The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-03-14
tx.PRIS0NER GIVES HIS VERSION OF
THE TERRORS OF ABSOLUTE SENTENCE


become very familiar to the con
! lvict through perhaps years of
marching, eating and working to-
lcether, but at no time can he say
! one word TO him. He must not
oven make sign to him or indi-
cate in any way that a commune
cation is passing.
''The prison manager will tell
you there are exceptions to this
rule of no-talk The rule is not in
force, they will tell you. on four
holidays of the year Christmas,
New Years, Fourth of July and
Thanksgiving Day. Then the pris
oners ate allowed to talk as much
rs they wish. In other words, the
men, each in his solitary cell. un-
able to see any other of his pris
oner companions, each shout into
the air of the corridor, in the hope
that some one will hear and ans
wer him.
"}ut the hope is vain, as |
know from bitter experience. Tho
permission to exercise the voice on
thes privileged day results in a
very bedlam of noise among the
prisoners. One can shout until nc
is hoarse. and he could make no
words intelligible to the man in
The cell next to his. TIE lungs are
released from their Imprisonment
FOR brief spell, but that is all
| IL amounts to.
"On Thanksgiving, Christmas and
the Fourth of July Chaplain Her
rick gives three entertainments
Formerly in the intermissions of
these entertainments the prisoners
were permitted to make remarks.
The performances now must be
viewed in utter silence. The chap
lain breaches on Sunday to men
who are forbidden under severe
penalties to utter word to those
who are seated beside them. He
advises them to be of good cheer.
But how can they be cheerful when
they ale constantly brooding with
out being able to express their
feelings?
SUNDAY is sad day in prison.
IWhe men are locked in their little
cells. Their breakfast, brought to
them. IS hash. coffee and two rolls
From to 8 o'clock there is a
Catholic service in the chapel from
10 to 10 Protestant service. They
can attend either or neither
While the men are at the reli-
glous service the gallery waiter
| mlls their cups with tea, which
they get as they march back to
their cells from the chapel, The
tea has been in the cups half an
hour and Is stone cold. To this are
added two ounces OF meat, or
three small sausages, or, on the
third Sunday,a piece of cheese and
a slice of bread. At 3 o'clock some
stale bread and water Is served
, also in the cells. There 10 no other
food until Monday morning
"There is constant and almost
uncomfortable temptation TO the pris-
oser to break this severe rule OF
silence. In the workshop, or chapel
on dining room he seizes the op-
portunity when the keeper has
turned his eyes away TO address
q word to the man standing or
seated at his side, with whom his
elbcws touch perhaps. Often nc
/ Is detected in this breach of dis
cipline-- more often than not He
is then reported to the principa
keeper, called in judgment before
him and committed to the cooler
This is II cell constructed of solit
iron. No bedding or blankets ar,
given to the prisoner, he sleeps OF
the hard floor.
"The law governing the prisons
Iof this State provides that prison
ers shall receive compensation o
a cent and "A half a day for ever.
day they work for the State. IL
prisoner Is punished for breaking
the rule OF silence, or any othe
prison rule, he loses this time AM
Is fined 80 cents day for hi
maintenance.
"The prison rules are so strictl
enforced that a majority OF tn
men lose all the pay that shoul
be coming TO them from the priso
at their release. They go back int
the world without this pittance tina
would give them a few days lee
!. way TO look for honest work ,
they so desired. Their total DO,
erty fairly forces them to retur
immediately to a life OF crime an
5 to the society of criminals NJ