The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1911-02-23
A PRISON CONTRAST.
Difference in Treatment of Man Who
Stole $1OO and 100000.

Stole $1OO and 100000.
A man hanged himself in a peni-
tertiary not long ago. He was con-
vict. In period of five years he had
been allowed to leave his cell only
two times, except for the few min
utes Of each day in which he was
turned into the narrow walled alley
at the rear for exercise" His cell
was by IL feet in dimensions-the
size of the average grave lot. In this
room he had been forced to eat, sleep
| and work. His meals were passed to
him through the grated door. The
| materials for his daily task were
handed to him in the same manner.
He made cigars, I believe. In the
evening the product of his toll was
taken from him in the same fashion.
Three times each day rude tray
was passed through the bars with
his prison fare. On Sundays the mu-
sic and sermon of the chapel SER
| vice floated to him down the corri-
| dor, for he was not even allowed to
leave his cell for worship. At the
back of his cell was a small enclosed
yard, perhaps 10 by 20 feet in size.
If so inclined he could spend 20 or
80 minutes here out of every "a
hours. High walls surrounded it on
every side, so that by no possibility
could he see or be seen by his neigh
bors.
Come with me across the State of
Pennsylvania to another Common
wealth that I may leave with you a
picture from an opposite angle, which
may emphasize further the needs and
possibilities of the great, throbbing
field into which the American Prison
Association is burrowing.
The prison doors have closed be-
hind us again, but we are not meet
inga of darkness and dampness.
There is no trade or hardship or hor-
ror in the picture before us. There
are no barred windows in the room
that we have entered No grated
door clangs at our shoulders. No
foul or musty odors here, no cold
stone floor and thin straw pallet. A
genial CHEEKY light streams into the
apartment from between lace cur
tains and our feet sink into a soft
rug. On the walls hang expensive pic
lures, and on the shelf before us are
several pieces of costly bric-a-brac.
In the corner of the room there is a
large roll-top desk, and seated before
it in an easy chair is a man dressed
ina fashionable business)suit smok-
ing a cigar. At his elbow is a Ste
nographer, to whom he is debating
answers to the heap of letters be-
fore him.
This man, like that other figure at
the Eastern State penitentiary, is a
convict. Like that other convict he
has stolen and has been sent to
prison for theft. The first man was
burglar and got away with some
thing less than 500 worth of spoons
and cheap jewelry. The second man
was bank president and got away
with something more than 100000
in cold cash and gilt-edged bonds.
The first man would have been pen
niless had he lived to leave his cell.
The second man, it is said, has hid
den enough of his plunder to insure
him a life of luxury after his sen
tence. The man-the burglar-re-
ceiyed 10 years for his 500 loot.
The second man-the bank president
received five 'years for his $780,
600 loot. But we are not now going
into the ethics of the law-or the in
justice of Justice. Ware, in
World To-day.