The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-09-12

That Are Denied Other Prisoners
Because Of Their Want Of
Social Standing.
Other Inmates Confined Two in q
Cell to Give Him Three
Quarters Of Jail.

NEW YORK, Sept. 9.-Cocoupying
more than one-third Of tho Jail space
allotted to men, which is filled with
flowers from admiring friends and
fitted up as business office. the
monotony Of life relieved by jaunts to
court on fake suits. his meals supplied
by a hotel and all the luxuries of life
provided, Harry Thaw, murderer, de-
system of which he Is an integral
part, is revealing in the fact that 1t
is great. when rich. to be crazy.
The condition of affairs have reused
even Secretary Mclaughlin, Of the
State Prisons commission. Endorsing
the protest Of the sheriff, he declares
that the outrageous farce has gone
far enough. -
Were Thaw really a bankrupt he
would be occupying a padded cell.
There is padded cell in the. Jail,
but it is undesirable" to confine him
in it. There are two insane asylums
In the county where he could be con-
fined. His attorneys fear that he
might become actually insane if con-
fined in either of them. That ends
that.
The only solution for the incarcer-
alton of Thaw is an immediate ap-
preparation Of funds for the construc-
ton Of a st. Regis Hotel Asylum,
where millionaires and their scoins
may be lodged, according to their
wishes. They should be under the
care of experts able to certify to
their sanity after the law has been
put through it's familiar gyrations for
the public benefit. A theater might
be installed. chaffeur-jailers employed
and $4,000 chef installed.
Holds Up Jail.
In his report, Secretary McLaugh-
lin says:
His presence in this prison is en-
barrassing to the sheriff. The sheriff
has not room for him except in the
padded cell. That is unfit. Having
been adjudged insane with homicidal
tendencies, the sheriff would not be
justified in combining him with the
other prisoners.
He cannot keep him in the quar-
tors intended for boys. The law for
bids. The hospital room is noa suffi>
GENTLY secure and cannot be spared
for the permanent occupancy of Mr..
Thaw.
$50 the sheriff has given him an
entire corridor, with the 10 cells ad-
jacent, In the principal Jail for men.
He needs this room for his other pris-
oners.
He consumes the time Of the
jatler in escortin him to Fishkill
Landing, White Plains and other
places to attend hearings before the
court and before referees, time which
the jailer needs for his other duties
There is good deal of public talk
that some Of these hearings are on
to give him these outings.
Demoralizes tho Prisoners.
His presence here demoralizes the
discipline of the institution He sleeps
in the corridor, not in the cell. He
has all the fixtures and pharapherna-
liza Of a business office. He orders
his food from the hotel, which has
to be brought to him three times a
day.
People send him bouquets of
flowers. He Is allowed the use Of a
whole corridor, constituting one-quar-
ter of the entire principal Jail for
men, while the other prisoners are
crowded. two in a cell frequently.
AL these things are under the OBJ
servation of the other prisoners and
create dissatisfaction, a belief that
men with money constitute separate
class in prisons. These things pro-
duce an ugly feeling of discomfort
and rebellion among the other .pris-
oners.
There are in this same county two
state institutions for the care Of the
insane.
1T would seem that person who
had been adjudged insane but who
is now conducting proceedings for
his discharge on the ground Of re-
covery should be detained in an in
stitution where he would be under
the observation of experts who could
advise the court Of his changed men,
tai condition, If it has occurred