Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-19
PENAL SERVITUDE
How Prisoners Fare in the West Vir-
GINA Penitentiary.
DESCRIPTION OF TEE INSTITUTION
Library and School Established
With Good Results.
LIBRARIAN FROM THIS CITY

Twelve colored prisoners were taken from
this city Monday night and delivered to
Warden S. A. Hawk at the Moundsville
West Virginia) penitentiary. There are
now in the penitentiary ia persons who
were sent there for offenses committed in
this city. Warden Hawk denies story
printed several weeks ago that because of
the crowded condition of the institution he
Will soon have to stop taking District pris-
oners. 1t is true. he says, that the num-
Der of prisoners is rather large, nearly 700,
but by putting two men in each cell he
VIII be able to accommodate many more.
The District prisoners in the penitentiary
were sent there since February "a of last
year.
Those who were sent away this week
were Samuel Holloway, alias James Barnes:
Benjamin Bell, William King and William,
alias PUNK" Brent, for housebreaking:
Frederick, alias Buffalo" Moore: William
jackson, alias Tip Light" Frederick Bos-
ton and Garfield Galloway, larceny from
the person: Buddy Nelson, second offsense
petit larceny; Mary Braxton, alias Florence
Mason, alias Mary jackson, grand larceny,
and Margaret Harris, alias Mollie Harris
and Ella Wracks, who were under sentence
Tor manslaughter. The prisoners were ac-
companied to the penitentiary by two Jail
guards, detective and a Star reporter. At
500 O'Clock the train pulled out from the
baltimore and Ohio depot, and friends and
relatives left standing on the platform got
a last glimpse of the jolly crowd of pris-
oners. The sentences to be served by the
dozen lawbreakers ranged from two to
seven years, and four of them, who had
served penitentiary sentences before, I'M
derstood it was their last chance until the
expiration of their sentences to be hilari-
Gus. and 1t Is unnecessary to state that
ADVANTAGE n 1pif
Farewell Song.
AS the train pulled from under the rail-
road shed William King threw his hat to
a friend and then all Joined In a farewell
song. From that time until o'clock Tues
DAY morning there was no sleep for any
one in the car. Prison experiences were
related, songs were sung and the men took
turns in reminding the others of what he
or she might. expect during the coming
years. None of the prisoners had ever been
at MoundsWile, and the treatment they
We're TO get was matter of conjecture
Mary Braxton had served three or four
terms and II the treatment turned out to
he as good as she had received at Albany
and Trenton, she said, she would have no
several times during the night and the
prisoners We're in good spirits until the
conductor entered the train in the morning
and shouted:
THE next stop is at Moundsvile,
We'll soon be at home over there" start
Ell buffalo, and some of the others Join
ed MIN, but there was not that earuestness
that had been shown during the night
Finally the stop was made and the nine
men chained together managed to get off
the car. The women followed and soon the
dozen prisoners We're passing the big
mound after which the town was named
A few minutes later they were lined up in
Warden Hawks office. Each answered roll
call and then followed two of the prison
guards to the interior the women going
one way and the men another Half an
hour later they We're ready to go to the
shops and start in to make brooms, cloth
ing or, leather goods. They had then had
their heads under the clipper and had been
given bath. The striped suits put on
them were of odd sizes, and had their best
friends seen the wearers they would hardly
have recognized them.
Before going to the shops the men said
goodbye to the Washington officers, and
not until they are released will they again
be permitted the freedom of conversing
with each other.
The West Virginia Prison.
The Moundsville penitentiary is the West
Virginia state prison. although United
States prisoners from several states are
sent there from time to time. In the main
building there are 500 cells in which there
Is room for two hunks. Unless there is a
large number of prisoners in the institution
only each man is given a cell to himself
Besides his cot he has a stool and is per-
mltted to have decorations in the shape of
pictures on the walls. 1t so happens that
there are several sets of brothers in the
prison at this time and each of the couples
Is put in a cell together Besides the num-
bers of the cells the names of the occu-
pants are put on each door-both where
there are two In cell There are tags at
tdched also, where the occupant Is on the
black list or where he has some incurable
-ha,, onlyf a..
permitted the usual enjoyments of the
prison
Warden s. A. Hawk is a man whose Ideas
of humane treatment are at variance with
those of many men holding similar posi-
tons in other institutions. While he de-
mands that a strict discipline shall be
maintained at all times, he treats the con-
victs well and does everything in his power
to remind them that they have future.
Manual of Instructio
Each prisoner is furnished a manual upon
his arrival at the prison, and if he Is unable
to read its contents are read to him. In the
first place, he is informed by the manual:
This Is a penal institution. consequently
place of restraint. discipline and depriva-
ton. Yet this penitentiary may be made
not solely, nor even chiefly, a place of pun
ishment. but rather one of reformation and
help. place which shall afford advantages
mere or less as the inmate by his conduct
proves himself worthy of enjoying.
There must be rules and regulations In
order to maintain that which is just and
fair and for the best interest of each and
every one.
"A prompt and cheerful obedience to the
rules will help every one and enable each
individual to secure the greatest possible
advantages for himself and all the pleasure
and comfort that can be had within prison
walls
Helps and privileges which, If rightly
used. will be increased, but If abused will
be withheld.
You are at all times to remember that
you have been adjudged guilty of the crime
for which you were convicted and sentenced
here by a competent court, and that this
| management has no right to infer that you
are not guilty"
The manual also informs the prisoners OF
offeuses against the laws Of the state which
they can commit while serving in prison.
Penalties are prescribed for assaults, MUIR
der, defacing property and escaping.
Library and School.
An interesting feature of the prison Is
a. till