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and tore his clothes and bedding。 He was brought from the poor farm
where he was waiting to be sent to the insane asylum。 There were some
cigarette； smokers in the jail and the fumes came in my cell； for I had
nothing but an open barred door。 I begged that I might not be compelled
to smell this poison； but； instead of diminishing； the smoke increased。
Two prisoners from across the rotunda were brought next to
my cell。
What an outrage； to tax the citizens of Sedgwick County to build
such a jail as that in Wichita。 It holds one hundred and sixty prisoners。
There were thirteen there when I was put in。 I have been in many jails； but
in none did I ever see a rotary； except in Wichita； a large iron cage；
with one door； the little cells the shape of a piece of pie。 Perhaps there
were a dozen in this one。 The cage rotated within a cylinder。 This was
for the worst criminals； and the cells were only large enough for a small
cot； a chair and a table about a foot square。
｛illust。 caption =
JUST BEFORE I LEFT WICHITA JAIL A PHOTOGRAPHER CAME TO MY CELL AND ASKED
TO TAKE MY PICTURE。 HERE IT IS IN THE POSITION OF KNEELING； READING
MY BIBLE； WHICH WAS MY USUAL ATTITUDE。｝
Mr。 Simmons was the sheriff and he told the prisoners to 〃smoke all
they pleased；〃 that he would keep them in material； and he kept his word。
Tobacco smoke is poison to me and cigarettes are worse。 The health…
board belonged to this republican whiskey ring； and was in conspiracy
to make me insane； so they put a quarantine on the jail for three weeks；
and I was a lone woman in there； with two cigarette smokers； and a
maniac； next to my cell。 John； the Trusty； smoked a horrid strong pipe；
and he also was next to my cell。 Strange to say； when that jail had so
many apartments； and so few in them； that four inmates should have been
put next to me； but there was 〃a cause。〃 Mr。 Dick Dodd was the jailor；
and for three weeks he was the only one who came in my cell and I was
not allowed to see anyone in that time； but Dr。 Jordan who called once。
I cried and begged to be relieved of the smoke； for I do not think Mr。
Dodd realized how poisonous it was to me。 I would have to keep my
windows up in the cold January weather； and the fire would go down at
night。 I had two blankets； no pillow and a bed that the criminals had
slept on for years perhaps。 I would shiver with cold； and often would lay
on the cement floor with my head in my hands to keep out of the draught。
Oh！ the physical agony！ I had something like La Grippe which settled
on my bronchial tubes； from which I have never recovered； and I
expect to feel the effect to my dying day。 I had a strong voice for
singing； which I lost； and have never been able to sing； to speak of since。
Hour after hour I would lay on the floor； listening to the ravings of this
poor old man； who would fall on his iron bed and hard floor； cursing and
calling out names。 One night I thought I could not live to see day。 I
had in my cell sweetest of all companions； my Bible。 I read and studied
it； and this particular night I told the Lord he must come to my aid。 As I
often do； I opened my Bible at random and read the first place I opened
to； the 144th Psalm。 I have often read the book through； but this chapter
seemed entirely new。 It reads； Verse 1： 〃Blessed be the Lord my
strength； which teacheth my hands to war and my fingers to fight。 2。 My
goodness and my fortress my high tower and my deliverer； my shield
and He in whom I trust； who subdueth my people under me。〃
God told me in this chapter that He led me to 〃fight with my fingers
and war with my hands；〃 that He would be my REFUGE and DELIVERER；
that He would bring the people to me。
David had just such enemies as these when be says in this chapter：
〃Cast forth thy lightnings and scatter them； shoot out thine arrows and
destroy them。〃
7。 Send thine hand from above； rid me and deliver me out of great
waters from the hand of strange children。
8。 Where mouth speaketh vanity； and where right hand is a right
hand of falsehood。
12。 That our sons may be plants grown up in their youth； that our
daughters may be as corner…stones polished after the similitude of a
palace。〃
Here is the motive： The drink murders our sons； and do not allow
them to grow to be healthy； brave； strong men。 The greatest enemy of
woman and her offspring and her virtue is the licensed hellholes or saloons。
13。 〃That our garners may be full of all manner of store。〃
Our grain is used to poison； our bread…stuff is turned to the venom
of asps and the bread winner is burdened with disease of drunkeness；
where health should be the result； of raising that which； when rotted and
made into alcohol； perpetrates ruin and death； Our garners or grain
houses are spoiled or robbed。
14。 〃That there be no breaking in or going out； that there be no
complaining in our street。〃
What is it causing the breaking into jails； prisons； asylums； penitentiaries；
alms…houses？ The going out of the homes； of hearts； going out
into the cold； going into drunkard's graves and a drunkard's hell？
〃Complaining in our streets。〃 Oh！ the cold and hungry little children！
Oh！ the weeping wives and mothers！ Oh！ the misery and desolation
of the drunkards！ All from this drink of sorrow and death。
15。 〃Happy is that people that is in such a case； yea； happy is that
people whose God is the Lord。〃
〃People whose God is the Lord；〃 will not allow this evil。 They will
smash it out in one way or another。 This blessed word was a 〃light to
my feet and a lamp to my pathway。〃 I rejoiced for the comfort it gave
me； for the Lord truly talked to my soul while I read and reread this。
I must say that 〃Little Dodds；〃 the turnkey as I called him； was often
kind to me； but he was completely the servant of Simmons and his wife。
Once Mr。 Dodds asked me if I would leave the jail； that Sam
Amidon would bring a hack to the back door of the jail and he； Mr。
Dodds； and his wife； would go with me to Kansas City。
John； the Dutch trusty； said to me one day： 〃There is something
in the wind； people are coming and going and talking to Dodds。〃 Mr。
Dodds was supposed to be quarantined in the jail； but he went in and
out of the office and he would also go to his home； the prisoners saw
him from the window time and time again。
It was agony to hear the ravings night and day of the poor old
maniac。 He would frequently fall on his iron bed and floor。 He was a
large man of about sixty years of age or over。 He was helpless； but had
no one to take care of him； but John； the trusty； who for the sake of
mercy； would give him some attention。 The sanitary condition of his
cell must have been something horrible； from the smell that came into
my room。
One night the poor lunatic fell so hard on the floor； or bed that he
lay as one dead； for some time。 The jailer and others were aroused and
before they dare have a physician come in； they had to scrub and clean
the cell。 Then Dr。 Jordan came； and the old man was finally brought
to life。 This doctor was in the conspiracy to have me adjudged insane；
A woman fifty…five years old； who never broke a statute of Kansas。
Mr。 Dodds told me that Sam Am