The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-02-15
THE DARK CELL.

THE DARK CELL.
The Horror or Prison -Phy.ieaI, Mental
and Moral Results Of the Dark Cell.
In our eastern penitentiary, says a.
Philadelphia paper, dark cell treatment
is only resorted to in the most obstinate
cases. The last annual report shows
twenty applications in a criminal popu-
lation of seven hundred and more.
You will bear in mind that under
the laws which govern the commonwealth
neither the lash nor the paddle can be
applied to obdurate prisoners" said our
informant.
"Does the same man undergo such
treatment often p
The cases are very rare of double
application. One does generally SUFFICE
What is the usual effect mentally,
morally and physically p
Mentally, | never noticed any; nei-
ther have l physically. Morally, it has
considerable. When prisoner once un-
dergoes such treatment he rarely desires
10 try it again. A man once conquered
by dark-cell treatment is conquered for
his full term"
Is it always so effective %
l have never known it to fail. / re-
member that some years ago, when was
more closely connected with our prisons,
there was murderer brought from one
of the interior counties to the eastern
penitentiary. He was colored man, of
excellent physique, but brutal in the ex-
treme. The crime he had committed
was most atrocious in its character, and
that he was not convicted of muir ler in
the first degree was simply owing to
cowardice on the part of the jury. He
had been incarcerated but few hours
when he attempted to rule the prison.
He grossly insulted his keeper, and an
nounced that he intended to do Just as
he pleased. In order to discipline him
he was put on bread and-water diet, but
with no good result. Then the dark-cell
treatment was resorted to. For two days
he bore it bravely. At the beginning of
the third he sent for the chaplain and
desired to know what such treatment
meant and how long he would be COM
PEELED to undergo it.
Until you submit to the rulings OF
those who have you in charge and resolve
to conduct yourself decently," replied
the chaplain.
How long will that be?'' answered
the culprit.
"That depends on yourself" answered
the chaplain.
| "We1l, nobody ever conquered me yet, !"
said the prisoner, and nobody's going to
do it nowv'
"Very well" said the chaplain, g per-
haps you'll think differently before many
days roll round" Forty eight hours
more passed, when the prisoner sent for
the warden.
How much longer am to stay in this
place p he inquired.
/" Until you resolve to obey the rules
which govern this institution. When you
apologize to your keeper and promise to
comply with all our requirements you
shall be released"
i Suppose / don't do that, what then? :?
| "Then you will remain just where you
are"
/ "How long will that be9"
You are sentenced to twelve years
and unless you do as have said you will
spend every hour Of those twelve years il
| this cell, unless you die in the meantime
The matter rests entirely with yourself
"Wen, / tell you that you can't con
quer me this way"
"Very well" said the warden, and th.
i interview ended.
i Three days more passed, and th'
warden was again sent for
i 81 have come to TERMS" said the pris
oner, land am ready to do as you desire.
He then apologized to his keeper, prom
; ised obedience and proved most exem
plary prisoner ever afterwards. This wa
one Of the longest applications Of tn
treatment that ever knew of in tn
eastern penitentiary. Physically or men
tally it had no visible effect. In fact,