The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-06-25


acknowledgements of Merit-UnwilliDg-
meas to Leave When Declared Free.
1t rests with the public prosecutor and not
with the Judge to determine in what prison
delinquent sentenced by the courts shall be
confined. Prisoners condemned for crimes OF
comparatively minor Importance may obtain
permission to pass the time Of their sentence
in the Grand Roquette prison on condition OF
paying twelve cents day, or little over
SIS q year, to the state. Bat towing to the linn
tied number of trades pursued in the esta0-
lishmeHt few of the prisoners there are set to
the trade they have been brought up to, 50
that they are generally obliged to learn anew
one. Nor is there always work sufficient for
eli the inmates, as that depends upon the de-
mand in the markets; owing to this circum-
stance, there are often upward Of $50 men
without work, who lounge in the yard, or
crowd in winter TO the chauffoir, a large
heated room on the ground floor. A prisoner
of the lower classes, having no respectable
connections, viii seldom get the option Of
serving his time in solitary confinement, and
thereby earning a remittance, as the cells are
scarcely ever vacant; and he is removed else
where
It is g strange sight to see the men shuttle
and shamble with slOuching gait round the
exercise yard One has only to look at them
10 be persuaded that the system of promiscu-
GUS repression is not calculated to deter men
from crime, and that there is some virtue in
solitary confinement from the first.
Four hundred men come out at a time.
Speaking is strictly prohibited, but it would
a.
rule from being infringed As the prisoners
walk round and round there is buzzing
murmuring sound like the humming of top,
arising from the whispering exchanged, in
defiance of the warders, who walk round in
an opposite direction to that taken by their
charges.
Close to the chapel are two stalls or booths,
one of which communicate with the kitchen,
under the management OF q prisoner who
holds the post Of cantinier or Sutler, while the
other is used by aInarcband de COCO, who sells
cocoa or licorice juice to his customers, each
OF whom, on payment of the sum stipulated
in the tariff, can also purchase demisetier
or the fifth Of liter of wine. The prisoner
is not permitted TO buy more than that guam
tity, as drunkenness makes the men danger
Gus.
teen, besides wine, are cafe au lait, chocolate,
butter, cheese, nam, saussgeS eggs, salad,
fruit, timed meat, biscuits, stationery, to
bacco and snuff.
The Cafe Richie and the Palais Royal, as
these two booths are called, play an impor-
tant part in the life of the inmates Prison
ers are allowed TO smoke in Partisan iails,
and very sensible provision this is, for it
ry,,-S foha
brings so many prisoners and warders to
trouble in foreign prisons, and IL also sup
plies ready means Of furnishing q refractory
jailbird. Order cannot be kept in prison
without corporal punishment. AS rule the
prisoners behave exceedingly well, because
they know that they can greatly alleviate
the hardships Of their position by so doing.
For first offense a mans tobacco and wine
will be cut of for week, for a second he
may be forbidden to purchase anything at
the canteen for month; if he perseveres in
his folly he viii DO prohibited from working
that is, from earning money, and will be
locked up in a cell, to endure the misery OF
utter solitude and ideness.
Tue DARK PADDED CELL
If this severe measure fails ana the man be-
comes obstreperous, he will be strait waist
coated and put into dark padded cell, where
he may scream and kick at the wall to his
hearts content. To these rational methods Of
coercion the most stubborn natures generally
yield. IL must be confessed. however, that
there are certain desperate characters who
delight in giving trouble, and who, untamed
by repeated punishments, will often commit
murderous assaults upon the warders. But
in most instances, as | say, the lighter means
of restraint are sufficient to bring the prison.
ers to their senses. They cannot endure the
idea of being debarred from presenting them
selves at the canteen, or from paying visit
to the vendor OF licorice juice, and the iHcen-
tive thus provided for industry and good be-
havior has q salutary effect even upon the
most hardened among the criminals. Now
aud then some revolt breaks out in the lock
smiths shop, where the prisoners have sharp
tools coniided TO them; and there is more than
one instance where a prisoner has attempted
the life of a warder, in order that a sentence
of five or ten years may be increased into one
of transportation for life TO New Caledonia
the land of promise for the criminal anxious
to break away from old associations.
The cells, capable of holdiag over six hun.
dred prisoners, are above bhe workshops and
occupy three whole floors Each compart-
ment has its bed, with paillasSe, a good
mattress, sheets changed once week and
blanket such as many an honest workingmar
would be glad TO get, and far better than tba
shaksdown Of the Limousin and the Auver>
Enab who have come 10 Paris TO seek fort
uLe. The door of each cell contains a spy
hole through which the warden on duty can
see what his charge is doing at certain inter
vais of the day and night. Separate and
narrow cells are provided for those whoss
deTneanor and general conduct give rise TO
the impression that they are meditating SUI
eide.
The criminals at La Grande Roquette have
no complaints TO make. They are treated
with fraternal solicitude, snd legend saws
that those who have grown old in houses Of
detention and have made the round of every
prison in France have shown the greatest
unwi6rgness TO leave this rlsce when the
law has declared them free. There are several
old men about the place wIthou: family ties
who, forgetting the world and forgotten by
it, have managed to obtain some kind of EN-
ployment, so as not TO be compelled 70 leave
the prison and TO warrant their being fed
and lodged at the expense of the country
The nsRoe Il one of them is mentioned Us a
terror TO any who might be tempted 10 be-
tray the-sccrees of the priSon-a certain hb
Grated criminal who had some small duties
assigned him, so that be might not be thrown
on the streets with bis gray hairs and in
trinity. He made a good living by giving
items of information TO journalists when any
special criminal occupied the condemned cell
He announced she appearance Of the mounted
municipal guard. who is always deputed 10
bring from the ministry of justice and the
public prosecutor that sealed notice which
Lends TO the guiuotine being put up on the
Place de La kOQuette--Cor. Boston Tran