The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-11-28

structed the Deputy to ascertain if possible
it's cause. After the interview by the Dep
uty | had the stenOgrapher read his notes
to me- and l discovered that he had abso-
lutely refused to tell anything regarding
his identity. Among other things he said
to the Deputy, in answer to pressing
question as to his identity. No, | will die
before l tell you who | am. AS regards
my antecedents. will tell you this, and if
good, if not you will have to pursue the
course you deem best: l am not a crimi-
nal my relatives are respectable, and rank
with the first families of my native state l
have no hope of pardon for will not reveal
my identity. and have no one on whom
can call for assistance without exposing
myself | went to this mans cell while he
duce him to reveal himself to me. He
would not do So and abandoned the eff
fort. WE'LL when he was taken to the bath
house to be measured and dressed tine Ber
tillon system prevails now in all the princi-
pal prisons of the country he showed still
greater agitation. So marked was it that
the guard who conducted the measurements,
came Immediately to me, when he had
finished. We compared his measurements
with our register of other prisons, and
few minutes revealed the fact that the gen.
tleman had been an inmate of no less than
three prisons, and was not only fOrger but
recognize the advantages of the plans in
vogue over those under which we were re-
Quired to serve our terms. If the gentle
man referred to by the Warden had been an
inmate at the time we were, he would, in all
probability, have gone to the tOpmOst
rounds of prison responsibility. and would
have reaped advantages innumerable over
those more deserving. He was we'll edu-
Gated. refined in manner and capable OF
commanding the entire respect of the prison
officials. His agitation would have been
taken for sentiment of the most laudable
character, and he would have been a hero
But the Deputys interview drew out his
play and the system of identification de-
stroyed his sentmentality. You see hehad
been in prison and knew just how to act to
win the officers. He had not a true,
manly principle in his nature as was shown
by his subsequent conduct. He is here yet
but his whole manner is changed and he
will doubtless go out no worse than he
entered, and if he can be improved by i'm
prisonment the opportunities are here for
him to do so. The prisoner after being
clothed in the suit of the lower grade. is
assigned place in the shop and may adj
vance rapidly.
Another very great change is the board
of pardons. which is composed of three
fair, non partisan. philanthropists. They
are appointed by the Governor, but only
two can be of one political patty, and as
the appointments are made from those
nominated by the supreme judges of the
state, they are practically free from pOliti-
cal influences, and hold their Office during
life, unless removed for cause. When
vacancy occurs, each of the supreme judges
of the state dominates man, and from
these nominations the Governor makes the
appointment. The board cOnvenes every
month and its members are at all times
privileged to 90 through the prison when
they please. They are each required to
spend two days month at the prison. inter-
viewing those prisoners who are seeking
clemency, or may have grievances. They
| also make the ACQUAINTANCE of every nriS-