The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-12-13
more care. At such labor, entire avoidance of &C.
cdents is impossible, but proper care would make
these serious injuries less frequent.


hOh W Teldto W Tue inmates Tie unHloTcIIul
treatment shown convicts in an English
prison. A great many have asked me to
do so. as they would like to know all about
| it.
ing what the verdict will be. The attorney
asks the jury, ''Gentlemen, do you find the
prisoner guilty or not guilty?" Guilty"
The prisoner receives his sentence and is
then taken below. to his cell. and as soon
as the court adiOurns the chief warder and
his assistant comes to the cell to put the
''cutfs" on. He is then taken to the "Black
Van," and in it, driven to the prison. The
van consists of thirty small apartments 3X3
and 6 feet high. The prisoner is in total
darkness while in the van. Taken from
this conveyance, his eyes meet gloomy
prison. The irons are taken off and he is
then taken to the reception cell. Here he
remains until the next morning. when an
officer comes to change his clothes and take
minute description of him. Next, the
doctor examines him, passes him for a
labOrer. after which he is taken to the cell
room and assigned cell. The cell is 1SX9;
table, a cupboard. and the prison rules in a
frame. He is provided with a wooden
spoon, tin knife, salt. water and waste
pail. For the first month he is required to
sleep upon a plank bed. the second month
he passes ten nights in this manner: and
the third, five nights.
There are four stages for the convict to
pass through; he is required to earn 224
marks in each. In that case his lot is a
trifie better. He is not allowed a library
book until he has served two months. Ii
he should happen to be caught with piece
OF tobacco he would be reported. and get
no less than three days in the hole" He
is allowed to write and receive one letter in
three months. and the same with visitors.
Should visitor call to see him, he is taken
to large room consisting of three apart
mentS divided by iron bars. The convict
remains in one of these, while the guard
occupies the second, and the visitor the
third. The latter is forbidden to tell you
anything OF what has happened on the out |
side.
There are no holidays. Christmas and
other holidays are spent like all other days. |
He is compelled to attend the chapel SER
vices every morning and twice on Sun
day. He bathes every other week: has
lair cut and he is shaved once month He
is allowed the open air one hour every day.
The work, which is done in the cells con-
sists OF picking tar rope. II he does not
pick his three pounds day, he is put on
bread and water. After the first three
months, he is changed to making mats.
No matter what the sentence, the con-
vict, on his discharge, receives no more
than $3.50.
The clothes consist of short knee pants,
long blue stockings. a smock. and tile cap
Tho oil al
sheets are provided once week. He goes
to bed at eight, rises at six and cleans his
cell before breakfast. The officers call to
inspect it. and if found not clean-nO break
fast until it has been cleaned. The in
SpectOr calls at every cOnvict's cell once a
month to ask the convict if he has any COM
plants to make.
There are four classes of diet. The first
is thus: Breakfast, daily, eight ounces of
bread dinner, daily, one and one half pints'
Indian meal mush; supper. daily. eight
ounces of bread. The second and third
grades are very little better. Before the
serve at least four months. 1t consists Of:
Breakfast. daily. eight ounces of bread and
one pint OF sklly. the same for supper:
dinner. Mondays. bread, beans and pork:
Wednesdays and Sundays. Suet pudding,
bread and potatoes: Tuesdays. Thursdays
and Saturdays. soup, bread and potatoes;
and Fridays. canned beef and potatoes. He
never gets drop of tea or coffee. and never
gets taste of fresh meat. All the food is
weighed out. The way they feed man is
outrageous. They will fog and cut the
flesh out of his body, if the convict gives
any trouble. The convicts look like so many
ghosts.
Life members seldom get out. They
stand some chance, after serving half
century.
l would tell you more. readers. but hate
to bring it all back to my mind. l would
rather be a dog. than a convict in an
English prison. This prison is an hotel