The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1892-09-08
The Bertillon at the Workhouse.

The Bertillon at the Workhouse.
The Bertillon system of measuring
criminals has not yet been introduced
at the municipal wOrkhouse, perhaps
on the theory that the dear public
doesn't care whether John Smith,
drunk, has an ear that is an inch and
three-quarterS long, or whether his eye
lashes are raven and magenta. But it
is nevertheless, interesting, to see the
newcomers listed when they arrive
after ride of four miles in the dingy
Black Maria. A Journal man had that
pleasure a few days ago. There were
three women in the party whose names
are very familiar ones about the police
station, but who need not be mentioned
here save by nom de plume One had
been on drunk for week, previous
to which she had been SOLDERING up in
the place to which she was now sorrow
fully returning. Deputy Superintend-
ent Whelan, who is also hospital stew
ard, sized her up at once and admins
tered a liberal dose of valerian from a
handy graduate. The frail maiden did
not like it, if her actions were any cri-
teriOn, but rather than let her get any
the best of them at this stage of the
game, her two companions in turn in
sisted on having ''little of the same
if you please" OF course the accom-
mOdating drug dispenser could not re-
sist their plea. Then came the enroll
ment. From the commitments brought
up by the driver of the Maria the names
were copied in the big red book and
"Mary-" was called.
"Stand on the scale, Mary"
Mailman DOdds ran the measuring
rod down until it touched the top Of
Mary's Psyche knot and then adjusted
the cOunterbalance till it poised in the
center.
"How old are you?"
"Oh, L don't know.
"You ought to. You've told me a
dozen times
81 guess about 2O.'
"That's about right, 1 guess. Drink
sometimes, don't yOu?"
Sometimes
Height and weight?"
Give feet two, 49, replied the hall
man, and Mary stepped off the scale,
while Martha - was called up.
"HOw old are you, Martha o.
"Past 49,
GLOW many times have you been
here before?'
81 don't know"
''SiX or seven, isn't it ?"
about that, think, altogether. I've
only been here once for long time
now"
"Married?"
Eyes,
"Where is Henry now?" For when
Martha is not in the wOrkhOuse her
negro husband usually is there resting
from the care of his white wash brushes.
"He's wOrkin'.'
where were you bOrn?"
Wisconsin,"
"Height and weight? ''
And SO it goes until all, men and
women alike, have been recorded and
assigned to cells in their respective de-
partments. Then they are given a
chance to wash, and the men are
marched out to the big diningroOm
while the women are served in their de-
partment.
Dinner, too, is an interesting affair to
the visitor as well as to the prisoner.
The prisoner, if he has been hard at
work, needs the nOurishment of the
good meat and vegetables, the latter of
which he may have helped to cultivate,
and, if he has been shut up all the fore
noon in his cell or even in the corridor,
the march to the diningroom is well
come relaxation. The lockstep goes
and when the file is all lined up along
the tables gong is struck and the par
ty falls to. There is no limit to the
time of eating but when all through
the gong strikes again and at the signal
all rise and form for the return march.
There is usually to be noticed upon the.
faces of the men shade less of interest
than few minutes before they came.
out.
The largest pyramid in Egypt is 43s feet high