The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-16
Not in the Whole United States
Is There One So Good.
PLEASANT AND ROOMy
Prisoners Do Drawn Lace Work
for Sale to Public.
Visitors Always Want Samples
of Jessie MOrrison's Work.

Leavenworth, Kan, jan 16.-At the
state prison there is a new building
nearing completion and one that is
unique in prison equipment because
there are so few Of them.
A women's ward, modern from top
to bottom, is what we expect it to be
said Warden Haskell.
Recently a woman, sent out from
Washington for the inspection of pris-
onS, was in Leavenworth and from her
Intimate knowledge of the subject 1t
was learned that in the whole United
States there is scarcely a place pro-
vtded for women who are doing prison
sentences. They are housed in almost
any manner. crowded together, With
out much thought, convenience or
sanitation. The conditions at the state
prison, however, have always peen
different. The women's quarters tnere
now are by no means poor ones, put
they are crowded and are not mooern.
Therefore the new building which is
nearing completion is a striking con
trast to the ordinary female depart
ment.
Large and roomy, it contains fifty.
four cells, all of fair size. These viii
will be fitted with electric lights and
other modern conveniences.
The entire building Is Of brick and
has been decorated on the inside by d
prisoner named Berry. This man Is a
painter of ne little talent and since
being in the penitentiary has redecor-
ated both the chapel and the dining
room.
There are at present thirty-six won-
en- in the female department at the
state prison, eight of whom are from
Oklahoma.
The number of inmates seldom ex-
ceeds thirty and often is not that
many. The old ward will be remodel
ed when the prisoners are moved in
as as. a s worKro aa for for the f girls.
To people who visit this department
it looks little like a prison with its
large, cheerful living room. The sun
streams in at every window on the
busy women clad in their neat blue
unifo
1t always looks more like a large
family with the white gowned matrons
in charge and oil Nancy StaHebach IN
her old fashioned basque dresses sit
ting in low chair, makes good
grandmother to complete the picture.
They are busy people, these women
who turn out such exquisite drawn
and lace work. But in spite of all
their diligence they can scarcely keep
they begin on holiday orders and from
then until Christmas you have to hurry
If you get something made by the busy
hands. Ris
Or course every "O1ldu VIII VISITS
the ward wishes to buy something.
which Jessie Morrison made. 1T
would take someone like machine to
keep up the supply for such demands"
one of the matrons remarked.
The women are allowed their extra
time to do things for themselves or for
sale and often upon the display table
may be found a dainty piece with a
slip attached bearing Jessie Morris on s
name. Generally it vanfshes with the
first bunch of visitors who are full of
conjectures as to which prisoner is
She Not many of them know that at
the first sound of their steps she has
until the big gate clangs behind them
as they leave.
So studiously has Jessie Morrison
avoided curious gazers that very few
visitors at the prison have ever seen
her. although they nearly all go away
under the impression that they located
her at once.