Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1896-07-02
SMUGGLING IN PRISONS.
Queer Places Where Contraband Articles
Arc Hidden from Officiais.

Arc Hidden from Ofiicials.
The suicide by poison in the tombs
of Herman Bansener, a prisoner await
ing trial. and of Charles Harrowitz,
consumptive in Montefiore home, by
shooting himself, has attracted atten-
tion to the impossibility of absolutely
preventing prisoners and patients who
are allowed to receive visitors, extra
food and delicaces from obtaining
drugs, liquors or weapons, the posses
sion of which is contrary to prison and
hospital rules. 1t was not known until
several days after Bansener's death how
lc obtained the poison. Then it was
learned that he brought it with him to
the tombs, sewed in the hem of his un-
dershirt, and had thus batlled the keep
ers, who made a careful search OF his
person when he entered, knowing that
he had threatened TO commit suicide.
Warden Van De Carr, of the tombs,
told me that, in his opinion, it was inn
possible to prevent a clever prisoner,
determined on suicide or addicted to the
use of drugs, from getting the means to
carry out his desire.
"In Bansener's case" he said, enough
poison, which / understand was strych-
nine, could have been concealed in the
hem of garment to kill half dozen
persons, and it would not have altered
the appearance of the garment. The
only method of detecting the posses
sion of poison by prisoner in such
case would be to rip apart every gar
mcnt, and as no provision Is made for
clothing for prisoners awaiting trial
that is impossible. We must content
ourselves with thorough search and a
close watch on the prisoners"
Persons with suicidal tendencies are
the most difficult to deal with. The
warden said that not long ago woman
prisoner was broughtin Her ears were
stuffed with cotton and she said she
suffered intensely from earache. He in
sisted that the cotton be taken out and
examined, and in it were found two
pills, each containing enough poison to
kill several persons.
another prisoner, some years ago,
was heard talking to his wife about
committing suicide and close watch
was kept on him. At a subsequent visit
his wife begged permission to kiss him
and she was allowed to do so through
the cell bars. The keeper in attendance
was suspicious and forced his mouth
open. lie found in it pill Of powerful
poison, wrapped in tinfoil, which the
wife had brought and transferred to
him during the kiss.
Persons addicted 10 drugs give much
trouble to the authorities. Prisoners
awaiting trial are allowed extra food
provided by their friends. 1t is always
examined for contraband articles, but
sometimes the forbidden things are SO
carefully concealed as to evade detec-
tion. A Chinese prisoner, after begging
for opium for several days, suddenly
became quiet. The authorities sus-
pected that he had obtained the drug,
but careful watch failed to solve the
mystery. His friends kept him supplied
with sandwiches made from rolls, and
each sandwich was taken apart and ex-
amined before being sent to him, but
no opium was found, until one day the
bread was accidentally broken in the
examination and supply of opium was
found concealed in hollow roll.-N. Y,
Herald.