Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-05-05


until the attempted break OF several
prisoners about "a year ago In which
Captain Rooney was Killed. In
some ineaplicable manner he was i'm
plicated In this affair and his hope for
liberty thus retarded. a college bred
boy could not have more gentle man.
ners than this yoiing victim of enyjr-
onmont and II IN TO be hoped that
the youth SO fruitfully spent within
those invulnerable walls Of stone may
sometime enjoy the sunshine OF the
undoubtei talents.
Much Improvement has been made
about the buildings and grounds un.
der Warden Martin To the chapel
has been added a gallery for visitors.
Here stage is fitted up with drop
curtain where plays are given by the
convicts. aud Visiting entertainers
obaritabiy inclined may at any time
occupy the boards for the pleasure
OF the inmates Religious services
are held each Sunday. but the old
timers In the Institution generally re-
fraIn from Attendance, the worship
pers usually being newcomers. at
tendance not being compulsory
"Ah. you think crime Is decreasing
and The world growing bctterg'
This II bard 10 believe when we
learn tina, three hundred criminals
have been scat 10 Canon during the
last year which is large Increase
over former years
sfats ~ lon,
would soon ailay the passion Of him
who would CRAFTY moments re-
yengc In violating tho greatest Of
tho commandments II each state
would aond It's children TO visit ltA
house Of punishment Il would doubt
less prove a lesson that would result
In an abbroylntion Of the criminal an.
nails.
ANY women employed as clerks?"
Only one. 4 Mrs Lee from Grip
pie CrooI haa the honor OF being the
drst woman ever employed In n oleri-
cal capacity al The penitentiary. and
her cheery face sooms q welcome one
TO the prisoners"
In the library may be found stand
nrd works. but tho books most worn
are OF the lighter fiction. which ia
evidence that few OF the book patrons
have been trained 70 things education
nj or literary. and further proves that
poverty and ignorance rather than In
horitanco are largely roaponslble for
prisons,
The chief article OF food furnished
the prisoncrb IL meat stew. and IS
cooked by steam In monstrous iron
kettles. nt which only a glance will
gorge ones appetite. This with
black coffee. aud bread without but
ter they are given nn abundance OF,
covering. aud on tin plates. and tin
cups made by themselves from Tin
cans.
what Ia most interesting 10 the
visitors2'
\ should say. first. talking to the
men who are IN ON eircumHtanial oyi.
denco. aud noXt the trades depart
mcn,a In the woodwork department
there is a man Ia on circumstanial
evidence for killing his mining part.
ner He is beloved to be innocent,
and certainly hin handsome. frank
face would warrant such belief, but
one Of tho 4tnlstios. assured me that
could not Judge a book by It's coy
or" He himself was fair aud honest
TO outward appearance. but a fow mo-
monbs later the guide informed me
that ho was up FOR killing man
NJ Cripple Creek The man In the
woodwork department who Is doing
penaneo on Circumstantial evidence
has given excellent support TO his
family since there. aud his children
think him u mariner on the great
main. Alas' the pain and humili
alton II they know the dreadful harbor
in which he ~ bocalmod lie works
day after day upon inlaid tables
which are worth NJ least sT5. but
bring the nominal sum OF SIS. He
is not sullon like many OF them but
carries his innocence in his face and
kindly manners
Another Innocent man ! found at
the stables lie had been railroad
ed through Judge Mullins court at
Denver His offonsc. had he been
proven guilty could have amounted
only to petty larceny. and he In up
FOR term OF months. leaving wife
and two small children TO suffer For
twenty ave years he was an express
messenger previous 10 this trouble
and he has the word OF his company
that he may have his old position the
moment he Is liberated This sort
of case rather makes Justice hide out
for shame. and certainly demands in
vusugRtion.
II was noticeable fact that the
men doing service for murder were
the best class there They are gen.
orally men OF intelligence who have
In the heat OF passion done what they
believed TO be In defense of their
lives or their rights Those up for
minor oflcnses are more tho typical
criminal In appearance
Everything moves like clockwork
under Warden Martins direction, and
the improvements made during his
term thus far are most commondahle
Canon City is an ideal place In all re
spects for state institution Its
climate. location aud moral condition
are inviting II has taken new
start to grow, and would be an ideal
plar, for ANY selfreEneCtinr family