The Irish standard., 1895-04-20
COUNTY j All CLUBS.
w Queer Organization OF Prison.
ers Behind the Bars.

y Queer Organization Of Prison.
ORB Behind the Bars. 4.
The Kangaroo Court and Its Various
Ofncials-An Initistion Into tho
Mysteries of the Mys-
Ito Order.
The most interesting Of these inn
promptu clubs is the one called in the
vernacular THE Kangaroo Court Il
is found almost entirely ingenuity jails
in which petty offenders and persons
awaiting trial are confined. During
the day, writes Josiah Flynt in Har-
per's Magazine, the prisoners, are al
lowed the freedom Of alarge hall, and
at night they lodge in cells, the locks OF
which are sometimes fastened and
sometimes not. The hall contains
tables, benches, daily papers, and in
some instances stoves and kitchen uten-
sils The prisoners can and do walk,
jump, and play various games. After
awhile these games become tiresome
g,snd ''The Kangaroo Court" is formed.
1t consists of all the prisoners; and the
officers are elected by them. The post
tions they fill are the ''judgeship," the
sssearchership," the ''spankership, " and
general ''juryship." To illustrate the
duties of these various officials, shall
give personal experience in county
Jail in New York state. It was my first
encounter with ''The Kangaroo Court. .
II had been arrested for sleeping in an
empty ''box car. The Waterman
found me and lodged me in the station
house, where spent most gloomy
night, wondering what my punishment
would be. Early in the morning was
brought before "the squire" He asked
me what my name might be, and re-
piled that sit might be Billy Rice
"What are you doing around here,
Billy?" he queried further.
Looking for work, your honor"
''Thirty days." he thundered at me,
and was led away to the jail proper.
I had three companions at the time,
and after we had passed the sheriff
and his clerk, who had noted down all
the facts, imaginary and otherwise,
that we had cared to give him about
our family histories, we were ushered
pell-men into the large hall. Sur
rounded in a twinkling by the other
prisoners, we were asked, to explain
our general principles and misdemean-
ors. This over, and a few salutations
exchanged, tall and lanky rogue cried
out in a loud voice:
"The Kangru will now klect!"
There were about twenty present,
and they soon planted themselves about
us in most solemn manner. Some
rested on their launches, others
lounged against the walls, and still
others sat quietly on the fiagstones.
AS soon as entire quiet had been
reached, the tall fellow, who, by the
way, was the Judge, instructed a half
grown companion, whom he nicknamed
'.the searcher," to bring his charges
against the newcomers He APP
proached us solemnly, and in a most
conventional manner, and said:
'Prisoners-you are charged with
havin' Doodle in yer pockets. VIVA
does We plead guilty or not guilty?"
was the first in line, and pleaded
not guilty. y
care We willin' to be searched?"
asked the Judge.
II am, your honor" replied.
Then the searcher inspected all my
pockets, the lining of my coat, the
leather band inside my hat, my shoes
and socks, and, finding nothing in the
shape of money, declared that was
guiltless.
"You are discharged" exclaimed the
Judge, and the jury ratified the decision
with a grunt.
A young fellow, a vagrant by profess
sion, was the next case. He pleaded
not guilty, and allowed himself to be
searched. But unfortunately he had
forgotten solitary cent which was in
his vest pocket. It was quickly confis-
Gated. and he was remanded for trial
on the charge of contempt Of the Kan
CRU" The next victim pleaded guilty
to the possession of thirty-six cents,
and was relieved of half. The last man,
the guiltiest of all, although he pleaded
innocence, was found out, and his three
dollars were taken away from him In
stanter, He, too. was charged with
contempt of court. His case came up
soon after the preliminaries were over,
and he was sentenced by the Judge to
walk the length of the corridor one
hundred and two times each day of his
confinement, besides washing all the
dishes used after dinner for week.
After all the trials were over, the
confscated money was handed to the
genuine turnkey, with instructions that
it be invested in tobacco. Later in the.
day the tobacco was brought into the
Jail and equally divided among all the
prisoners.
The next day I, with the other late
arrivals, was initiated as a member OF
the kangaroo court. It was very sim-
pie proceeding. I had to promise that
I would always do my share of the nee
essary cleaning and washing, and also
be honest and fair in Judging the cases
which might come up for trial.
Since then have had opportunities
of studying other kangaroo courts, but
they have all been very much like the
one I have lust described. They are