Iowa
Old Press
Anamosa Prison Press
Colony of Detention, Anamosa, Jones co. Iowa
October 7, 1905
Printed, edited and contributed to by the Detained.
Colony Notes by P.P. Man
Our lifer colony received a new member this week. He is
learning to be a printer, and says he has no objections to
working more than eight hours a day.
Five years is the sentence which was handed to Old Andy Conover
by the Chickasaw court this week. Andy's number is 5431. If he
lives out his term, he will be 80 years old. Andy was arrested at
the gate July 13, after serving a ten-year sentence.
Late Arrivals
5428, George Norman, Monona county, four years
5429, Thomas Moran, Monona county, five years
5430, William Jones, Johnson county, life
5431, Andrew J. Conover, Chickasaw county, five years
5432, Rena Brown, Chickasaw county, one year
[transcribed by S.F., November 2014]
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Anamosa Prison Press
Colony of Detention, Anamosa, Jones co. Iowa
October 14, 1905
Printed, edited and contributed to by the Detained.
Colony Notes by P.P. Man
Hospital Steward Kratochvil got back Tuesday from a few
days' pleasure trip to Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul. On the
way back he visited the famous prison at Joliet and had an
excellent opportunity to compare the big, backward prison of
Illinois with our own up-to-date Colony. The yound M.D. was wont
to think that our local habitation was gloomy but since seeing
Joliet he thinks Iowa is far ahead of Illinois.
Late Arrivals
5433, Frank Nelson, Clinton county, two years.
5434, Edward Larson, Clinton county, three years
5435, Frank McKim, Clinton county, thre years
5436, J.R. Baker, Woodbury county, six months
5437, George DeWert, Sac county, eight months
5438, James Martin, Sac county, two years and six months
5439, James Myers, Sac county, two years and six months
5440, Frank Latton, Sac county, two years and six months
[transcribed by S.F., November 2014]
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Anamosa Prison Press
Colony of Detention, Anamosa, Jones co. Iowa
October 21, 1905
Printed, edited and contributed to by the Detained.
Colony Notes by P.P. Man
Two deaths in one day and almost at the same time is an unusual
occurrence in our Colony. James Martin, 5438, was received Oct.
12 from Sac county and died Monday morning, Oct. 16, from heart
disease. He was serving thirty months.
Charles Cohn, 4797, an insane prisoner, died Monday morning Oct.
16, from cirrhosis of the liver. He had been in the hospital
since July 5. Cohn was a Polk county prisoner, serving eight
years. He was received here in January, 1903, from Fort Madison.
Mr. F. Kratochvil, of Hampton, was a guest of his son, Dr.
Kratochvil, Wednesday.
Officer Snyder's family Bible contains a new entry in honor of
the 8 1/2 pound boy that registered Oct. 18.
Among the letters which the Chaplain found awaiting him when he
returned Thursday morning from Farley was a letter conveying news
of G.O. Daggett who died at the home of his sister in Earlville
Oct 10 from Bright's disease and paralysis. Daggett was a charter
member of the local C.E. society and of Post 14, V.P.L.
(Volunteer Prisoner's League) He was discharged June 13, 1904. He
went direct to Fort Dodge to take charge of Hope Hall No. 3, but
this he was obliged to give up after a few months on account of
sickness. Since that time he had been in poor health and for six
weeks before his death had been confined to his bed. His sister
cared for him to the end. To her the Detained express their
sympathy.
Brown, 5441, a recent arrival has joined the choir. We understand
he has a good bass voice and is able to get considerable music
out of the pipe-organ. West, our boy baritone and slide trombone
artist, goes out soon. Brown is therefore just in time.
If Hendricks, 5360, should wake up some fine morning and find his
lip in shape for oscultation, he can thank Prison Physician Druet
and Hospital Steward Kratochvil for their timely operation
Wednesday for lip cancer. "Hen" is the barber at whom
P.P. has been wont to poke a little fun. If he leaves the
Hospital cured, we shall be glad.
Benton county has established a record for the shortest sentence
a man can serve in our Colony. One day! And yet there be those
who say there is no luck in the world. Just think, one day! Three
meals, a sleep, five dollars, and a ticket home!
Late Arrivals
5441, W.E. Brown, U.S. North District, north division,
five years.
5442, Elmer Custer, Woodbury county, five years.
5443, John Custer, Woodbury county, ten years.
5444, John Lang, Benton county, one day.
5445, Edward Frondel, Benton county, one day.
5446, Frank Cottrell, Benton county, two years.
5447, Charles E. Kennedy, Benton county, two years.
5448, Fred Urmy, Benton county, six years.
5449, Lee Johnson, Benton county, fifteen years.
5450, John Conlon, Palo Alto county, one year.
5451, Orrie Evans, Benton county, three years.
5452, Cleve Evans, Benton county, three years.
5453, Charles Mecum, Scott county, one year and six months.
5454, John Bauman, Scott county, three years.
5455, William Teller, Scott county, six months.
5456, George B. Seifert, Scott county, nine months.
5457, John Halliman, Scott county, ten years.
5458, William Doyle, Clinton county, 'till sane.
[transcribed by S.F., November 2015]
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Anamosa Prison Press
Colony of Detention, Anamosa, Jones co. Iowa
October 28, 1905
Printed, edited and contributed to by the Detained.
Colony Notes by P.P. Man
Benjamin B. Blackstone, formerly a guard here under P.W. Madden,
died Oct. 23, in Sac City. He was 65 years old.
Roberts, 4545 [prison # possibly is 4345], ex-State Bootblack,
utility man and farmer, was released Monday on parole. Thompson,
4969, a ten-year man, also paroled, went out this morning.
If there is anything more crushing to a man than to enter prison
for life, it is to receive word that his case has been affirmed
by the Supreme Court. We can realize therefore the despair which
brother 5168 felt Thursday morning when his hopes were crushed by
an adverse opinion. We sympathize with him. During the year our
brother has been waiting disposition of his appeal he has been a
helpful associate and genial companion in this office. We have
frequently remarked his cheerfuldemeanor and painstaking with his
work. It was the cheerfulness of hope, the interest of a hope
that was bouyant. He is less so now. But hope will not die; it is
eternal in the human breast; the lifer's sustaining power, and
our brother's only solace in times of despair.
Late Arrivals
5459, James Conklin, Blackhawk county, five years
5460, A. Smith, Blackhawk county, five years.
5461, Charles Johnson, Blackhawk county, six years.
5462, Mary Jacobs, Guthrie county, six months.
5463, Arthur Vaillancour, Linn county, one year.
5464, William Belks, Woodbury county, six months.
[transcribed by S.F., November 2015]