The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1872-03-02
G. F. Collins Letters.
French Prisons.

Correspondence Of Indianapolis Journal.
PARIS, January Is, 1872.
Amidst Ill the interests of this
great civ, We have devoted one
day TO its prisons. In company
with a lady from Cincinnati. who
speaks French fuently, and kind
ly conscLted to act as ca inter-
prefer. we called on Victor Bour
not, a gentleman Of great benevo-
lence and refinement. who interests
himself especially in reformatories
and prisons. who kindly under
took to accompany US, and to
procure the necessary orders for
an admission (Which are very
difficult to obtain. especially since
the recent civil conimotion J.
After some delay and difficulty in
obtaining the orders, we proceed
ed first to the Concierge one of
those old buildings erected several
centuries since and finished in fine
STYLE externally, portion of whic...
was destroyed by the Communists
in the recent civil war, but the
prison portion remains uninjured.
1t is now used rs place for the
temporary confinement of untr:cd
persons. We were shown the
room in which Marie Ansoinette
was confined. and from which she
was led 10 trial in an upper room
of the same building and after
wards to execution. The crucifix
which she kissed before going out
to execution is still preserved, and
the spot is shown where her bed
stood. and also that to which she
retired to dress for the execution,
cut of sight OF her guards. The
large room was also shown TO US
where 'Girondists' we're confined,
anil from which they were daily
called out to execution-a scene as
cxpressively shown in one of the
finest pictures in the Luxembourg
,--also the room where Robespierre
wss confined previous to his exe>
ution. While the venerable old
building has but little of present
,nterest Is prison, it is full of
historic interest, and awakened
ceilings OF sadness as it recalled
20 forcibly the bloody scenes oil
he past.
From it we went to the House oil
,orrec. ion-La Sante. There are
hree classes Of criminals on who q
entcnce has been passed in this
ountry: 1st, Those confined fol
light violations of the law, no!
xactly criminal, and yet subject
'ag them to few days i,nprison-
iaen,; these are sentenced by tAt
Tribunal of Simple Justice il
shich there is but one Judge.
2. Those who are tried by 9
,ary, and sentenced by a cour
having three judges, for serious
ffenses; the sentences being fol
from eight days to five years, ant
10 some instances, for second Of
bird often es, even longer.
3. Those sentenced for tn,
-orst crimes; for from five year.
10 life Imprisonment, or for wiltu
| lurder to death.
These differt Mt classes of pris.
/ ;ners are usually sent to differen
| risons, but in some instances th'
irst and second are confined in tn
| anne building The prison Il
! i,ante' is intended especially 70
he second class, but has some O
| he first. 1t has GOO cells. $50 Q
vl.ich were occupied. The abso
ute cellular system, where th
prisoners are keptin separate cell
by night and day, and taken Oh
ono hour each day for exercise i
separate yards, and not brougi
out at all in contact with othe
prisoners, is hero carried out wit
about onehalf aof the prisoners
1t is the Philadelphia syster
somewhat modified. Another pal
of the prisoners are employed j
tho day work in congregate com
panies, and lodged in separa,
cells at night. The prison build
ing is very substantial and We
constructed, on the model of man
Epglish and American prisons.
. is kept at al even temperature b
immense boilers in the basemen
which are also connected with ii
ventilating ARA ,gements, SO as
, keep up constant supply OF fires
/, .ir throughout the building. tt
cells are large, we'll lighted, az
furnished with . small bed and
few other articles. The who
! building is kept perfectly clcs
and in excellent order. The pri