The Arizona sentinel., 1877-11-10
The Territorial Prison,
YUMA, A. T., Oct. 9, 1877. .RIZONA MINER.

by an act Ol tuc leglSIdtuTe or ArlZOna, approved February 12, lS75 the Territorial prison was established and permanently located at the town of Yuma A loan of $25 900 was authorized to be negotiated on the faith and credit of the Territoryfor the erection of suitable buildings for prison purposes The Board of Prison Commis- sioners, consisting of three persons, elected by joint convention of the two houses of the legislature, selected a site for the prison on the north bank of the Colorado, and. secured ten acres of land on an eminence overlooking the town and surrounding country, and directly opposite Fort Yuma. On the first day of July, lST6, the convicts, who had been confined in the county jail of Yuma, were removed to the prison, since which time fifteen prisoners have been inmates of its walls, twelve of whom re- main, one having been discharged at the expiration of his term and two released by the grace of the executive.
 At the present, Yavapai is represented on the prison roll by six convicts, and has the largest representation of any county, Daniel Cannon is serving term of thirty one years, for murder i.l the second degree. Geol ge Buudy, soldier, received senten- ce of three years for perjury. John Hoo- yer, for grand larceny and ,.eljury, wears uniform for five years. He boils beans for his fellow convicts, and IS said to be au fait in tine culinary department. William Leary, having plead guilty to grand larceny, in stealing San Millers race-horse, in con- ncctiOn with the notorious iail-breaker James, boards at the expense of the Terri tory for three years. John Ryan, an enlisted man, for robbery, was transferred from the army to the service of the Territory for the term of five years. John Polner, an Igno- rant foreigner, undertook to administer
 
 without an order of the probate court and as he declares, in compliance with the terms of noneupatire will, appropriated 10 his own use several thousand dollars in currency belonging to the estate of deceas- ed. For that iuconsiderate act he became the ward O. Arizona, and sghs for freedom while he languiShes oil the hill for six years.
 Through the courtesy of Mir. George M.- ThGrloW, the superintendent, visited the prison, haviD gtirst obtained d permit from the president of the Boardo oi Commission CTS, countersigned by the secretary, and was shown the buildings, grounds and modus opel andi of the penal institution. In consequence of the expenditure of the appropriation aud the Jack of funds with which 10 procure material, no work is be- ing done on tAe prison buildings, but the prisoners are grading and Iln rOSing the  grounds. Only two cells, each Ca able of holding ten inmates cln-fOitab y have been finished. They are built Cf stO.e, cement and iron, secured by double doors, well ventilated aid sufficiently secure to cause the boldest and most enterprising criminal upon entering to remember the inscription in Dante's Inferno, "Let him who enters here leave hope behind" Superin- tendent Thurlow says that if he had the requisite material he would utilize the labor of the convicts and sufficiently con- plete the prison so that it would furnish ample accommodation for all the evil doers who might be convicted of crime nally the prison ald its surroundings are attractive, but in contemplation of crime :" 1t is place to fear; the tirmest eye hath quailed to see its shadowy drawings" The cells, kitchen, reception room and dining hail are kept clean and neat, and an air of comfort and security prevades the whole situation. No harsh noises nor diScordant sounds are heard, and when at work the prisoners move and act as if they were strangers to the music of the human voice. The p ison discipline is firm but humane, seemingly directed rather to reformation than severity. The prisoners are treated with consideration, supplied with comfort able clothing and an abundance of palatable food, which they are required to eat in si- supplied with reading matter, and are per mitted to write and receive letters, subject to the perusal of the superintendent. h. stances If inSubordination are rare, and the officers have no difficulty in enforcing obedience to prison discipline, for they are by the inmates as men of nerve and determination. No prisoner has yet escaped, and only one attempt made and that by Berry, the mail robber, who at the indictment. He may yCOngratulate himself that he was not under sentence, for had he have been, the officers might not have eX- prcised sO much care to secure Nim without