The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-06-17
HUMANITY TO THE INSANE.
ONE OF WARDEN FRENcH's REFORMS
Pierre Gray Tells of the Management of
Dsmented ConVicts at the Northern
Penitentiary-An Interest.
ing story.

and do not believe 1 would violate any
confidence in referring to the subject OF
our chat.
at naturally, of course, turned up
on the administration of the northern
prison, relating to its management and
some new reforms he had introduced.
During the conversation We discussed
some of the reforms that were, at the
time, being proposed and argued
by the charity conference. recently
held in this city. Unfortunately the
northern prison has four insane convicts
and it has been the anxious desire of the
management of the prison for years TO
secure for those insane persons the advan-
tsges of hospital treatment L asked MIR.
French whether a bill was introduced
into the last legislature, providing for the
transfer OF such persons, in order that
they might receive the care and attention
that the state has, at present, so
adequately provided for such patients.
Yes said he, and l believe the bill
would have passed had it not been that it
became understood among the members
that instead of four insane persons there
would have been large number pretend
ing insanity. 1t is the longing hope OF
every convict to Get out of the prison, and
no matter how or where he would go, he
would only be too anxious to take advant-
age Of the opportunity. l then asked the
warden how he was managing his
four insane convicts, and the humanity
of the man, his good sense and his anx-
ious desire to ameliorate the unfortunate
condition of his ward are mOdestly yet
plainly shown. He said: When l Tor
mally took charge of the prison and made
my first round of visitation in order to
familiarize myself with the condition of
the prison and what might be
done, if anything, in the way
pleased to find everything in such an ex-
cellent state. The only thing that wor-
ried me was what to do with the four in
sane convicts. These were confined In
their cells anu had been for many years,
and during all those wears had, with rare
exceptions, never seen the light OF day.
Two of them had been confined 10 their
cells for about twelve years, and were raw
ing maniacs. 1t was impossible to keep
any bed or bedding i'll either OF their
rooms or to maintain any clothing on
them. Absolutely, everything had to
be kept out of their cells, or
else it would be destroyed or used to in
lure themselves or others. Then food
had to be handed to them underneath the
iron doors or through small openings, and
in order to clean their cells strong force
of guards was necessary to overpower
them and remove them. Their cells were
cleaned snd washed out by turning the
hose into the rooms. | concluded the
first thing to do WAS, If possible,
to win their confidence, as
they had not had the oppor-
tunity usually of seeing any one but the
guards. One morning visited the worst
case and after engaging him in pleasant
conversation, l asked him ii he would not
like to 90 out, take a walk, see the sun,
the trees and he said he would. | directed
the guards to open his cell and take him
out, and | never saw man more delighted
than he was to breath the pure fresh air,
and believe he felt like free man. He
looked at the sun, he looked at the trees
and he looked at the grass as though
everything was new to him..
81 asked if he liked to stay out there and
il there was ANYTHING he would like to do,
and he said yes ; so | had place arranged
under one OF the trees and Enclosed
small space by building some wire fences.
Some of the antics that he would go
through were quite amusing. One was
standing on his head and running his feet
up into the tree. Every day when the
weather is pleasant he is taken out to his
accustomed place and l find he not
only enioys it, but at night sleeps and
rests well. His cell has been provided
with furniture and bedding. in fact every
thing that would make his room conven-
lent and comfortable, and he now takes
care of it himself While outdoors he will
read the papers and books and amuse him
self in variety of ways. One OF the others,
when taken out, saw one OF the convlcts
moving grass, and it seemed to interest
him SO much that he stood and watched
him with curiosity. l noticed it and
asked him if he thought he could do that.
"Why, of course / could, if you would let
me-" l said to him: "Well, now let me
see how well you can run the
mower" He took hold of it and,
with little instruction, was able
10 handle it very we'll.
asked if he would like to take care of that
small piece of lawn, and he said he would,
and from day to day he was brought out
and permitted to do such amount of work
as was thought proper. and which he was
willing to do in that small piece of turf
He now considers it his duty to look af1er
il and | have no doubt would brook any
interference The two remaining who
were brought out at the same time were
shown where the hose was being used to
sprinkle the grass, and at their request,
they were allowed to use the same in
sprinkling. They asked for task and |
assigned them to the sprinkling of the
lawns, which they have done ever since.
They do their work well, are tired at
night and sleep as soundly az
any person in the buildings. Each of
them takes care of his own cell, which is
provided with oil the conveniences and
comforts that we can give them and they
could not be kept nester or nicer. l
hardly know what will be able TO do
with them when cold weather comes, but
/ sincerely trust that by that time their
condition will be so changed or improved
that may find some agreeable task for
each of them to perform, because l be-
iieve that as long as | can keep them oc-
cupied with some kind OF work to engage
their attention during the day and make
them rest well at night they will give me
no moro trouble than any other convicts.
While we have not the advantages to give