The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-08-08
LUNATICs MADE TO ORDER
Modus Operandi of the New York System
Described.

New YORK, Aug. o.-Anotner Kings
county penitentiary convict has lost his
reason as a result of enforced ,deness
While Charities Commissioner Burtis OF
Brooklyn was making the rounds Of the
cells Sunday, as Is his custom, he noticed
that Harry Heath, a short term prison.
er, was sitting on his bed and looking
through the grated door with vacant
stare, such as the face Of a sane man
never bears.
Mr.. Burtis a. once began 70 question
the man. To most of his questions
Heath made no reply. but just looked
and looked with the expressionless eyes
OF a man whose mind was blank. At
ter the commissioner had put a number
Of questions Heath seemed to make an
effort to collect his wits, but most Of
his answers were wholly irrelevant.
Commissioner Burtis has been greatly
wrought I'D over this manufacture o:
lunatics and he went in considerable ex-
citement 10 Warden Hayes and asked
him what was the trouble with Heath
Il have been watching this man for
several days" replied the warden, land
I fear he is far on the road 10 either
L
closely and have him examined"
The heinous offense for which this %
year-old Brooklyn boy was arrested was
being found one night sleeping in coal
bin instead OF a bed. The police prompt
" charged him with vagrancy and he
was sentenced to two months N the
penitentiary.
Heath is one Of the many for whom no
employment could be found.
A new and serious phase of the manu-
facture OF madmen az the peni;entiary is
the fact that the prisoners have them
selves Been struck with terror at the
sight OF nineteen Of their number gong
insane within seven months. The thought
that II may be their turn next has so
wrought upon the minds Of some OF them
that II may hasten their mental collapse
unless relief comes soon.
The report made by Drs. w II. Bates
and J. J. O'Connor. from which IL ap-
pears that enforced idleness in the
Kinks county penitentiary has caused
seven prisoners 20 become insane in a
short time. and that others are on the
verge OF mental collapse. brought be-
fore the public again the question which
has frequently been discussed. When
by the operation Of the new constitution
the contract shops were closed in The
various prisons IL was suggested that
many ills would follow in the wake ot
iCileness and solitary confinement. Steps
were taken 10 REFUGE the danger by CIV
ing employment TO as many conv-c-s as
could be used II d. jobs about the pris-
ons. and in order 70 keep the idle gang"
down 10 the lowest possible number.
Warden Sage % Sing Sing devised many
plans which were pu; into successful op-
Grafton.
Although the time between the en-
forced shutdown and the operation Of the
wa-ien's new methods was short, only a
few weeks. the deterioration in the ply
steal ana mental condition % the con-
vets Was noticeable - the most super
f ciai observer Stonecutting. building. |
road making and work in the state shops
where the clothing and shoes for other |
state institutions are made gave en- |
pigment 20 i majority 81 the inmates. !
ana schools in drawing. modelling. cary
ing ana other useful arts furnished |
means for killing tine for convicts who |
would have been unemployed but for |
these provisions The Consequence Il |
that I.Ioo OF the 1900 coHvicts IN Sing |
Sing are now employed. and the results !
are satisfactory
Mr.. Sage says tina; ne is unable . give |
al opinion as 10 VIVA; would follow 6 |
long term CO idleness. because he has |