Telegram-herald., 1891-02-08
BEHIND And BEYOND
How the Hobos and euspecfs
While Away the Hours
LYING IL THE COUNTY BlsIlLE
Stothes Exchanged . Matter ef cssrt-
esy-The SOFT Heart 81 Biz. Barry
Ieush-The kaies aud frasties
Of Kangaroo CsarI


1nese words would naturally occur
10 an onlooker at the county jail few
days ssnee, when i prisoner about 10 he
removed 10 the Ionia penitent2ry.
grae.oasly exchanged hls comfortable
clothing. hat and shoes with q fellow
prisoner Tor others that had well-nigh
passed the bounds of 10th usefulness
and comfort. THIS Is common pfae-
tlce among the regulars" VINO not Ia
frequently snow some little tavoritlsm;
bat invariably bestow their hest gar
ments upon those serving short
sentences, or who are about
TO he released when they
themselves are tcketed for a trip
oyer the road. This generosity Is not
single minded, however. for the Old
timer knows that when he enters prison,
no matter what the quality of has cloth
ing may be, II IS substituted for tile
PRISON sarb, which includes hat, Jacket,
trousers, shirts, socks and shoes. The
cap and suit is either "A very delicate
and pronounced stripe OF soft grey.
Therefore he has no use for good
clothes, and il be has them. just before
his departure for prison, be will select
one or more companions with whom he
aakes a complete exchange and Is con
veyed 10 prison a veritable vaga-
bond. clad in ragged and mrs
tit clothes. Perhaps day or two
later those whom ne favored with an
exchange will step forth from jail,
wearing better clothes than when they
entered. The thief is proverbialiy
generous-he detests sunginess-and
will give of his substance freely and
take of others with equal abandon.
The latter characteristic is what gener-
ally involves him IN trouble and cell
At the county bastile.
Criminals, too, are more sympathetic
than they are given the credit for being.
Ii one of their number becomes SICK or
disabled, the others are quick to con-
tribute TO his relief, according 10 their
resources, and many time the last
nickel is given up TO buy needed medi-
cine or for surgical attendance. There
are fiinty-hearted men who have
neither heart, conscience, nor sym
pathy, but they are less numerous in
prison, in proportion TO the number,
than outside Of it.
Life inside the walls is relieved by
acts of kindness, such as the staaitest
Christians would deem not only I'M
probable but impossible. This too, not
by the sentimental or eifeminate. but
by the coarse, brutal fellows whose
lives. from cradle to manhood, have
been spent amid surroundings of ylo-
lence, immortality and lawlessness.
Not long ago a slender lad, pale, fright
enec, half distracted. was sent TO the
county jail on q charge that subse-
quently proved to be false. When he
entered the prison he was placed IN a
corridor with toughs and thugs. The
associations were SO vile and unnatural
that the boy shrank in terror from
all who approached him. Before
night tell he had worked himself into
| frenzy Of excitement, and the tension
threw hum INTO n raging fever He
went to his cell and laid down upon
| the hard cot He tossed about and
moaned piteously until his wailings at
tracted the attention of large, burly,
repulsive- looking fellow in the corrl-
| dor, who entered the boys cell. The
poor boy motioned hlm away, but
| the big man advanced, and kneelng at
| ms side, took hand in his and SAID As
| tendery as mother could: "Thar,
thar me buck; you'll be easier sooner.
Don't take ON sonny; you'll get on all
right; here. take a drop OF tins, and
pulling flask of brandy from his
| pocket, he moistened the feyerlsh lips of
| the lad. The boy rapidly grew dellrl-
| ous, and the big. burly, repulsive fel-
| low, going out, asked leave 10 stay
with him for the night. This was
granted, and when the gray light of
morning sireaked through the barred
| windows. the lad was gently sleeping,
while bv his side sat the big, burly, re-
| pulsive man, the tears rolling down his
| cheeks as if the scene recalled the mem-
| ory of another, IN which a mother min
lstered to his own suiiorings.
Since Sheriff Mcqueen began the en-
| forcement OF the supervisors rule con-
finng the prisoners I'D their cells during
the hours hitherto spent IN social
amusement the time-honorcd Kanga-
100 court has been abolished. This -
a isIl institution that has fiourished for
years IN the west and gradually extend
| ing eastward has become n fixed fea-
ture in most of the jalls OF the country.
Its generally conducted without tho
knowledge of the sheriff and against
| his orders. yet where the prisoners have
/ free access TO the corrIcors n ~ ID
| served with almost religious. fidelity.
| The Kangaroo Court. in all material re-
spccts Is precisely like any criminal
| court. The prisoners usually select
the oldest man among them TO act az
Judge and then proceed TO elect pros
ecuung attorney. clerk, sheriff and
/ laIlitis. TINS court has jurisdiction
/ over all offcases committed against the
rules OF the iall rs made by the prison
ers themselves. and which have become
| 50 we'll established that an old-tImer
| rarely infracts them. These rules are
| cleanliness in and about the prison..
! willingness TO share ~ the work I'M
! = sed upon them. an eqtai division oi
/ food and fxgfacco; contributions 20 the
! general fund for the purchase Of To.
| bacco, newspapers, etc. and, finally.
( strict hoaezfy one towards sDctaef. II
/ any Of these rules are violated. fns cUi-
/ pfst "a tired. either with or without 2
( lafy, the trial sometimes lasting tYo O.
I three DAYS il be j. foun1 Enilty. n
/ default of fine. BE = sentenced 20 Re
( .scoFted - or. in Other ~oTds, tne sbfr-
ifs force holds hla IN an sTyroEyf8 82ts
/ zttstude whHe the sheriff h8rnsef "a
/ ministers a gwen number of t8eNs wsss
= Vooden paddle. The punishment =
not severe, hut the rec Elent 81 i 1ss
= dlsgsos it5on 70 stand for 6sy Or tvo
after It = inacfed, depending UY'oa tsse
t r character Of p : offerse and tie EFaEity
CT the sentence.
The first TBtrod Ecfson q rev H1sn hss
= toe skneaFeye coart = WREN bs
seizsd tgT s6s sssaef r ard tonfre.zstsd