Weekly Chillicothe crisis., 1884-05-15
4 MILITARY PRISON.
The Mild Punishments Visited Upon
Descrtcrs in "Thcsc Piping
Times of Peace
A Spcndthrift's Career.

punished became II serious one, and
after Il great deal of discussion il was
determined to build amiltary pcniten.
tiary where they could be sent, and
there have time to reflect upon what
they had done. DcScrtion is purely 4
military crime. and, though looked
upon as fragrant oilensc by soldiers
is easily condOncd by citizens, whC
care very little about it. In fact, de
scrtiOn is sometimes considered by the
backwoOds people rs cOmmcndablc
and
pESERrERS ARE SHIELDED
in every way from their pursuers, and
the property they have taken from the
government is easily bought up ol
taken by the settlers. Valuable horses
belonging to the United States have in
many instances been appropriated by
frontier men, who would ScOrn doing
Il dishOnorahlc action toward neigh.
Dor. or taking Il cents worth Of what
did not belong to them.
On the Sd of March, 1873, cOngrc,,
passed law that there should be cS.
tablishcd at Rock Island. ILL.,, prison
for the confinement and reformation Of
offenders against the rules. regulations,
and laws for the government of the
army Subsequently the location was
changed to Fort Lcavcnworth. Kan,
where fine military prison was built
and placed in rood order. Many
prisoners sent from regiments were
engaged in working on the building.
which, when completed. presented Il
fine appearance.
MANY military offenders were sent
to this prison, and continue to be sent
there, and it is considered II good place
to live in by many Of the soldiers, who
prefer to serve there rather than on
the frontier against the Indians. As
heard an officer of prominence declare
at is u premium for dcScrtiOn.'
have known Of soldiers who were con-
fined there writing TO men in Arizona
to desert and get sent up 10 Lcayrn-
worth for time, rs it was far better
than trudgiug round in the wilds OF
Arizona. There is no question about
its being much easier to live in the
prison. where there is good shelter,
plenty to eat, cleanliness, and rcgu-
larity in everything, than ii il doing a
soldiers duty in the far-otf wilds,
where there isnO shelter, no good food,
and the heat is ovcrpowcring.
II is on the same principle that the
man in Nrvnd, rnuncioipd that "hr
would rather b, a lomp-post in San
Francisco than be governor of Nrya.
da." OF course. there is no account.
inr ror tastes. and what MIGHT .uit on,
man would bc cycccdinry distastcful
TO another. The system in the Lray-
cnworth military prison is as pcrfect
rs po.s;blc. and thc treatment accord
ed tbc conyirts ns lrnicnt AS could he
desired but if by no means reduces
the number of dpSrrtiOns il NAV have
contrary effect. The intentions of
those who established this prison were
the hest that can he imarincd. but it
has not had the effect upon the dis
ciplinc of the army which it was sup
pcscd il would have. Advantage has
been taken of the kindness and rood
intentions of those having control Of
the institution, and few, if any, re-
formed men can be pointed out among
the convicts. Thcprlson has not proved
as beneficial as il was supposrd ii would
be, and instead Of being looked upon
as n placc of punishment If is rather
considered rs Il pleasant asylum for
those men who do not wish to do n
soldiers duty. but would rather loll
round in the shade with the noble army
of "coflrc-coolcrs,"
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-, nood ,i''',,' nmono ' dr,.inm ,hn Ias, ar, IT,
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DC cucc'iVc' Inns 'H'nS VI oo"uiinS z
AROUND IN inc prisons uocS no S"oI'
anu thcrc Is cIaSS VI ln'',tarS one"u