GHOST OF SING SING

Shannon News, 13 August 1926, Page 1

GHOST OF SING SING

A PROWLING PHANTOM. GRIM SCENES IN ‘‘BASTILLE.** NEW YORK’S UNDERWORLD. America’s tidal wave of crime has turned public attention to the grim Bastille of the underworld known as Sing Sing prison. Oh one hand one hears tales of the luxury lives of the inmates, and on the other of tlie hair_raising adventures with a ghost that roams inside the prison at night, terrifying warders and prisoners alike. According to the stories current, the Spook of Sing Sing is a tall, gaunt figure, with contracted features sug_ gesting the result of execution in the electric chair. The ghost is alleged to walk the corridors of the prison almost nightly, but when warders run to the spot it vanishes and leaves no trace. There are prosaic folk who say that tlxo whole thing is either a delusion of the warders or the outcome or a clever practical joke, resulting from the laxity in the prison that permits almost- unrestricted movement to some of the imhates. But others, see something more than an illusion, ror without knowing what the warders have seen, prisoners in their cells have reported th e passing of the stranger along the corirdor and of furtive peeps as he passed. Bell Rings in Death Cell. Many of the prisoners have , been removed to the infirmary, suffering from nerves, caused by the uncanny disturbances during the night. One of the manifestations of the ghostly visitation is the regular ringing of the bell in th e cell occupied by those destined for electrocution. Repeat, edly this has happened ,and warders who have rushed to the spot have found no' explanation. Higher authorities treat’ the matter so seriously that a commission or investigation has been sent to' the prison to solv e the mystery. On the first night, when they took up their positions at the point agreed on as the mostlikely fdr the spook’s appearance, it was suddenly reported from another part of the prison, and when the investigators hurried up to the scene the g'hostly prowler turned up in yet another part of the build, ing ,and so terrified a warder that he has since been off duty. According to this man lie was at the end of one of the corridors leading from the condemned cell, when lie saw the figure appear at the op. 'posite end and move towards him, beckoning as it came. Halfway along tlie corridor the figure seemed to disappear through the door into one ot the' cells, but when the cell was visit, ed the inmate was fast asleep. But if Sing Sing prisoners have ghosts to terrify them, they have pleasanter diversions night and day. It is possible for those with means to have food supplied from the ourside, and even under the “dry” re. gime alcohol of any kind can he brought in with impunity. Some of the inmates have their meals from the finest restaurants of New York city ,and it is possible for them to live on the proceeds of their crimes much better than if they were at liberty. The theatre has been equipped regardless of cost, and is admittedly the best of its size in the world. The plays produced at least-once a week, are equal to the best staged in New York. There is a picture theatre al. ways going. Under certain circumstances prisoners may dress for dinner, and be waited on by outside waiters if they are wealthy enough to afford it. Baseball and other outdoor games arc permitted freely, and those who desire coaching can have it free. Cards, chess and other indoor games are permitted and “poker” parties arc also well patronised, money seem, ingly coming in freely from outside to enable the players to carry on. In one section of the prison wireless has been installed, and a tew favoured prisoners are allowed private installations in their own cells. There is little restraint on intei’course of the prisoners, and at musical even, ings the services of some of the best artists in America are provided. The circulating library is up to date, and th e latest books of the best seller , type can be had in the prison as quickly as outside.