Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-11-23
PRISON BAREARITIES.
Life in the Indiana state Prison.

A correspondent in The Cincinnati Com
ntercial writes from Indianapolis
Within the last three years man has
been in the State Prison, south of Indiana.
who improved the opportunity oy writing
book with the above title It has been
published in Cincinnati. The treatment
of the subject is entirely novel, and the
skillfGl execution of the illustrations
would do credit to Mast. By most I'M
usual and inexplicable modesty, the artist
desires his name withheld. He is a doc
tor Of medicine by profession, and has a
silly fear that, should his skill become
known, it would initiate against his sue
cess as a Galen. This Singular genius
lives in st. Louis, and should he not sue
coed ia bis chosen and b loved profession.
he has an unfailing resource in his pencil.
There are sixty of these weod-cuts, both
small and great, and they of themselves
tell the story of State Prison life by one
who has been there. The story is writ
ten by J. II. Banks. who, accord
ing to his own biography. was brought
up in Christian New England
home, used to good society, and blessed
with more than ordinary talent and lib.
eral education coming west be became
involved in a difficulty Chats always the
mild way criminals Lave of speaking)
which finally resulted in bis being SEN
fenced to the State prison for three wears.
Mr.. Banks first day IL prison was hard
one, and with rare powers of observation
be seemed to take in every detail of the
prison building the routine of misery
was familisrized to him by degrees. 4
fine wood cut of the prison accompanies
this chapter, but that does not give any
idea of the interior as described by the
author. 1t is with the life of punishment
and wrong that the author has to deal
and In the chapters entitled "Shaps and
Guard" "a Drunken Warden" "Out-
RACES in the Female Department" ga
Chapter of Horrors" he has succeeded in
delineating some of the most horrible
scenes that have ever seen the light. They
are described, too, with vividness and
evident sincerity which make them thrill
ing to the last degree. The reader drops the
book aehast, and asks himself, can sncb
crimes exist in this Christian country?
Among the horrible instances Quoted
IN prison life | may cite that of poor.
one legged soldier, upward. of fifty years
of age and shaking with the palsy. For
some minor otfense be had been sent from
Park county to prison ter two wears. Uo-
on his arrival he wss assigned to the col
lar shop, and required to do day'. work
He had hardly recovered from the opers-
ton on his leg and was very feeble In
addition 10 his other ailments he was sinh
Ject to severe attacks of tho heart dis
ease.
On the morning of which we write he
was In deplerable condition. The diet
and work had reduced him to almost
nothing, and the pitiful stump of his
wounded leg was raw and bleeding. The
fact that be had been reduced to misery
IS defense of his country failed to amei-
iorate his condition here.
Come. move sn,' said the brutal stew
ara, showing him with his foot.
The old man hobbled off to his shop
ana lay down on a bed of strw.
Well, sir. didn't make it, eh p mean
Ing that he had failed to get excused by
tbe doctor Get out of that now, and 20
to work.
i am sick, and my leg is sore and
bleeding. can't work.
Cant you? Doctor sent YOU to the
shop, and you must work. Get ont of
that, now, OF I'll take you to the Office