield, no, no, behold, I will deliver you from the snare of the wicked, the two of us, God forsakes none. He never will, I know. 'He has kept me beside still waters' He has quickened my soul, and we must believe in him. And, "both to cheer Clyde and To cheer herself up, she then said energetically, "Didn't I already finish the appeal? It can be filed this week. They are going to file a paper application. That is to say, your case will be filed within a year." I wouldn't have thought about it at all. But it was just because I was surprised to see you. You know, I didn't expect this all of a sudden.

She shrugged, raised her head and smiled resolutely. "The warden here seems very kind, but seeing you like this just now..." She wiped her eyes that were wet from crying because of the sudden and violent blow. and diverting their minds in other directions, she spoke of her present employment. Before she set off, she was greatly encouraged by Messrs. Belknap and Jefferson. She had been to their office, and they Advise her, and persuade her to be optimistic. Now, she is going to give a lecture, and do it immediately. So, there will be a way soon. Ah, yes, and Mr. Jefferson will come to see in the next few days He, he thinks that the legal road is by no means complete, it is too early. The latest judgment and sentence will definitely be revoked and a retrial will be ordered. The last time, as he himself knows, was a farce.

As for herself, if she could find a room near the prison, she would go to some of the leading priests of Auburn to see if she could find a church or two or three where she would give lectures and plead for him, Mr. Jefferson could be in Syracuse, Rochester, Albany, Schnack in a day or two.In short, many cities in the east must be visited until the necessary expenses are arranged, but she will never ignore him.At least, she would visit him once a week, and write him a letter every other day, or every day if she could.She's going to speak to the warden.Therefore, he must not be disappointed in himself.She has a lot of hard work to do, but in everything, the Lord is guiding her.She knows it well.Hasn't he already shown his mercy?

Clyde should pray for her, and for himself.Should read Isaiah.When reading "Hymns", read No.20, No. 90, No. [-] every day, and also read "Haya Valley Book". "What wall can stop your hand?" Then she shed some tears.In the end she left.Feeling extremely unhappy, Clyde also went back to his cell.His loving mother.An old man with no money, she is now going to arrange some necessary money to save his life.And in the past, he finally understood how sorry he was to her.

He sat on the edge of the iron bed with his head in his hands.Mrs. Griffiths walked out of the prison, and the iron gates of the prison closed.All that lay before her was a dreary room.Stopping on the road, she was not sure or confident about what she had just said to Clyde.Of course God help her.He will.He had never disappointed her in the past.Today, in her most difficult time, in her son's most difficult time, will he disappoint her?

After a while, she stopped again on the parking lot opposite the prison, staring at the high gray wall and the clock tower with uniformed armed guards on it, and the doors and windows with iron bars.Her people were inside, and worse, locked up on death row and sentenced to the electric chair.Appeal, appeal fee.For this matter, she has to act immediately, there is no time to think, no time to fantasize, and no time to despair.Oh no. "All my faults." "My light and my strength." "Oh Lord, you are my strength and my savior. I believe in you." Then she wiped her eyes again and went on : "Oh, Lord, I believe. Give me enough faith, please help me."

Thus Mrs. Griffiths prayed and wept as she walked.

(End of this chapter)