Evening star., 1898-10-22

ton prison uniform, but not in the striped
clothing which is supposed to be the char
acteristic uniform worn of all convicts.
Warden E. G. Coffin. in charge of OhiOs
state prison, believes that the striped cloth
ing is badge of ignoniny, which should
be worn only by those inmates of the prison
whose conduct in prison entities them to
nothing else. Therefore, each convict, upon
his arrival at the Ohio penitentiary. is
clothed in a suit of gray and cap of the
same color, a blue stripe running down the
outer seam of the trousers. This suit.
which denotes that the prisoner is a sec
OnG-Class man, the new arrival wears for
the first six months of his term of impris
Onment, unless meantime reduced to the
third or fourth grade. If his conduct dur
ing this period has been good, he is pro-
NOTED to the first grade. the distinguishing
mark of which is Il black stripe down the
seam of the legs of the trousers, and he be-
comes entitled to rank as trusty and to
enjoy privileges not enjoyed by the men of
the other grades
If. however, the man is guilty of miscon-
duct of d serious nature during the first
six months of his Incarceration, he is re-
duced t. the third grade and arTayed in a
suit of striped black and gray clothing
This striped suit ne wears until he has be-
come entitled, by exemplary conduct, to
again resume the uniform of the second
grade. If he attempt to escape or is guilty
of unusually bad conduct, he is still fur
ther reduced. and compelled to wear a suit
of black and white stripes. losing all priv
| ileges for such d period as the warden may
determine How well this graded system
works may be seen from the following fig
ures, given in weekly report submitted
a day or two before the arrival of the Dis
trict men: Number of prisoners, 2,2s0; first
class. gS4: second class, 229; third class,
| 81; fourth class, 4. OF the total number
thirty-oEe We're women, one of the latter
! being an Indian sQuaw undergoing a life
sentence for chopping off a mans head.
A Marked Innovation.
Warden Coffin, who assumed for a second
time charge Of the prison in the spring of
1896. announced the following October to
the 2,100 convicts that he proposed to do
away with the striped clothing worn by
them. provided they showed by their con-
duct that they deserved such considera-
tion. He explained to his charges that
every prisoner who during the time be
tween that date and the first of the fol-
lowing January should. by good conduct,
avoid punishment would be permitted to
discard the striped clothing. The result
was an immediate Improvement in the be-
| havior of the prisoners. which so continued
that on the 1st of January six-sevenths of
them were entitled to wear other than the
! detested and degrading stripes. Another
| marked innovation of esta ablished prison
procedure made by Warden Coffin was the
| doing away with the lock-step. The men
| now march to and from work and meals
| IN comI anies. heads erect, with military
| beasts
| Another reform established by Warden
| Coffin. who Is regarded as perhaps The
greatest eX2oT ent in this or any other Ccun-
| try of the humane and ennObling treatment
| of convicts. was according TO every pTls-
| ouer charged with misconduct an impartial
| hearing before punishment The deputy
warden, Mr.. Bradford Dawson, uresiies
over this court, which is held each morning,
| and before hin. the prisoners reported Tor
misconduct are brought. The statement Of
| the officer reporting the convict is made N
| the presence of the prisoner, and the latter
i is then permitted to give his version Of the
! case. The case is then disposed of, but
! punishment does not always follow, even
| where the offender is shown to be guilty
| for very Otter. he is dismissed with words
of advice as TO his future conduct with
/ simply reprimand. Where punishment is
directed the prisoner, If the offense be of a
serious nature. is kept in solitary Coniine-
nent from three hours to five days ac-
| cording to the seriousness of his nlScon
duct. or he loses several days of good
time" that Is allowed by law a reduction
Of the term of Imprisonment. or he is re.
1 dUCed to "A lower grade Warden COitin ba
| found that solitary confinement generally
has beneficial effect upon the culprit by
leaving him to himself and inducing reile..
tiuns upon his conduct. This punishment Is
| q so elf-tTNictcd Tn more than one Nay
| FOR prisoner ordered into solitary Connnc
mcut FOR day may he released in ~
hour or 40 by sending for the warden oi
his deputy and showing that he Is truly
pCuItent
For Good Behavior.
Tho laws of the United States proyii
that the terms ~ imprisonment of ~
Unite states prisoners who conduct thcm
solves properly while in prison shall l.,
|i'WIri-t-t hy certain uutuh,r ot days po
ui. n'r and whrrr such Tri4nnrrH or, con
N.ri IH other than tuitet states prisois d
A. furfHrr provided mat thr ryhur.iun u
Tool Ufi"HnWrul HhHI hr that provided D.,
iI" .HH ~ 'hf Fftf' Iu witch such pfislu
"r' ''.afsI Therefore. all prsuusrs zen