The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1900-07-27
corwcrs in SUITS OF GRAY.
Az a Result OF Prison Reform In Kan
sas Stripes are Abolished.

As Result OF Prison Reform In Kan.
sas Stripes are Abolished.
Leavenworth, Kan.-(Special. )-Th,
abolition Of the striped garb in tn.
state prison here has been wonderfully.
beneficial in reforming convicts War.
den Lands Land in. introduced the neyFysten
| Before the change in uniforms scarce.
ly day passed without some prison:
er's punishment and the dark cells vert
seldom without occupants on diet o:
| bread and water. Today the solitary,
| cells are without an occupant. and QUA
of the 1923 convicts only twelve are ts.
be seen wearing the hated garb These
men have been returned to the stripes
for attempting to escape, for fighting.
among themselves or for refusing tc
obey orders. That they feel the extra
degradation can be seen in the averted
downcast faces in the presence of wis.,
itors and in their earnest petitions to
the warden or deputy for permission tc
resume wearing their Clothes, as
they call the new uniform.
|
the prison have been made, until
convict released several years and now
returned would be hardly able to recog'
nize it as the same prison. In few
of the state institutions can this pro-
gressive spirit be seen more fully than
in the state penitentiary. A few years
ago this prison was typical of the many
similar institutions throughout the
country. It's cellhouses were foul, which
caused much sickness and kept the hos
pital constantly filled with patients.
Many convicts, unfit for hard labor,
were idea fruitful source Of trouble.
Two men occupied each cell. Scandals
were numerous, and in fact the peni-
Tertiary was disgrace to the state.
Now new cellhouses have been added
and each man has cell to himself. An
| improved system of ventilation has
been introduced, reducing sickness to
the minimum. The hospital today con-
tains only two men. one of whom is
convalescing, the other being hopeless
paralytic. A 'tinker's shop" was es-
tablished, in which cripples and those
unable to engage in hard labor were
given employment in making useful
and ornamental work. which Is sold to
visitors as souvenirs of the prison. Dur
ing the seventeen months this shop has
been in existence about $4,000 worth Of
its product has been sold, all of which
is a net gain to the state and those
who would Of necessity be idle find
steady employment. The contract and
furniture shops are a picture of clean
illness, for a perfect exhaust system
carries away all dust and litter.
The improved system Of ventilation.
the facilities for employing the time Of
all convicts and the disappearance OF
The stripes have been Of great saving
10 the state. Permitting the convict to
wear the present neat, tasty uniform
places the prisoner on his good behav-
Tor and reduces the number of days lost
by punishment. During the twenty.
two months since these reforms were
instituted the state has lost a total Of
$50 days from sickness, punishment
and all other causes. against 81. liz days
Turing the previous twenty-five months.
This, figured at SO cents a day-which
IS a little less than the state receives
from the prison contractors for labor
means great saving. By a new con-
tract made for boarding the prisoners
and other reforms will swell the total
saving to at Least $4,000.
The convicts appear to be as content
ed as is possible for men to be when
restrained Of liberty. The prison con.
iains number Of notorious persons.
John Henry Collins, convicted at To-
peka for the murder Of his father, was
Drought there a short time ago. AS
ne gave his occupation as laborer he
was assigned to the prison tailor shop
and is now engaged in making the gray
uniforms. He is becoming familiar with
the use of the needle, and says that he
can sew straight line.
Emmett Dalton the famous bank rob-
Der. is cutter and superintendent Of the
prison tailor shop and yields his scis-
sors with as much ease as he did his
Winchester when he rode into Coffey-
vile to rob the bank. He wears his hat
over his eyes in true cowboy style and
still retains vigorous physique, shows
ing no effects Of prison life.
Willie Sell, under a life sentence for
the murder of his parents. has charge
of the laundry, and is spoken Of as a
model prisoner. Another effort is being
made to secure pardon for him.
Prof. r. G. Meade, formerly Of the
Atchison schools, is in the library and
William Chadbourn. noted train rob-
Der, is kept in the dollhouse, as he ex-
hibits signs Of insanity. There are q
number Of others of more or less no.
toriety, among them former chief
clerk Of the prison. now doing duty in
the hospital.
Warden Lands is preparing for the
installation Of a binder Irvine plant. the
recent legislature having appropriated
$2500o0 for this purpose. The warden
and the board Of penitentiary directors
have just returned from tour Of in-3
spection Of the Irvine plant at Still
water, Mimi, and from the examina-
ton Of machinery at Chicago. The
Il