The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-10-17


Ons, or rather prisoners. According to
their views prisons were terrible moral
pest-hOuses and prisoners the quntessence
of degradation and nfamy. They would
talk. with ghOSt-stOry mOdulations, of the
ghOuliSh SpecterS of murderers stalking
about with dishevelled hair, swollen eve
lids and generally ferocious aspect. ready,
like wild beasts, to spring upon any one
coming within reach of them. They would
depict these same murderers as being in
cage, enraged and bowling like the mad
dened bull at sight of a red cloth. The
burglars and general class of criminals they
would fain recognize as sneaking. fox-like
creatures continually going through the
form of laying in ambush for and creeping
up upon all intended victim; and this esti-
mate is not an overdrawn conception of the
general knowledge of people in regard to
criminals at the present day. OF course
all fear of these modern myths is alayed
by the knowledge that there are guards and
chilled steel to prevent their stampeding
and causing general depression in mutual
confidence and individual honesty. But,
strange to say. people would appear to rea,-
son that prisoners only acquire this mon
strous depravity with the donning of the
stripes and that they shake it off again
when they leave the prison. for no great
attention is paid to these dangerous habits
of the criminal when he again mingles in
the turmoil of lite.
Now for an inside view of prison. What
kind OF men do we in reality find in prison?
Certainly none of the ghost or fox order no
more than we meet with unwinged cheru-
bin. The greater number of the inmates
of prisons are of good. average intelligence.
The great difference between them and
their fellows in the outside world is that
they did not always use their intelects and
talents i'll proper channels. The percent
age of ''cOld blOOded" murderers in prison
is very small compared with the number
whose trials plainly show that their crimes.
were not premeditated or directly inten--
tiOnal, but were committed either while in
a drunken condition or when in the heat of
| passion, or some other abnormal condition.
These latter statements are not intended to,
| nor could they, eXculpate the criminal.
1t is well authenticated that lite prisoners.
| usually murdererS- the best conducted
and most dOcile inmates of all PRISONS.
There are. naturally enough, few excep-
| tiOns to this rule in which the veritable imp"
comes to the surface in human beings, but
these exceptions are exceedingly rare. AS
for the ''fox-like" burglars. they are more.
often the embodiment of honor and hon.
esty during their stay here. than otherwise.
In this regard 1 might relate an incident
of one of our number who is just closing Il
four years sentence for highway robbery.
He found silver watch belonging to citi-
zen and which was left by the latter i'm all
clubhouse. To say he could not have used
this watch, or its value in coin. for his OWN
benefit. would be misstating paIpable fact.
He did not for a moment entertain the
thought. but Immediately hunted up the
rightful owner of the article and was rec
ompensed by a substantial 'thank yOu.''
Ii people would only become better &C.
quainted with the Outcasts of society they
would not be so prone to miSjudge their
less fortunate fellow mOrtals, and would
be as much inclined to help them on the up
ward course as they are now to keep them
down by their total indifference. One Of
the best known newspaper men of this;
state upon being invited to visit the prison
on holiday when the men were all loose
and enjoying the freedom of the cell room,
expressed some doubt as to how safe he
would be in thus mixing up with the con-
victed criminals OF the state. But he came,
nevertheless. and his experience has thor
Oughly assured him that he or any one else
will be as politely and cordially treated by
the inmates of this prison as they would at
social gathering in their native city. The
gentleman spoken of is now staunch
friend of the prisoners and admits, that
though he had been for many
years editor of a newspaper in the state
and was thoroughly cOnversant with it's
affairs. his knowledge of the prison and it's
inmates was completely at fault, and his
surprise was only equalled by his gratifca-
ton at knowing that many beings were so,
much better than he considered them. Let
Others follow his example before passing
final judgment and they also will learn,
that there is more smoke than fire i'm the.
popular dread of the convict outside or in
side prison walls RONDA.
A Timely Question.