Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-08-04

! of convict came to visit her husband and
brought him watermelon, which Aull
refused to allow him to receive. Yet the
very next day Shirley permitted one of
his pets 10 take in the prison large case
OF melons, which were cut up and sold to
the prisoners at so much per slice And
during Shirley's entire administration he
allowed one convict to keep fslit stall
within the walls and another to run a
boot-blaek stand outside the gates, and
that at the very time that Aull had notices
posted in the yard prohibiting any prisoner
from having money in his possession.
Now, ! ask, could Aull or any other
man expect to maintain discipline in the
institution under those circumstances.
The same feeling of petty spite and
Jealousy towards Aull was manifested by
many of the officials, and their chickering's
was constant source of amusement, and
sometimes profit, to the ICONS" under
them.
Another incident that has been sedulously
guarded from the public is worth relating,
If only to show the extreme lax manner in
which the place was governed. Shortly
before the expiration Of Shirley's ad-
ministration, and after AulFs re-
signation as Captain of the Yard, a
grocery establishment situated on San
Quentin point, some distance outside the
prison boundaries, was burglarized. and
the following day portion of the stolen
property was found in the possession Of
Shirley's domestic servants, who were con-
victs and allowed to sleep outside the
walls. The proprietor of the grocery was
taking steps towards their prosecution
though it is difficult to say how they could
have been reached under the circum-
stances-when Shirley settled the matter
by paying for the stolen property.
Now, what is your opinion of prison
where the inmates can go down by night,
quietly burglarize store, return to their
beds, sleep the sleep of the just, rise the
following morning and resume their or
dinary duties Of passing round the coffee
at the Warden's breakfast table?
Now the natural effect of such state Of
affairs was most prejudicial to the reforma-
tion of the conyicts. They were plainly
shown that wealth, no matter how OBJ
tanned, would purchase immunity from
punishment, and taught to regard a sue
cessful felon like Gray as a character to be
emulated
The changes that have been effected
| IN the management of the institution
since General McCombs accession to
It's Wardenship, are truly marvellous.
Opium-smoking, gambling, thieving, etc.
are now unknown. Discipline is strictly
enforced and no favoritism shown. OF
| course in place Of that kind there is al
ways more or less work for spies and in
formers. There is dirty work to be done
In all grades of society and dirty creatures
must be employed to do it. But stool
pigeons don't run the San Quentin prison
now. The officers and guards all work in
harmony with each other and under the
direction of a skillful head, and though
they may listen to one prisoners tales
about the others strong corroborative tes-
tlmony must be produced before the tale
| receives credenee.
All prisoners are treated in strict ac-
cordance with their deserts, and each one
Is compelled to perform his quota of labor.
Political influence or money won't benefit
an inmate of San Quentin now, and the
inst cousin of Lord High Admiral. Sir
Henry George McCluisicum, if a prisoner
under General McComb and his deputy.
Captain Benjamin Chambers, would fare
no better nor worse than the Legitimate
son of bankrupt rag-picker. All con-
victs, irrespective of their antecedents. are
placed on an equality, AMI made to con-
form strictly to the rules of the place, but
the industrious and well-behaved are
treated in a far superior manner to what
they received under former administra-
tions, The food is wholesome, clean and
sufficient, and although no luxuries are
allowed the prisoners, there is little fear of
hunger melting them to another bread
riot
Personally speaking, Jared much bet
ter under Shirley than McComb. for the
former gentleman did not require me to
work as hard as the latter; and if the
food was bad and dirty, there were dozen
avenues open by which / could procure
many little luxuries from the outside un-
known to the authorities. But now all
trading is efiectuaIly stopped, and for the
last three months | spent in San Quentin
| never tasted bite or sup other than was
allowed roe by the prison regulations. Nor
did L during that time hear of any prisoner
buying a pardon or burgIarizing a store.
There is much more | should like to say
on the subject of prison reform, but fear of
lntruding on your space prevents me from
doing so at present. but should you deem
this article worth publishing, will come
again soon. Ex. Cox.