Very interesting article relating to a convict trustee who worked in the Fort Smith federal jail office doing books, etc. The article gives the appearance that he made this trip alone to deliver the listing:

Morning Republican, Little Rock, Arkansas, Thursday, January 26, 1871
Convicts in the Penitentiary
The following memoranda of State and Federal prisoners in confinement at the penitentiary on January 20, 1871, was handed to the Chairman of the House Penitentiary Committee, Hon. E.H. Chamberlain, by a prisoner, while on a visit to that institution the other day. The young man furnishing the memoranda was sent from the United States Court for the Western District of Arkansas for robbing the mail, and was sentenced for a term of fifteen years. From its appearance, we judge the young man is handy with the pen and well educated. We understand he is employed about the office, engaged in writing, keeping books, etc. The following are the estimates, the exhibit being a correct copy:
State Prisoners
White – 39
Colored – 75
Indian – 1
Colored females – 2
Total – 117
Federal Enlisted
White – 33
Colored – 36
Total – 69
Federal Military, Civil
White – 1
Colored – 1
Total – 2
Federal Civil
White – 11
Colored – 6
Indian – 5
Total – 22
Recapitulation
State Prisoners – 117
Federal Enlisted – 69
Federal Military, Civil – 2
Federal U.S. Civil – 22
Grand Total - 210

Correction - this appears to be a trustee in the Arkansas State Penitentiary at Little Rock.