The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-06-15
sv ALFRED j. PITTS.

(Staff Correspondent The Times.)
JACKSON, Mich, June l5.-One
hundred and fifteen convicts In
gloomy Jackson prison have been con-
demned TO spend their natural lives
there. But, Notwithstanding the dark
future that corfronts them they are,
as a whole, the most trustworthy OF
all The prisoners. There are several
elements that make for a cheerful dis
position for these wretches, the ma
jority OF whom end their days behind
the prison walls. The principle one Is
the hope, which is usually foriorn
enc, that some day parole will per-
init them to walk free into the great
throbbing world, In which some OF
them have played important roles.
Today seven lifers are allowed 20
travel In all parts OF Jackson. They
are employed as drivers OF delivery
wagons and In other occupations.
Ask Warden Wenger. who has spent
many years dealing with and studying
criminals, which is the most desperate
1ype, to handle and he will tell you the
yeggman. This class OF criminal IL
usually a dope fiend when he reaches
Tic VCnitCutdIl. ne ilucb iCCCAfC
treatment In the hospital for the habit
which he acquired while floating
around the country. But II does not
follow that the use OF drugs alone
makes him desperate and disagree
able
The gruff habits and the brusque
manner he assumes during his depre-
datious seem TO stick 10 him. Even
after be has been treated successfully
for the drug habit-usually he has
used morphine or cocaine-he must
be watched very closely.
Another type OF prisoner who Is in
a class with the yeggman SO far as
scheming TO escape or to cheat the
ends OF justice Ia other ways Is COZ
cerned Is the hobo who commits bur-
giary, porchclimbing, and other petty
offenses, the penalty for which is from
one to five or seven years. Warden
Wenger says the hobo, better known
rs the bird OF passage according 20
the prison vocabulary. will try TO es-
cape IL he has only fifteen minutes
more OF his sentence TO serve.
II Is an interesting tale TO hear how
the Jackson prisoners are grouped ac
cording to their records. They are
watched very closely from the time
they enter the gray walls that tower
some 80 to 40 feet The guards are
usually good judges and II, after criti-
cal observation. prisoners conduct
Is found to be good. he is granted GER
tain privileges.
The lifers are enjoying their full
share OF these privileges. Asked why
the lifer IL the most reliable OF the
prisoners, Warden Wenger said he
generally commits a crime In the heat
/ Of passion. and afterwards tries 10
make the best of his surroundings.
though gloomy and miserable they are
compared with his former environ
; ments. Two lifers were paroled re-
Gently, circumstances having develop
led TO warrant such procedure, and
these Instances, though widely separ-
ated they may be, lead the most OF
the lifers TO hope for the day when
they will be freed.
i A leading magazine published an
/ article recently that the warden OF a
penitentiary In California had made
a striking advance in prison reform
He had put most OF his prisoners on
their honor, allowing them unusual
liberties, the article tells us. and the
conyicts, instead OF attempting TO es.
cape. remained faithful TO the trust
that had been placed in them by
their keeper.
Warden Wenger believes this is
more idealistic than anything else.
Taking Jackson prison for an illus-
tration, the plan would fail miserably.
There are only 25 per cent of the
convicts here who could be allowed
liberties with any degree of safety. II
would be the height OF folly to permit
the other rs per cent TO get beyond
the sight OF the guards.
The average prisoner is reformed
by q term in prison, says Warden
Wenger. Few of tho men who were
pardoned by Gov. Pingree have re.
turned. The percentage OF the con.
victs who secure their freedom by
expiration OF sentence, or otherwise.
and are brought back 10 begin new
sentences or TO complete unfinished
ones. is about 10 or 20 per cent. IN
the yegg and hobo class. though. this
percentage may be higher, because
this class OF prisoner often goes to
other states and gets in wrong.
But, as a whole, a term In Jackson
+ prison teaches the average law vio-
later a bitter lesson and makes him
look to the penitentiary with horror