Daily Kennebec journal., 1904-05-12
THE COUNTY JAIL.
An interesting Place to Visit Even
Though a Prison.
An Account Of a Journal Mans Recent
Call.

Thirty days in Jail is another story,
but an hours stroll through the Ken
nebec county institution is not the least
Of enjoyable and interesting events. a
journal man WAS recently entertained
by the genial turnkey and was en-
lightened as TO the mysteries of the de-
partments ana their occupants.
Before one may enter this great
county school where law breakers arc
taught to abide hy rules Of the Law
makers, he must give the cOuntersign
there the heavy iron door opens for his
admission. The countersign is given
by pressing an electric button at the
entrance of the Jail. Upon this signal
Immediately the heavy door at the
summit of one i.iGht of granite steps
SWayS Oh its hinges, as promptly as
though All were done by the button.
The turnkey appears on the threshold
ana You have Ir-rn acknowledged al-
misablr. Passing through this door
you enter the jail office where the mas
ter of this school holds forth in his
power.
With his permission you may enter
through another massive door to III"
II
upun this occasion the official accom-
panied the Journal man ANA showed to
him the whole. tpnn entering to the
JNl proper one steps into Il wide
corridor. Here tn" prisoners pace to
and fro. from window to window, not
unlil.c the way of wild animals in their
cages, for the time being. hopclcsgly
cvcrpowercd ana submitting 10 their
Imprisonment only because of the
strength Of The. iron bars ana granite
Walls at each extreme.
From a large number Of huge keys
the official selected one Of the many
ana unlocked tn" door which allowed
us to enter tho juil wine closet. Here
are quantities OF Whi$key and rum in
bottles and kegs. This is the stuff
forbidden by the State laws to be sold.
ana in violation uf these laws the
liquor has been crnfiscated and kept
safely in the sam, building where its
seller is safely kept, but it does no
longer bring him revenue and to the
drinker Il big head while it is housed
i'll the county Jail.
Passing down i flight of iron steps
We land uron the basement floor
which, by officials and prisoners Is
called upon the blicis." Her" is In"
huge clothes boiler where tile blankets.
etc, are frequently boiled and washed.
This floor is generally for the badly
behaved prisoners and is considered
severe punishment by the prisoners to
30 'put down on The bricks" but thcr"
is still another punishment rendered on
this floor That is still more severe anG
that, solitary confinement in the
dungeon With bread and water as
menu. The visitor next GOES to the
work room where the prisoners are
employed sorting leather and cutting
shoe trimmings. some working dill
gently. some ehrKins ana all dissatis-
fed with the lot they brought upon
themselves.
After inspecting the "loophole CRATES,
where c;,ptiv,s weep" the visitor re-
turns to the office and perhaps is in
yitcd to an inspection of the Sheriff $
home. This part is an extreme con-
traSt to the ugly wallis ana cells of the
lriSon ana more to ones conception of
Il home. Ey climbing several flights of
stairs one reaches the roof where the
whole city and ncighborinG territory
could b,. viewed to an amazing dls-
tanCc.