The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1909-01-14

the care OF the family. The claim
had gone for debt leaving the family
nothing upon which to subsist, and
the home was broken The older
children had to shift for tn en-
selves while the mother is trying
to exc out an existence by working
in the Windsor hotel in Minot. The
boy hal little chance for schooling
and can scarcely read and write
He worked in a restaurant in Doug
las and stole q dollar. The case
was brot before Judge Goss who
decided that the lad should spend
a few years at the reform school
where he would have an oppor.
tunity of acquiring a good educa.
ton and !c-~r a good trade so that
when he cal, out he might be
equipped to battle with the world
The boy. was glad that he was go
| ing to Mandan and made no effort
to get away, after the other prison
srs had been left at the peniten.
tiary. He was given all the freedom
he desired that evening, taken to a
moving picture show and given a
i good time in general. Deputy Kelly
who has a warm spot in his hear,
for unfortunate youths, gave the lad
some good advice about studying
hard at the reform school and the
lad promised that he would do the
best he Guild. He will likely make a
good citizen yet
There are about forty-five inmates
at the reform school. II they so
desired. they would have little
trouble in escaping, but such a
thing rarely happens for they are
used we'll. There are five girls at
!! the reform school, who had been
a little wild, but they are learning
to sew, and do Homework. and
very likely will make noble women
Their ages are from fifteen to
nineteen years.
AS we stepped into the office OF
Warden Hellstrom at the peniten,
tiary, the leg rons were removed
1rom the prisoners (their hand cuffs
mad been removed shortly after the
train left MinoD and they were com,
peeled to give up everything of value
that they possessed. They were toll
'llat anything that they did moi
wish the warden to keep, would be
destroyed. One had nackat NJ
precious letters which he gave into
Tue warden's keeping. Perhaps
they were from his mother, bless
iher soul, for tears came into his
eyes as he handed them over Zach
n@o d little moneys dollar or two
apiece and this will be spent for
r'Aufles for them as they desire. A
young farmer from Mclean county
VINO nad stolen wheat, Joined the
ward county aggregation at Wash.
puln' and he too entered the nan.
1tenuary for two years and three
months. This was his first ottens,
and he broke down as he lott - .
"aroen>s office and sobbed like a
child. - = :
IL was after the supper hour when
we arrived, but the men were tax.
en- into the dining room and given
good supper, consisting Of whole.
some foods. After their baths, thew
were assigned their cells and snant
the first night behind the bars The
Ae3t morning bright and early thew
were aroused, with all o, IN o rest
Oh the 215 prisoners, and after .
breakfast of oat meal, potatoes
conee' bread and butter, were fitted
out with striped suits shaved bv
me prison barber, and their hair
chpped tight to the heads. After
cneir measurements had been cars.
rully taken, and other records az 10
ne1r appearances made, they were
examined by the prison physician
Dr. smyth, mayor Of Bismarck
inis is a custom not practicel in
every prison, and we believe that
Warden Hellstrom is to be con.
graduated upon this innovation. II
prisoner has weak lungs, he IS
assigned to work outside where he
can get plenty OF fresh air II he
is not fit for heavy work, he is
given light work. The report OF the
physician proves OF great value.
Contrary to the general idea, the
penitentfary is not place where a