The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-05-31
IN FAR EAST Is A PLAN FOR
DEALING WITH coNvIcTs
THAT is NEW.
Set a Convict to Watch a Convict, Is
the Theory, and IL Has Never
Been Regretted.

LONDON, May 31.-One would
hardly look to India for examples OF
| ideal prison systems, but nevertheless
there are some features of the Indian
prison systems which could be fol-
! lowed with success in the institutions
of what are regarded as the more ad-
| vanced nations. Mr. H. L. Adams
who is regarded as an authority, on
! the prison methods Of the world gives
the following picture of Indian prison
| life
Set convict to watch convict is
| new version of an old saying, the
wisdom of which, however, would
| probably be questioned by nine people
| out of ten, Nevertheless, in the In
dian prisons the authorities, up to the
present have had no cause to regret
the system by which convicts may rise
to positions of trust and Importance in
prison by virtue of exemplary be-
havior
Jail With No Cells.
In order to become a convict officer
in an Indian prison a prisoner must
belong to the class-that is to say
he must be a first offender. He
must have been well-b behaved. indus
trious, and have earned at least one
fourth of the maximum marks. He
officer who keeps watch over the
sleeping wards of the Jail. 1t is the du-
ty of such watchmen in Indian pris-
ons to be constantly moving about in
the ward to prevent any prisoner leav-
ing his pace Ohey have dormitories,
no cells, in Indian jails), and also, by
occasionally counting, to satisfy him
self that all the prisoners are safe.
During the day convict watchmen oc-
cupy the position of ordinary prison
ers
For performing this duty the con-
Wet Warder is exempted from having
his head shaved or beard Clipper and
from wearing neck-rings, tickets or
ankle-rings. From the most successful
and trustworthy convict watchmen,
too, are selected convict overseers-
appointments much coveted. An over
seer not only shares with the watch
men the duty of guarding the wards
at night, but also assists the proper
Warders in experimenting the priso-
ners at work, conducting them to par
AIDES, and maintaining discipline ana
silence.
He wears a distinctive dress. I'M
dergoes no labor except that entailed
by his official duties, enjoys excep-
tional earning capacities for remis-
sion, may write to and receive letters
from friends at comparatively frequent
intervals, and is altogether allowed
considerable latitude and freedom.
Smuggling Tricks.
One of the duties of an overseer is
to search prisoners to prevent them
receiving forbidden articles. And Mr..
Adam mentions in another part of his
entertaining book that Indian con-
Victs give the authorities a great deal
of trouble by smuggling undesirable
articles into prison, such as opium,
tobacco. coins, dice and drugs. The
manner in which the smuggling of
coins is carried out is very extraor-
binary.
The prisoner cOnceals the coin in a
cavity in his throat, which. with great
| patience and enterprise, he has formed
therein by passing a coin fastened to
the end Of piece of string down his
| throat and keeping it there for some
| time. The string is fastened to the
teeth, and by working the coin about a
! good deal sort of crevice is formed
II which many coins can be safely Sc
GREETED The only means of detecting
the presence of such a queer hiding
place, or of the coins, is by applying
the Rontgen rays.
Marriage In Prison.
A peculiar feature of the peniten-
tiary at Port Blair is the marriage OF
convicts, the only other penal settle
ment where such a custom prevail:
being the French settlement of New
Caledonia. When a prisoner wishes tt
marry a female convict he first apple:
to the Jail authorities to be allowed t.
; pay visit to the women eligible fol
marriage. From these he makes a Sc
lection, and intimates which woman
his chance has fallen upon. TIL
woman is then asked if she is will
ing to marry the man, and, if so, tn
two people are, if the authorities fin
no objection to the union, left to carr
out the marriage ceremony according
to their own native custom.
In Convict Settlements.
The couple then live the lives of or
binary villagers within the confine
- of the settlement, beyond which the
may not go until their term expires
Even then, however, a man may sto
4 in the settlement if he wishes to d
so; and many Indian prisoners prefe
to do this. For wherever an ex-cor
or