The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-10-29
The Prison as the prisoner Sees It.

men cannot band together in astheme
to escape, and keep the secret among
them, but if six were in the scheme,
some one of them would certainly
peach. Ihave known oftwenty different
plots and plans among prisoners, and
in at least eighteen of them there was
a traitor who posted the prison Off
Gals in time to Illustrate everything.
What was known as the "schoolroom
plot" was conceived about four years
ago, and but for traitors, would have
resulted in the greatest prison delivery
In the history of Michigan. One side
of the schoolroom fronts On the pub
lie street, and the windows aredefend-
ed, of course, by stout iron bars. From
twenty to twenty-five %convicts used to
march into this room with a teacher,
and remain tor an hour or more COM
pletely isolated from all Others. The
idea of escape is ever present In the
minds of the longtime men. Some Of
them realized that if the teacher could
be STOOD up" long enough to
permit q couple of bars to be filed on
there would be nothing to prevent
twenty or more men from leaping to
the ground, only twelve feet below,
and making off in the darkness. 1t
would not do to resort to files, as the
process would consume too much
time. A keen-witted prisoner there
fore set his brain to work to devise q
cutting machine. 1t was &nlachine to
act something on the principle of q
pair of pruning shears, and the lever
age worked a fine-tooth saw in a hori-
zontal manner. 1t was composed OF
five pieces, and each piece was made
by a separate convict.
The plot included only three men at
the start, but before the machine was
completed q full score had been adj
mitted. You can judge of the extent
of the spy system when | tell ycuthat
three different men gave the affair
away to the warden q week before it
was to come off. This was unknown
to the other seventeen, however. On
a certain evening the "B" class march
ed to the schoolroom at theusual hour.
Five men each had q portion OF the
machine, and the sixth carried ar
iron bar to menance the schoolteach-
er when the time came. The warden
had plenty of notice, and as the class
marched up the six men were invited
to step into a room and deposit Che
various articles they carried on a ta-
BILE. 1t was q complete surprise to
them, and they complied with deep
humility. While the prison officials
let the matter drop with that, SO far
as the prisoners were concerned, the
machine was put together q day or
two afterward and given a fair trial.
The result was astounding. 1t would
sever an inch and a half bar in four
minutes.
Do the spies expect to be rewarded?
In most cases they do, but in others
it is q selfish spirit which actuates
them. You know of people who can't
get ahead themselves, and therefore
dislike to see other people 90 70. Az
to rewards, some little special privil-
eyes may be granted in return for be-
trayals, but you would hardly con
slider them a proper return for such
treachery.
AS to fogging, it is a last resort.
The instrument is not q cat-ornine-
tails, but y leather strap about two
feet long and two inches wide, attach
ed to O. handle. While it does not
draw blood, it stings and smarts in q
way to make axman remember the
event for weeks and weeks. If a con
vict becomes obstinate he, 10 taken
down. for punishment. Up to the
very moment when the first blow is
struck he can save himself by promis-
ing to return to- duty. Sometimes five
blows are sufficient; sometimes the
! convict is obstinate after twenty Eve.
have been administered. The
other punishments include the dark
| cell, bread and water and the forfeit-
ure of good time.
Very few professional criminals put
themselvesin the way to receive piln-
ishment. They enter prison calcfilat-
ing to shorten their terms as much as
possible by piling up good time. lam
not speaking of lifers, but CT men with
from FIVE to fifteen years sentences.
Every. day they can earn is one day
nearer liberty. They might possibly
escape, but the chances all against
it and they know that nine out OF
every ten who do escape are captured
Within q month. AS to the lifcrs and
long-term men, it is Only natural that
they are constantly thinking OF escape
or pardon. This becomes 8 mania
with them in time. They never & glance
at a wall without calculating the thick
ness of it. They size up . guard or
keeper, not for his intellect or good Oh
bad natare, but for his nerve. in case
of q pinch. They notice the bars at
a window simplyto estimated how long
it would take to sever them.
1t may surprise you to learn that
the worst men In State prison are by
no means the professional criminals
whom thelaw pursues relentlessly while
they have their liberty. Your farm
err who has shot down his neighbours