The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-20
IN WANDSWORTH PRISON
Routine of Daily Life in a Jail
for Debtors.
Character of the Obligation That
Places Unfortunatcs behind the
for Contempt of Court in Not
Supporting Their BETTER Halves.

hardship OF prison life is made easier fo
the convict, 1t has become more stringen
fer the debtor, who is rapidly becoming
criminal
Formerly, Wandsworth Jail was prison
for female as well as male prisoners, bu
the ladies now find accommodation at Hol-
loway, and their ward at Wandswortt
has become the debtors division. Here
the cells are similar in all respects &c
those occupied by convicts. The size, the
furniture, the utensils are identical. The
only literature allowed the debtor, like
the criminal in the early days of his con-
iinement, is the Bible. the prayer and
hymn books, and a little volume called
1.-THE Narrow Way"
1t is merely in regard to bedding that
the debtor, within his cell, is better on
than the convict. While the latter at the
commencement of his Incarceration is
compelled to rest on bare boards, the
former, at all times, is provided with CO.
coanut fibre mattress and pillow, as we'll
as with two coarse linen sheets, pillow
ease and couple of blankets.
Before the debtor is finally locked up
for the night on the day of his arrival
at the prison, he receives circular yellow
cloth badge, bearing the number of his
cell inscribed in black on both sides,
which makes him look something like 4
cabman. This badge-the badge OF in
fanny. for It is identicaIly the same in
color and all other respects for convict
and debtor alike-he is compelled to wear
fastened to the lefthand side of his coat
whenever he leaves his cell.
Il is absolutely Illegal to brand him in
this fashion, because in the abstract from
the regulations exhibited in his cell, it
is set forth that debtor shall be allowed
to wear his own clothes, unless they are
unfit for wear, and that even then the
clothes supplied him shall not be of the
same color as those worn by convicted
prisoners. But this badge of the criminal
attached to the debtors coat becomes part
of his attire. If under the regulations in
force he can legally be made to wear any
badge at all, it seems evident that it
should be of a different color to that worn
by convicts.
The prison bell tolls at 6 a. m. and the
day begins. The cell floor must be swept,
the white metal utensils cleaned and fur
bished up so that you can see your face
in them, the plank bedstead set leaning
against the wall on end. with mattress
dangling over the back, bedclothes made
to hang IN front, and pillow browning the
whole. Then you wash and finish dress
ing.
All at once you hear changing of keys.
The door flies open. canvas bag bearing
the cell number is flung On the floor. ac-
cOmpanied by an enquiry in an unsympa-
thetic tone as to whether you are all
right" and an order to put out your pots
and pans. The bag contains your work
some pieces of canvas, some samples of
buttonholes, a stout needle, a skein of
white thread, lump of wax, a knife. You
have been deprived OF your penknife
downstairs, only to be placed in posses
sion of much more dangerous weapon
in your cell.
AT a. IN. you get your breakfast-six
ounces of whole meal bread, badly baked
and sticky, and one pint of cruel or half
pint of cocoa, in accordance with the
choice you have made on your arrival An
hour later your cell door flies open again,
arG you are conducted to one OF the work
rooms. Here a companion in misfortune
who has already mastered the art, shows
you how to hem and make buttonholes in
CANVAS bags for the Postofice. You are at
liberty to talk in an ordinary manner
while plying your needle, and when the
governor or his deputy comes round on
his daily morning visit you are not re-
CURED to move.
At 10 a. m. you leave your work for ex-
errise in a sort of kitchen garden, en-
closed by high walls and surrounded by
a path, where you may walk in couples
Here new arrivals make their first appear
ance and relate their stories.
At II a. m. you return to work and at
noon to your cell and dinner, which on
Sunday and Wednesday comprises four
ounces of whole-meal bread. six ounces
Of potatoes and six ounces of suet pud-
ding. On Monday and Friday you get
six ounces of bread, eight ounces Of pota-
toes. and three ounces of cooked beef with
out bone. which is simply the bully arti-
Gle. On Tuesday, Thursday, ard Saturday
the menu consists of six ounces OF
bread, six ounces of potatoes, and
three-quarters of pint OF SOUP
On Monday haricot beans and fat
bacon may be substituted for beef. and
hen the puzzle is to find the bacon con-
;ealed under one Of the beans. The suet
pudding is a vile, greasy mess, and should !
be discontinued. Frequently some of the !
potatoes are too bad to be eaten. and the |
lebtor is then deprived of his full ration. |
which is small enough at best And he is |
10 longer permitted to board himself. The |
cup which is the famous "skilIy," is de- !
Gdedly good. and might with advantage be |
into homes where there are |
children and where economy Is a first con- |
iideration.
Dinner over, you roll up your sheets |
md blankets and place the bundle on
nd at the top of your corner shelves. |
lou are then at liberty to read Bible |
'rayer book, hymn book. or THE Narrow |
way or 20 resume hemming and button !
Iole making.
The afternoon is almost a repetition of |
he morning At O'Clock you leave vour
ell for exercise till 4. and then go 10 the |
Vorkroom- An hour later you repair to |
he cell for o'clock tea, which is pre- |
iseiy the same as breakfast. and you are |
ot let out again before morning. A. 8 |
on hear the BLACK Marias" rumbling
lto the yard one after another with their
Dads of evildoers and debtors. At you
o to bed after jailer has taken your
'orkbag and double-locked you up for the
light And so it goes on from day to day
On Friday morning, and morning and
fternoon on Sunday. you go to CHAPEL
hich helps to kill time, walking in single
lie under charge of a warden. On the
ay a good view is obtained of the house
here the galiows stands, of the brick
ut where the condemned pass the last
light. and OF the place where they lie
uried at the base of high walI-grew-
ONE landmarks which seem to excite
vely interest.
At chapel the debtors sit in three or
'ur rows on one side of the chancel. On
le left rises a section of an ampla the
tire in four divisions swarming with a
iousand convicted criminals in Jail garb
the color of khaki, stamped with broad
rrows.
The convicts, with hands behind them
luffle in at a swinging gait from the
immit OF the graduated steps. under the |