Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-18

release may he granted Should the b.
havior and good intentions of the prsone.
so warrant.
After receiving sentence. all prisoners
who have not the money to pay thair
fines are returned to the cage. where,
after all the cases have been disposed OF,
they are handcuffed together and are
marched in single file through narrow
passa geway to a large closed van known
a the Black Maria. Into this they are
bundled. their names being called and
checked by policemen as they enter.
When all are inside, the heavy doors OF
the conveyance are closed and locked tn
guard shouts "All right as he swings
himself TO a position on on of the rear
steps and the two black horses leap for
ward at a brisk trot. which terminates
only when the wagon draws up in front
of the doors of the main building OF the
WGrkhouse.
When the newly arrived prisoners dis
mount from the van they find themselves
in front of a large Stucco structure, whose
windows, crossed with thick iron bars.
are set high above the ground. and from
which there emanates an indetinabie at
mosphere of gloom. This is the main
building. They are escorted up the steps
of the entrance into a large room, from
which they are summoned sing y INTO
another, which is smaller. and here Supt.
l.. l.. Zinkhan questions them and sets
down as much of their history they
will relate.
Bathing the Prisoners.
This done, the prisoner is stripped and
forced to take three baths. First, he
bathes in a tub; next, he is placed under
shower, and finally he is bathed in a
solution of bichloride of mercury. While
this is going on, his clothes are thorough
ly fumigated, tied in bundle. labeled
and placed in a specially constructed
hygienic storeroom, where they are kept
until his release.
Supt Zinkhan and the officials VINO as
sist him insist upon strict observance
OF these regulations regarding cleanliness.
If the prisoner is exceptionally dirty.
which. according to Mr. Zinkhan. is not
infrequently the case. he is PLACID IN a
separate room for twenty-tour hours,
and at the end of that time is given an
other series of baths. Nor do the efforts
TO maintain cleanliness stop here. In
every one of the 800 and more cells of the
various buildings there is running water
and the occupants are furnished with
towels and soap. In addition to this, the
prisoners are fore ID to take at least one
bath Il week, performing Their lavatlons
nineteen at a time In a large room, when
is fitted with most modern shower ar
engagements. Every article which could
possibly contain germs is disintected
again and again.
when a prisoner has nnished his bath.
which he must take upon entrance, he Is
physical peculiarities are noted and set
down. He is then given "a pair of coarse
brogan shoes, heavy wooden socks.
wooden shirt, a striped suit and is as
signed to a cell. liz has now entered
upon his prison life proper.
From this on in most prisons the UNI
fortunate's personal identity would be
lost and he would be designated and
thought of as a number. This. however.
is not true OF the local institution. for
many the prisoners ODD Offenders,
we'll known to the guards. AS in other
prisons. they all have numbers, but are
called by their given names.
In all Washington there Is no Institution
more aptly named than tn wOrkhouse.
There you may find many things, but
never idleness. 1t is nOt tolerated. OF the
.,52 prisoners now there. every one. both
men and women, must do his or her share
of work. If strong, the share Will be heavy,
if weak il will be cOrrespOndingly light, but
invariably save in instances wher. the
prisoner is i'll, all are kept busy at some
thing. Those whose records are eNcep-