The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-03-03
FROM THE PENITENTIARY.
A Letter From John Nicholson on
Its Management.
70 THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD

To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
GentIemen-Incidentally 1 heard O
an article that appeared in the editoria
columns of your issue of February 2Sth
1t is under the title, THE Penitentiary
Management" Being interested il
that subject, 1 have been, by especia
permission, allowed to peruse it. By the
same means, at my own request, an
given the privilege of expressing some
views in relation to it. A sense of Jus.
tice alone leads me to do so. being in a
position to know that the structures con.
tanned in the article in question, upon
Marshal Ireland and the management
OF the Utah penitentiary, are generally
| incorrect. There can be no doubt.
however, that the inaccuracieS are
purely the result of transformation
and were not inspired by any DISPOSE
ton 10 do an intentional injustice to
Mr.. Ireland and Mr.. Dow, the warden,
who conducts the prison under his
directions.
Admitted that there has been a
gradual increase of the rules and
tightening of the reins of discipline, they
are certainly not of a character to
render them uncomfortable, and they are
not more rigid than those that obtain
elsewhere. The warden has not. since
my incarceration, shown any in
humanity" or brutality" in the en-
forcement of the regulations. On the
contrary he has been-altheugh strict
impartial and humane. No man has
been punished unless it has been clear
that his own conduct has merited it.
As result, it is pleasure to state that
for over two months there has not been
prisoner in irons-the first time such
desirable condition has existed for
years. Formerly escapes were more or
less frequent; of late no attempts to
leave the prison have been made.
If there has been tendency for some
time to enforce more rigid discipline,
a number OF internal Improvements
have also been made. The eating room,
formerly a most dismal apartment,
owing to its not being properly lighted.
has been rendered more cheerful. The
prisoners are also better protected dur
ing inclement weather than formerly.
This etfec. has been produce BY more
judicious and humane arrangement.
The sanitary conveniences have been
enlarged, and, all things considered.
must, in justice, state that the condi-
ton of the convict is. to say the Ieast,
more tolerable now than at the time
entered the prison, last October.
The food is. as in all prisons, course,
but wholesome. If one was disposed
to find fault with the way it is prepared
he might unthinkingly hurl denuncia-
ton against Marshal Ireland. So far
ac a m
have been greatly surprised that il
has been as well prepared as it has.
when the meagre character of the
culinary apparatus is considered. To
COOK for over 100 persons with one com.
paratively small stove is a Somewhat
remarkable feat. This subject. taken |
in connection with the occasional spoiI- |
ing of the meat IN hot weather, is a |
sound cause of complaint. But the |
blame should rest upon the shoulders |
OF the proper parties. 1t is the duty of |
the government to supply the needed |
conYeniences. Application has been |
made, so l am reliably informed tn |
that source for the required relief. but
1t has not been given. 1t does not an
pear reasonable, therefore. to denounce
the Marshal on that ground.
A commendable feature OF the man.
agement IS the announcement given IN
disposed to be industrious
The result OF this is that the number Of
those who busy themselves in making
useful and ingenious articles is increas
ing. The same disposition has been
shown to those who have given evidence
Of desire to improve their minds. To
afford proper facilities for that class a
school has been in operation several
your CORRESPONDENT being q
of a committee formed to eive
to its growth. It is
ably conducted by one of the conyicts
and is attended by about thirty puniIs'
who are making excellent progress.
1t should not be understood that Il
AN, in the remotest sense, endeavorine
70 show that this is desirable place re
De in. On the contrary, l hold il In nm
qualified repugnance. Prison lite
ipeclallyan generally, isIreyoItine r.
ny soul, but right is right. and I did
not think that it would be proner ~
allow an unintentionaI Injustice tn he
lone without an attempt at Correction
have no reason. as you are aware n
new Marshal Ireland as a friend Rnt I
would be self-condemned were on
hat ground, either to do, or hermit
Without correction; an injustice to be ,
lone to him. In this Communication
considerations have been
brown out, and it treats on the subject
q q general sense only.
You:s respectfully,
JOHN NICHOLSON.
UTAH PEEITENTIARY, March 1, 1885.