The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-10-17

stinntc and unruly prisoners is practically
unknown. AS punishment for crime it
is looked upon rs Inurdcrous both to mind
and body. Al the same time there is no
Inv against 1t IN any of the great prisons
of this country Wardens generally arc.
within limits, their own lawmakers, and
invariably use their own Judgment in all
matters pertaining to punishment. In
English prisons everything is done by iron.
clad law and must he complied with. Tho
diet of the prisoners in the greater pcni-
tcntiaries is regulated by net of parliament.
The bread is weighed, and every prisoner
gets similar quantity, whether he is
large or small, delicate or hearty
Ii In tho cutting of bread II piece falls
short, another picce Is tackled onto it with
IL wooden peg. No individual Judgment OF
an officer is permitted In any case. They
have dark cells for the refractory and haye
many mechanical restraints for the pris-
onGrs.
Generally speaking, the physical contli-
ton of the inmates of English prisons is
carefully attended TO, and examinations
arc made periodically for insane, cpileptic
or prisoners who arc likoly to do them
selves harm. In the latter case there is a
cell heavily padded or upholstered in which
such prisoners are placed.
ASK any convict of international expert
oncc, and he will tell you that he would
rather serve five years in an American
prison than three years in England-this
Notwithstanding the mulotlorous rcputn-
ton given 10 American prisons by Charles
dickens III Is II strange fact that the man
represented by Dickens rs dying from the
sheer horror of his surroundings I'm tho
Eastern penitcntiary ut PHILADELPHIA 40
p,pp III IA
ton and was released II hale and hearty
man.
Three years ago still FREQ and with no
charge against him, ho returned, broken
down ami feeble with age. and requested
thc privilege Of passing his remaining days
III the prison The boon wns accorded
MN, anu some time later he passed away
IN the prison which the Englshman had
held up TO the scorn of the civilized world
Whatever Mr. Dickens may have
thought, the fact still remains that the
great prisons of England. France and Ger
many have since been built and arc con
Quoted on the plan of the Eastern pcniten-
tiary
Probably no man in the country knows
more about criminals and their treatment
lhnn WARDEN Cassidy of the eastern pcni-
tehtlary, ut Philadelphia. Mr. Cassidy il
wy NNeii VI NhidcES. lie mas helu his
present position for almost 30 years al
though the election for warden takes place
every six months
Warden Cassidy favors solitary confiue-
ment MS means of punishment for re-
lractory prisoners, but not as II punish
meht Tor crime. He also favors the separa
ton, or individual treatment of prison.
crs-that Is TO sly, he believes in surround
ing them with influences and comnanion
snip calculated To make better men of
Them AT the same time he is quick to
resent any iniraction of prison rules by a
siege of solitary confinement
SOLITARY confinement may have driven
iallagher and Whitehead insane, - he said
IL VIII drive some men crazy; others it
WON'T. Some prisoners will stand almost
ANYTHING without ninching ~
Warden Cassidy intimnted that locl of
work was perhaps the initial cause of the
mental trouble of Whitehead and Gal
lagher. Here are some OF his views ON Tho
subject:
II Is essential that tho people confined
In prisons should have work. There is
Ner! iittle disposition on tho part of con-
Vicis to avoid work. In the prison nm
engaged in the greatest punishment Is To
Deprive man of the opportunity to labor
An idle man will tire of his idleness soon.
Ut imam tho warden and he will ask for
work-any kind that you choose TO give
hlm There are, OF course, executions to
all rules I" ~
II0maa