The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-09-23

to undertake any extensive visitation
of public institutions. decided, there
fore, to visit in each country, one Jail,
or detention prison; one workhouse, or
prison for misdemeanants; and one pen
itentiary, or convict prison.
The credentials which were furnished
me by Gov. Clough, did not reach me
until | arrived in London, consequently
| was without credentials in Germany
and Christiania. l called upon the
American Consuls in Hamburg and
Christiania. The Consul in Hamburg
introduced me to DR.. Roscher, chief of
police, who showed me every possible
courtesy. He gave me letters of intro
duction to the governors of the prisons,
and detailed a competent officer to ac-
company me and to act as interpreter
At Christiania, Mr.. Gade, the United
States Consul, furnished me with in
Productions to the officers of the insti-
tutions which 1 wished to visit, which
secured me every needed attention.
In London, the secretary at the home
office hOnored the Governors letter
promptly. l had very satisfactory
interview with him and he furnished
me with letters to the prison govern
ors, instructing them to give me
special opportunities to see the prisons
under their charge.
DETENTION PRISONS.
The central police station of Ham
burg has large cells 14x16 feet, into
which ordinary prisoners are turned
loose after their arrest. | found, to my
surprise, that they attach very little inn
portance to the separation of prisoners
awaiting examination, unless there
was some special reason for keeping
them apart. In connection with the
office of the police captain, however,
there are seven cells, or rather closets,
each 3x3 feet, with a shelf for seat.
The top of these closets is open and
there is an opening at the bottom of
the door, allowing free circulation of
air. These cells are used for the tenn
porary detention of prisoners three or
four hours at time. Such an arrange
ment would be a great improvement
upon the Bull Pen," so called, in
which prisoners are huddled together
awaiting trial in the st. Paul police
court.
The cells in this station have wooden
floors. The corridor floors were of
asphalt.
The prison register is entered on
cards, instead of on books, as with us.
The system appeared to work admir-
ably.
A GERMAN PRISON.
The second district police station of
the city of Hamburg, was visited July
31st, 1897. This prison is used for the
combined purpose of OBTAINING prison.
ers awaiting trial, and Furnishing short
term prisoners. Considerable differ
ence is made in the treatment accorded
to different prisoners awaiting trial.
Some are kept in separate cells, while
others are placed four men in cell.
Prisoners who are able to pay for it,
can secure better cells and better food.
A portion of the prison roof is walled
in and is used as an exercise yard,
where each prisoner is allowed to exer-
else once a day. In exercising, pris-
oners are required to walk continuously,
and are not allowed to visit.
In the basement of the prison are
cells for violent cases of drunkenness,
delirium tremens, etc. For violent
cases of this class, rough wooden hunks
are provided, shaped like coffin, with
wooden stocks for the feet and straps
for the arms and body. These hunks
were commended by the superintend-
ent as being particularly humane in
preventing the prisoner from injuring
himself or others. To the western
mind, they appear like relic of the
dark ages. In the same basement were
lodging rooms for vagrants. No va
grant was allowed to lodge oftener than
four times month, but there were
sufficient number of lodging houses