The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-03-04
ThIrty-Day Sentence In
Stark Workhouse.
AKRON PAPER WARNS
Tho Evil Doors Of That City
Against q Trip to the
Awful Ca nton lnsti-
tuition.

A thirty-day sentence to the Canton
workhouse is not long, luxurious
siesta, according to the Akron Demo
crat, which takes some pains to wal
the evil-doers of that city Of the ter
rors" that lurk in the Stark county
institution.
"The man who is sent there for com
muning to excess with the rum devil
very soon has his impression corrected
IL he approaches the enclosure with
an idea that he has a picnic before
him." says the Democrat. "There are
rules and rumors of rules, and officials
are armed with as much authority as
czars.
STERN DISCIPLINE.
"Strict obedience Is enforced upon
the prisoners. This is provided for in
rule 81, which reads: The first duty
Of the prisoners is strict obedience,
and 1t will be to their interest to obey
ALI rules and regulations
"Quietness is also required. The
man who goes to the workhouse, ex-
pecting to put in his time singing and
delivering orations, is confronted by
the following: They must at all
times preserve absolute silence, except
when spoken to by an officer or en-
ploye in regard to their work 1t will
have been noticed that no reference
was made to talking about play or
amusement. Work must be the topic
of all conversations.
CAN'T MAKE FACES.
"And prisoners are not supposed to
divert themselves by making faces at
the officials, or subjecting them to
being called all the names in the cata-
logue of profanity or vuigarity. Rules
70 and 76 guard against this by pro-
viding that prisoners must approach
the officers in a respectful manner
mo insolent, profane or disrespect-
full language will be allowed by any
prisoners when spoken to by any Off
cial of the, prison, or any person con-
nected with 1t. =.
mo SMOKING"
"The man who would kill time by
smoking, has motto like this hang
ing before his eyes: Smoking by
prisoners will not be permitted
1T Is also demanded that on reach
ing the cells, prisoners will stand at
the cell with their left hand on the
door; at given signal they will step
in, close the door up to the lock, keep
ing hold until the second signal is
given, when they will close it alto
gether, remaining with their hands on
the door until the second signal is
given, when the doors will be closed.
TO PROTECT VISITORS.
"Visitors are not to be looked
through and through, either. Rule "a
takes care of this, reading: Prisoners
shall not be allowed to stare idly at
any one, and shall not take their at
tention from their work to look at any
person or persons Again it will
have been noticed that reference was
made to work.
"Nor will the young man who would
while dull hours away by writing let
ters to sentimental girls find things
coming his way. Following is rule
n: Prisoners shall have permission
W WTitC lttJeIS OllCG III IOur weeks.
All letters written must be explained
at the Office. under the direction of the
superintendent, before being sent or
delivered
NO PUGILISM.
"The fellow who is pugilistically in
clined is dealt sturdy blow as soon
as he steps inside the walls. Here 1t
Is: Any prisoner maliciously strik-
ing a fellow prisoner, or any other
person, shall be severely punished ;
James Strapp, of Akron, once got
around this rule, in novel way. He
didn't Strike but instead, bit a large
section off Cyrenus Franks left ear
He then held that he hadn't violated
the rule.
"A great deal more might be said
about the Canton workhouse, but
surely enough has been told about the
rules to cause prospective offenders in
Akron to think twice before they make