The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-23
SUNDAY BEHIND THE BARS.
A Journal Reporter Pays Sabbath Visit to
the Work House Prisoners.


yesterday thundered against the big front door
of the work-house. The sound was carried
through the long corridors, echoing and re-echo
ing with such astounding circumfexion, that, be-
coming alarmed at the clamor, he was about to
run away, when the door opened and Superin-
tendent Thompson invited him to enter.
1.-THE prisoners are in their cells to-day" was
the answer to the reporters question. "They
are worked all the week, and are glad enough to
see Sunday come. The attendants are even
better pleased than the prisoners, as, with the
small force we have here to guard and work
them, we always welcome Sunday, though
that brings less than half days rest. Saturday
is our busiest day. The beds are gone over
thoroughly, ticks and pillow-slps changed and
taken to the wash The mems clothing is also
changed, as is also that of the women, and every
prisoner has to take bath"
The reporter was then introduced to the work
house barber, who was finishing his last custo-
mer The prisoner detailed for tonsorial duty,
though not professional barber, did his work
with expedition and without complaint from the
patient. Each Saturday he has to shave
from forty to fifty men, with an &C.
casional job of air-cutting, for all
of which he gets no compensation. In the
morning he begins his work carrying a stool, the
razor and other shaving utensils with him. and
shaving his subjects wherever they may chance
to be at work, whether at the stone breaking
house or at the gravel pit.
The men are taken to the bathroom in squads
of eight, and while four are bathing the other
four pump water. Of course allprisoners are
put into the bath being received into the
work house, and after thorough scrubbine. are
given Clean fresh, striped clothing. Strange as
1t may appear, some of the Migrants object to
this introduction to soap and water, and
the guards have some difficulty in getting
them to take off their clothing and enter the
lavatory. The eXhalations that follow these
washings are described by the guards as being
perfectly appalling, and the mephitic odors from
the Sellers farm, compared with them. are as
fragrance waited from the vale of Cashmere
do YOU remember, said o guard, 1.-The tramp
Quigley who escaped from here the other day,
and whose striped suit was found cut to pieces
and tackled up on Pat Kinks blacksmith shop
near the Fall creek bridge, on Indiana avenue2
suppose you wonder where he got another suit.
It's clear enough to US. Tramps are brought
here, who. when they are taken to be bathed,
strip off two, three and sometimes four coats,
three pairs of pantaloons and two or three vests
regular perambulating clothing stores. There's
free masonry and comradeship among those
fellows, and Quigley who met such a one, had
no trouble in getting an outfit"
There are now forty five men and eight women
in the work house. four men and two women
having been discharged yesterday. On Sunday
they have but two meals, breakfast at o'clock
and dinner at half past 2. They are not allowed
to smoke, and but little tobacco is given, the
men, who are not allowed to spit upon the floor.
When they are at work they are furnished
little chewing tobacco, but not much. On Sun
day they are not allowed to pace the prison cor
ridors, but are kept in their cells Most of them
sleep the time away, while others read, the super
intendent furnishing those who ask such read
zines as he may have at hand The friends of
number of the prisoners have tried to
send in delicacies for their imprisoned comrades.
but nothing of the kind is permitted to enter
the cell house and no prisoner can hope to have
anything else than the regular prison fare.
From guard the reporter learned that some
ridiculous commitments are made to the work
house. One of these was a stunted boy, eleven
years old, but who was little larger than
healthy boy of six, who had been committed for
fighting The youngster put in one whole day
crying, and on the next day was released. There
is now there man named Murphy, of unsound
mind, and who is rapidly growing worse, and
who is much filter subject for the Hospital
house. In answer to a question as to
the quantity of work that could be got from the
average prisoner. Superintendent Thompson
said that fully third of them were willing
b q
it with commendable energy and cheerfulness,
working men do who expect pay for their la
Dor. Some of the others were SAD laggards but
with proper management fair work could be got
out of the most unwilling
There are no prisoners of any special celebrity.
AS the reporter went through the male cell
house he noticed Crawford Farr, from Martins
vile, committed by Judge Woods, of the federal
the way), for thirty days, for
forgery. There is also an ex sheriff of
Boone county. This disbanded official has been
in the habit of paying occasional visits to Indi-
annapolis for the purpose OF indulging in bowling
DRINKS. Heretofore he has been sent to Jail,
where, after two or three days stay (long enough
to get soberj he has. through the intercession of
official friends, secured a release. Now he is in
the workhouse, and will for many days TO come,
as for several days that have passed, do efficient
work at the stone pile. The enterprisng young
Mr.. Dawson, who ran away with his stepmother,
turned his back upon the visitor who was thus
prevented from gazing upon his classic features.
Mrs Dawson. the companion of his fight passes
her time in tears.
| Among the prisoners is soldier of the Tween
| tieth Indiana He has five bulletho through
him." said the attendant The man pulled off
his shirt There was great scar on his breast,
| where bullet had entered and still larger
one in the back. where it had come out There
was bullet scar in his groin. and a deep bullet
wound in his thigh. which caused him to walk
lame. There also large bullet mark in
his abdomen. In some way the bullet had gone
through without severing an intestine. and
came out at the back, and after a
| terrible experience of many weeks
| with an open wound, the man lived.
He is a man of family and no bad habits,
doesn't drink at all, but his Imprisonment fol-
lowed as punishment for striking a fellow labor
er in the face and literally blending all his
antagonists features into one. The old soldier
has great breadth of shoulder. neck like
| Sullivan, and arm corded like Vucan's, SO
| result o blow mo-
unexpected to anybody but the recipient and
was brought about by the latter calling Matt"
for that is his name. vile epithet, and knock
| ing his pipe out of his mouth. MATHS plea of
| guilty, and the exhibit of the other persons de-
| molished profile, was sufficient, and he was
| sent up.
The Turnverein's Exhibition.