The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1885-03-12

As promised | send some notes of first visit
to the State Prison at Ihoma>ton. W hich was
one of interest to The writer. Accompanied by
our friend ID. W Woodbury. of Thonla>on,
we Knocked at the heavE door of the gloomy
looking structure and were admitted 10 tho.
guard ROOM ~ we passed within the portals
and the heavy door closed behind Us we could
bat think how the hearts of many must sink as
they realize that the closing Of that door shuts
them of from association with The outside
world for year> and it may be for lite. For we
fully realize that what may prove Interesting
and entertaining for visit of AN hour might
prove mon0tonOu> and tedious when it becomes
the enforced association of lifetime. / he in
mates of the prison as a rule, however, are not
iii subjects for any display of sympathy. and
scntimentality is worse than wasted when en-
pioNrd in their behalf. They are. a. a rule the
rough, brutal. and most dangerous cia>> of he
State, who can be deferred from crime only by
the strong arm of the law, power which they
cannot successfully resist, Il power which can
take their life As well restrain their liberty
The first convict we notice is a large, stout,
rather good looking man " no is engaged in the
occupation of backing The boots of the officers
He has on the parti-rolored prison sarb and
evidently realizes his position. How these fell
lows must hate that regulation suit. for ii is IA
constant reminder of their degradation Our
first visit was to the blacksmith shop. which Is
in charge OF 5. +. Gushing, and who accom-
Jdllttl u> III Uut lIlt prison. AS
we stood at his desk for little time we had Il
good view of the men at work, and lively
scene it is. II is said tnat more of the men
choose the blacksmith trade than any other.
and those at work here are mostly strong, rug
ged looking fellows, rather above the average
in weight and ply steal development we should
judge, while in general appearance they would
compare tavorahly with The same number of
men in almost any shop of "A similar character.
We notice some sharp, keen looking men, but
close observation reveals majority of dull.
heavy, BRITISH, unntelligent faces. In CONVEX
sation with the overseer we find this impress
sion to be correct one. He says the majority
are below the average in intellect. They know
enough to follow out some criminal propensity
OF their nature IN some particular line and con-
slider themselves sharp, but as a rule they do
not have intelligence enough to cover up their
tracks, or more correctly speaking to keep
from committing the deeds in which they are
detect I'd. In large number of eases the lead
once being found the same person can be track
ed almost anywhere by some peculiar personal
method of work. As Mr.. Gushing says: "They
generally know enough to break into your
house and steal, but do not have intelligence
enough to restrain that propensity or to pre-
vent detection after the deed is done" There
are of course many exceptions to this rule. but
the majority of cases prove it true that with
most of the criminals of that class discovery is
easy, sure and speedy by reason of theia own
lack of intelligence. The men generally SEEM
ed to work contentedly and well. We carefully
noticed several of the desperate criminals who
are in here for life. The men as IA rule prefer
steady employment as it breaks the monotony
of prison life and occupies their attention.
We next went into the carriage and paint
shops. The men as class seemed to be busily
and contentedly employed. We saw here.
among other persons of whom we have heard
as notorious characters, the two Italians who
are to be executed in April. They were engag-
ed with others in turning the big wheel that
carries the circular saw used to cut out the lum-
Der needed in the work here. We next 90
down to the carriage repository where we find
very large number of wagons, carriages
seighs and jumpers. We then pass into the
harness-shop. This is to our mind the most
pleasant work room of the prison. Here as in
the other rooms we saw some whom we knew,
but prison discipline would not allow us to
speak to them. We examined the harnesses
manufactured here and some very fine samples
were shown. We are then conducted through
the halls, cook-room, and hospital. The cells
are all nicely whiteWashed and everything
looks neat and clean. The prisoners are Ger
tainly made comfortable and are allowed as
much freedom as is consistent with their con-
dition; but we should prefer to earn our living
under different circumstances. We were shown
one man in the wOod-shop, however, who is
there on his fifth sentence and said he was glad
to get back to his old quarters. Returning
to the guard house we requested permission to
visit the women's ward of the prison and were
shown through it by the gentlemanly deputy
warden, W. S. Hinkley. There are now only
four women in the prison, and all are under a
sentence for life. Only four females in a total
of 152 prisoners speaks well for the women of
Maine. Mrs Mary E. Burrows, who is under a
death sentence, attracts the most attention.
She would under ordinary circumstances be
called rather good looking. The women are
dressed in checked suit. The furnishing of
the rooms is plain, but comfortable and con-
venient They take care of their own rooms
and everything is neat, clean, and nicely ar
ranged.
We were then conducted to the office and in
troduced to the Warden who kindly gave us
any required information in regard to the in
stltution. We then examined the "Rogues AL
bum" thanked the officials for polite attention
and placed ourself "outside" once more.
BRUsQUE.