Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-26
LIFE IN THE PRISON.
Daily Incidents Within The Walls Of the
State Penltsntlary,
SOMETHING or NOTED PRISONERS
Several who Are There Now ana
Others Who Have served Their
Terms and Gone--Intcrestins s'"-
rics of the Convicts.

mas NIdNM diNtHAioH ~ hAt'N
on. which sits upon the brow OF ore
gon Hin, and II continual reminder
to wrong-doers OF what they may expect
when they overstep the laws which are
laid down for the government OF TINS
people.
Within the four gaunt, white vans
that surround the prison are many promi-
nent criminals. taking punishment TOT
crimes they have committed. and some Oh
the cases are Of an exceedingly interest
ing character.
In fact. the prison itself is OF more than
ordinary interest. and one who has never
been within it's walls will find much there
In 20 interest him. Though, forbiddins
from the outside. the prison Is a most
pleasant place withln-that is. to one VINO
Is simply there as visitor 10 he
prisoner 1t IL probably not so ln',tlns,
though IL Is made as pleasant LOT 'heAh
as circumstances viii permit
Mr.. b. w. Lynn. who has twice peen
elected to the superintendency or the
prison. Is a most efficient omcer' anu
having surrounded himself with corps
OF assistants who are In every way ntteu
for their positions, he Is enabled 10 con-
duct the penitentiary win degree Vi
success which cannot be questioned
The grounds around the prison are kept
In beautiful order. the courts within the
wallis and the cells. and other apart
ments which come under his immediate
sunervislon are as clean as a ballroom
floor. and. were the fact not made mani
fest by the number Of striped inmates
continually At work, ana the bars ana
grated windows. which loom up on an
sides. the casual visitor might imagine
himself IN almost any other place than
one Of Incarceration.
HOW THE PRISONERS EAT.
Neal-time Is the most interesting hour
for visiting the prison. Then the nm
dreds Of convicts, whose apartments form
a half-circle within the main enclosure
are released from their cells ana pass
down through the corridors out l1to the
court. where they receive TIER portion
and file back 10 their rooms. 4 Disputcn
man went out 10 the prison one DAY idst
week. and was shown through by AS
sistant- superintendent White. who very
Interestingly explained the many details
of prison-life. The scribs's visi- was well
timed. for it was just at the supper
hour-6 o'clock-and the interesting sign,
of over LOO men, all dressed IN strips
marching out 10 receive their sLlpefs'
was presented 10 him.
The food given the conyicts Is cooker
in a subterranean kitchen, when Is pre-
sided over by an old prisoner VINO mas
been under the care Of the guards Tor
a number of years. He has a number q
assistants, who work Ter his 1lreeIjl,
and. although the choicest Viands are nos
prepared by them, what theT 90 COCK Is
of the very best ard nothing but Coco
IA -
kitchen. All OF the cooking is Gone py
steam. and a dozen or more immense
watts, all as clean as new ping. are ranged
along the side OF the walls, and In them
the meats are boiled or the coffee Is mace,
or most anything within the range Oh
prison food is cooked.
The meals are served to the CohNlcts w
tin vessels. and are carried out 10
large arched hallway in The main court
The prisoners then file past am each
as he passes presents his plate, or tup'
as the case may be. which, BY the way,
he Is expected to keep clean anu IL 20
filed with what is being served supper
consists of q large cup Of coffee anu
Ioaf ~ hot wheat or corn-brea1, and
the same portion is allotted to each man.
Those who have any MONEY on deIosl-
in the office may at their request receive
extra food. which is cooked for them IN
the prison kitchen.
CAN MAKE PIN-MoNEY.
Every opportunity is given the men 10
accumulate some little money while in
prison. and this IS saved for them untii
their term expires. when IL is turned over
TO them as nucleus with which 10 again
start life. Each man Is hired out by
the State to firms who operate factories
within the prison-enclosure, and task
is set for each man to perform. lie Is
not required TO do more than certdn
amount OF work in any one cay anu,
after that has been completed ue -
either allowed TO go TO his cell, or Is eiVen
more work. for which he is paid by the
owner Of the factory. In no instance Is
the money paid to the convict, but the
amount Is deposited with the superln-
tendent Of the prison 20 his credit ana -
Maid over to him upon his release.
Newspapers are not permitted 10 De
brought within the prison, ana IL ~ tho
idea of those in authority TO make tiie
men lose their identity with the Woriu'
and become mere automatons while IN
carcerated. They are permitted to play
e,,,,,es among themselves, however, and
With checker-boards and other innocent
games they while away the hours In their
cells between supper and bed-ume-9
o'clock.
Rigid discipline among the inmates Is
maintained at all times, ana no speclal
privileges are allowed to any. The slight
est infraction OF rules is punished, either
by confinement In the dungeon or IN
corporal fashion, and, although this pun
ishment is at all times tempered with
mercy, II is sufficiently severe 70 make a
repetition OF the offence unlikely.
The main building OF tie prison-that
portion in which ere l"cated tile cells
was erected in 1870. StrrJly thereafter
Aaron Burr was confined therein while
awaiting trial fer t~cf.son. His daugh-
ter. who was afterwards lost az sea, re-
NAMED there with lin Since that time
many noted prisoner, have served terms.
Prominent among them are old man Mar
win, the bigamist; Shaw. the notorious
burglar; Perigo. the man who married
too many wives, and now, Morganheld
and Searcey. the train-robbers.
PREACHED so AS TO STEAL.
One OF the most interesting prisoners
who has ever been in the penitentiary
was John Radcliffe. who was sent there
10 serve a fye-years' sentence for horse
stealing. He is out now, but has not
been forgotten. He was versatile genius
and man Of parts. He was an eX-
cellent ersationalist, and possessed
a penchant for hOrse-stealing, which he
seemed unable 10 overcome. He boosted
while here of the number Of horses he
had stolen, and gave most interesting
account OF how he secured the animals.
He had a pal, and said they would go
through the country preaching. They
would announce meeting for a certain
time and place, and would gather to-
gether large number Of farmers and
their families Radcliffe would do the
preaching. and work his hearers up 10
great state Of excitement. When he had
gotten them to fever-heat his partner
would drive OF with the horses, and the
bogus preacher would manage 10 hold
the countrymen together long enough 10
give the other man ample time TO make
his escape. Radcliffe served term in
the kentucky penitentiary for horse
stealing, and while there he deliberately
had his left hand cut off in order 10
avoid working The authorities there set
him 10 picking tow He vowed he would
not do IL. and in order to escape II pro-
cured an axe, and, placing his arm on "a
block, got one OF his fellow prisoners to
chop his hand on.