Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-07-10

the gag; butsS6, 0iE depraved, cruel.
and inhumau naCdre, we have su0sti-
tuted for the gun, long broom handle,
aud In place OF the bayonet a short
broom handle.
A bread and water diet might be sub
stltutsd in place Of the last named mode
of punishment but for the reason that
10 is slow, aud unless pursued TO an e1-
treme degree Is Ineffective. III per-
sisted in TO al extent 20 make IL eIec-
tive, the convict would be so reduced
in strength and flesh as TO make him
Fl. subject for attack by disease; and
in case a convict thus punished should
take a fever aud die, wall would 20
I'D from certain newspaper quarters
something like this: Man orutally
murdered at the PenitentiaTY; tortured
TO death by slow and inhuman process
of starvation ia the midst of plenty"
The usual mode of procedure in
Furnishing convlctS is TO excuse for the
first offence, confDment 10 cell on a
diet OF bread aud water on Sunday for
the second, forfeiture OF five days
"good time" for the third offence, ten
DAYS for the fourth offence, "bucking
aud gagging" for the fifth offence, and
repeated "bueking and gaggiDg" and
the application Of all other modes OF
punishment until the refractory convict
is brought 10 understand that rules
are made 10 be ooeyed. or course this
mode Of procedure is not strictly fol-
lowed but gives 40 idea OF the principle
upon which convicts are punished.
The moral reformation OF criminals Is
an interesting subject for moraiists
aud theorists TO agltate, but those who
undertake TO labor for the reformation
OF criminals must be prepared to sow
seed abundantly, and TO DO satisfied
with a very small crop Of grain In re-
turn. / presume that about as much
is being done in that line at the West
Va. Penitentiary as at other institutions
| of ike kind. We have services every
/ SUNDAY and ministers are admitted at
most al hours. Laborers In the service
of the W. c. 7. T., are admitted, and
religious papers are distributed every
/ sunday by the Rev. Doyle OF the
Presbyterian Church, and on the first
sunday ia each month by Rev. Spur Of
the Episcopal Church, both Of Mounds
vile.
The prison library is not extensive
but is sufficient. A volume received
now and then directed 10 Individual
convcis will be delivered, but convicts
are not PERM tted TO accumulate num-
Der OF books and papers in their cells;
and when books and papers are received
in quantities directed TO a convict, he
has the privilege of placing them in the
prison library for his own use AID that
OF his fellow conyictS, or may return
them 10 the sender, aud officers OF the
prison are not held responsible for
/ books and papers so received.
For a time political newspaper were
admitted 20 toe prison, and they have
been excluded for a time. Religious
aud literary papers have always been
admitted. In the near future political
papers regardless OF their politics will
probably be admitted, except that class
of papers whose editors think ita part
| OF their religious duty TO throw mud at
the public institutions Of the State.
Occasionally some discharged crimi-
nal loaded down with piety, but whose
I plety was insufficient TO keep him out
of the PeniJentiary, suddenly discovers
| Immediately after he is discharged, that
| perhaps some of the convicts have no
! Bibles. Only about one half OF the
/ convicts can read, and il the half that
can read could procure a copy OF the
/ life of Col. JESSE JAMES, with the
same ease with which they can procure
Bible, at least ninety per cent OF them
/ would sleep with a copy OF II under
/ their heads. And IL there is convict
/ in the PententiarY when has no bible,
! IL is because be does not want one.
| When q convict is received he is
| Invested OF all wearing apparel and
/ all valuables aud is given the liberty
/ OF returning them TO his people or Of
\ disDosing Of them 10 persons other than
prison officials. No article except
money is received from convicts or kept
for them by any Office, rfor two reasons:
/ First, neither the law nor the rules re-
! uuire IL, and next, because we exper-
| imented In that line for a while, and
learned that the peculiar atmosphere In
aud about the prison was OF such char
acter that il rendered all articles re-
| ceived and stored away for safe keeping
| for convicts much more valuable at
| the date OF the discharge OF the convict
thuu they were at the time they were
received. Solid brass jewelry received
from a convict on his arrival, became
| eighteen carat gold by the date OF his
/ discharge. IL was thought not advisa-
bic under the circumstances to make
| the Warden 8 keeper OF cold storage
| shop for the cOnvicts.
There are more than one hundred
unemployed convictS in the prison
seveuty-fve OF whom are clameriug for
work. The rules require the guards in
charge OF the cOnvicts who work In
I the shops 20 see 10 IL, that no man I'M
der their charge is required 70 do more
work tran be is able TO DO. II the con-
Wet claims to be unable 10 work he has
the righ, TO appeal TO the Physician,
| who invariably gives the convict the
/ benefit Of the doubt. 1t is therefore
nonsense TO talk about convicts being
I required 10 work who are not able TO
. work.
Under former Wardens the conyicts
were not allowed TO talk with each
other at any time, except that two or
/ three might talk business only, In the
1 presence aud hearing Of an officer, and
at all times were required to march in
! Indian file.
The writer thought this very severe
and unnecessary punishment, and
I thereupQn ordered that the cOnvicts
march upon the yard on Sundays and
, holidays in double file, and while so
doing that they be allowed TO talk.
They are also granted the privilege OF
talking and of entertaining themselves
with vocal and instrumental music,
anecdotes, and defamation while in the
/ chapel on holidays. The idle men are
exercised in the yard for at least one
hour Ia the forenoon aud one in the
afternoon on week days, and while do
| ing so are allowed to talk.