Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-09-08
AMONG THE STRIPES.
Some Observations Within 0regon's
Prison Walls-Slagle Confesses.

Among the many things that appeal
to human morbidity is state prison
and its inmates.
To those who have the constant care
of those places of Incarceration, the
regulation stripes has no ATTRACTION,
and the frequent scenes Of some offender
being for years and often forever shut
out from the world, is common enough.
But the average person, once within
the prison walls, has n morbid curiosity
to satisfy and finds himself studying
strange faces and sometimes finds it
necessary to draw upon q reserve OF
composure to keep down yelling SYM
patby or force back an expression Of
horror IS he looks into care-woru faces
marked with lines of deep humiliation
and long suffering, or beholds the
brszen faces of the hardened daredevil.
OregoD's prison now has 341 that are
considered unsafe to be at large in soci-
ETY., and among them are found repre-
sentatiYes Of most every phase of soci-
ETY., from the low and vicious igno-
ramus to the intelligent and cultured
intellect.
A JOURNAL reporter spent an hour
yesterday, looking through the various
wards of the state prison and observing
the ways employed by the prisoners to
while away the time.
There Is no work going on except in
the brick yard. where about seventy-five
men are used only portion of their
time. The rest spend their time loung-
ing about their cells or Oh
the grounds superintended by guard.
To force the more sluggish to take rea-
sonsble amount of exercise, those not
engaged at work are required to march
in the court between the shops and
dormitory one hour In the forenoon
and an hour iD the afternoon. AS they
march with irregular step along beat
en- path they are indeed a motley crew.
Some appear completely oblivious to
the surroundings and move and walk
with the unconcern of wage worker.
Others move at gait that betrays q
decided unwillingness and never lose n
chance to cast look at bystander.
Some Of the more industrious have util-
lied the vacant ground enclosed to
grow tobacco and some vegetables.
The habits and taste of each convict
is easily read by look into his cell.
Some are very uncouth and careless
about the appearance of their narrow
home and would live beastly if not
looked after by the authorities. Others
are tidy and artistic and have their cells
looking very attractive.
A private conversation with these
convicts, especially the more intelligent
ones,is appreciated by them and reveals
the tendency of their nature and that
which is uppermost iD their hearts de
sire.
The writer was given the privilege OF
an interview with Slagle, the young
man who was only this week COM
mitted for life. There is more written
in his face than he has intelligence to
impart in words. Once an innocent
youth with dreamy black eyes, the
lack of parental training and continued
habits of vice, have dwarfed an intellect
and distorted the features of what might
have been pleasant face. Raised in the
mining districts of Josephine county,
without the advantage of AN edu.
cation, and his associations being
thrown with the low and vicious,
with no one to encourage him In ways
that are upright, but companions to
lead him into every vice, he was at the
early age of % hardened to the degree
of skulking behind an innocent fellow
man and shooting him down with inn
punity. He now cOnfesses the crime and
says he killed Antoine Josephine inJ une
because others persuaded him, that
they might come into possession of his
property and having made himself a
tool he got none of the spoils. This fell
low don't yet fully realize that his liber-
ties are ended and expresses an anxiety
to be given work 20 do.
Among the Intellectually enclosed
who are wearing life away within pris-
on walls is j. r. Todd, U. s. prisoner
who 10 serving q life sentence for rob
bing the mail. Todd is n respectable
looking parsonage, tall slender blonde
Of rather commanding appearance, yet
possessing a modest dignity. He Is
now In his 4lst year having served ten
years, three Of which were In shackles.
When the attempted break was made
IN 1884, Superintendent Collins, or.
dered all life time prisoners shack led
and Todd WAS made no exception
though he never made any attempt at
escape himself or gave the officials any
trouble. His health Is falling, yet his
IovlAl disposition makes him agreeable