A PRISON COURTSHIP.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2704, 9 November 1889, Page 6 (Supplement)

A PRISON COURTSHIP.

ELOPING WITH A LIFE-PRISONER. Miss Mina Bain lives in Jeffersonville, Indiana. The young lady is a tall, handsome brunette, with black eyes, and attractive manners. She is governesss to tho children of Depiaty-warden Baines, of tho Indiana State Prison at Jeffersonvillo. There sho became a favourite. Among tho servants about Deputy-warden Baines's house was George Lowry, a lifeconvict, who has served eighteen years within the walls. He was sent there for murder in the first degree. He pntered a mere boy, but being shrewd he soon got into tho good graces of the warden. He was allowed to conduct a little stand near his work, where he sold cigars, toothpicks, and trinkets to the visitors. In this manner he is said to have made £10 to £12 a month. As there was no way of spending it, he saved some £400. Recently Lowry was made a " trusty," and was frequently sent with messages to the deputywarden's house. There he met the pretty governess, ?nd fell desperately in love with her. Every time he visited the deputy-warden's house he stopped for a chat with the attractive governess. Finally it was noticed by the people of the house. When they spoke to Lowry about it he said she was merely a friend of his, and was going up to Rush County, his former home, where s>he would circulate a petition for his pardon. One evening recently Lowry. and Miss Bain disappeared. Heavily armed guard? were at once despatched in search of the convict. About eleven o'clock that night, when they had given up the search and were preparing to send out circulars notifying the people of Lowry's escape, and offering a reward for his arrest, the convict suddenly walked in. He went immediataly to the warden and said he had a confession to make. He told of his love for Miss Bain, and stated that they had planned an elopement. A suit of plain clothes in place of his prison garb was to have been provided by a friend outside. Then he and Miss Bain were to meet at a place agreed upon, whence they would proceed to the office of amagistrate and be married, But, unfortunately for the lover's, everything went wrong. The clothes were not read j, and he knew that no one would perform the ceremony while he wore the convict dress. After strolling about until eleven o'clock they agreed to postpone the wedding. Lawry had no intention of escaping. After the marriage he expected to return to the prison, in the hope of securing .i pardon through his wife's efforts. Lawry and Miss Bain have since agreed to defer their marriage until he is released. The Legislature of Indiana proposes to enact a law making twenty-five years in prison equivalent to a life sentence. As one month in each year is allowed for good behaviour, Lawry's time, under its provisions, will expire in less than five years. He is still a "trusty" at the prison, and is sent about Jeffersonville on errands.