The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-07-08

murder IN the second degree, is SelV-
ing a thirty years sentence, the long
est except those of the life prisoners.
HILL OF OGDEN.
Hill, the Ogden embezzler, is a man
of high degree of culture and refine
ment. He seems strangely out of his
element among his prison Surroundings.
The newspaper reading public will re-
member the sad story of his downfall
from an enviable position in the bust
ness and social circles of the Junction
City. He seemed Utterly crushed by the
sentence imposed upon him and the
| first day spent within the prison walls
were days of awful despair
The frequent letters and visits from
| his brave, faithful wife revived his
courage and he began, in time, to seek
distraction in duties as mail carrier and
attendant in the guards Office. He is
studying stenography and rapidly be-
coming proficient in the use of pot
hooks. Christmas was a day of misery
for him. When little remembrances
/ came from the family who would spend
the day amid more cheerful surround
ings, but whose holiday season would
be saddened by memories of the hap
pier ones of the past, his grief was
pitiful. He avoids as much as possible
association with his fellow prisoners,
and was glad to assume added duties
for the privilege of taking his meals in
the kitchen.
THE NEW PENITENTIARY.
Improvements costing an aggregate
of $4,000 have been made within the
past five years. Chief among them are
the new dollhouse and the warden's
residence. The facilities for heating
and Ventilating are of the best. In
novationS that have been productive of
good results are the introduction of the
lock step which requires uniform gait
by the prisoners as they pass to and
from their meals, and to their cells, the
hands of the conVictS resting on the
shoulders of the man preceding them;
the designation of the prisoners by
numbers, their clothing being marked
by corresponding numbers, and a sys-
tenn of bells whereby guards and war
den are put in instant communication.
These innovations are due to Mr.. Stark
who assumed the wardenship last Oc-
tober. Since that time not one escape
has been made.
THE WARDEN.
Mr.. Stark's reply to the question:
''How do you prevent escapes and out
breaks of rebellion?" was that constant
watchfulness is the preventive. Eternal
vigilance is necessary for proper disci-
pine. This he tries to observe. The
least trouble is given by prisoners who
have served terms in other peniten-
tiaries, the greatest by the hobo or
| tramp element.
Most of the prisoners have been hard
drinkers and they will resort to al
most any means to obtain liquor. The
storeroom contains the coveted prize,
and longing eyes and pilfering hands
often turn in that direction. Anything
that contains alcohol is acceptable,
even the bay rum and perfumes in the
barber shop. One of the cooks ap-
peared before the new warden in a
dizzy condition and, when questioned,
acknowledged that he had drunk three
bottles of lemon essence in celebration
of the introduction of the new regime.
He was promptly locked up and left to
mourn his previous joyfulness. Petty
thieving among the prisoners is pre-
vented by a. rule that they shall not
visit each others cells without permits
sion from the guard on duty at that
time.
THE MATRON.
Mrs Eliza NJ. Smith, the matron, has
charge of the wonan's department,