The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-02-06
PRISON A PARADISE"
The McNanaraS. at San Quentin
VIII Lead Easy Lives.

Tho New York Evening Telegram
says:
1ncarcerated in a prison de luxe,
where the cells arc carpeted. where
they have access to a library, are al
lowed to roam on a breeze-swept ISL
and. granted the right to play base
ball. swim, engage In athletics and
promenade and smoke. James e. Nc
Namara and J.. j. Mcnamara. whose
dynamiting operations cost 81 lives.
arr escaping the prison hardships
like those of Sing Sing.
The San Quentin prison, in which
they are serving their terms of life
Imprisonment and fifteen years, re-
s%pectively, is the prison de luxe of the
United States. If not Of the world. BY
some 1t is called the Criminals Par
adise" and likened more to a summer
resort or country residence than a
prison.
In this prison de luxe the inmates
are confined in the cells but eleven
hours a day. The rest of the time
they are either making jute bags in
the factory that is a part Of the pris-
on or playing baseball. swimming.
reading under the shade trees, while
at the same time enjoying a smoke.
or else roaming about the island and
enjoying the view of passing steam
ships. In the evenings they are al
lowed to have a candle with which
to read in their cells. and If they de-
sire can cook a rarebit for them
Selves.
Hard work is unknown. The pris-
oners. numbering 1900. including the
McNamaras, are obliged to make SO
many jute bags between the hours
of z in the morning and 5 o'clock in
the evening. If they make the re-
r1IIirad nI1Ynhot. in Lose tip,1 tL1,, ,~o
allowed to spend the time they save
in enjoying themselves on the prison
grounds.
Comedians and t%ragedians among
the prisoners weekly give n theatrical
performances; the prison band. ron
sisting of 80 pieces and composed Of
the inmates, gives concerts. the base
ball teams play for the champions
ship Of the prison league, the hand
ship In that line. the athletes Of the
cinder path. the hurdles, the hammer
and the like regularly engage in com
petition. They have an extensive
farm. They raise chickens and
ducks.
John Hoyle. the warden. regards
the prisoners as the unfortunates of
society and treats them consequently
in the most humane fashion. The
AAACA hSNCL dS W ESCAPE, tuey never
are late in responding to the bell call
in the evening. and they obey the
rules with a remarkable degree of
willingness.
William F. heridan. for twenty
years the head of the identification
bureau in police headquarters in New
York, who recently visited San QUEEN
tin. met BILLY" Barrett there. Barrett
has an International reputation as II
bank sneak lie is serving five
years for stealing a bag of gold from
a bank in California. When he went
into the prison he weighed $50
pounds. When Sheridan saw him he
was not more than 1870. rosy checked,
athletic. and in prime condition.
What makes you look so tine?'
asked Sheridan.
Bill" he replied. this is "A sani-
tarium. I've become an athlete since
l came in here. l swim. play base
ball, u races. and. say, l have a
better time here than 1 aver had on
the outside. It's the training 1 do
that has me in this fine shape. All
the prisoners. except the very old
Ones. get into athletics here. The
aged fellows read a lot. and play
croquet and cards."
The Mcnamara brothers will have
exactly the sane privileges as the
others. They will not be Stunned be-
cause of the nature of their acts. All
that is forgotten in the code of hon
or" among the men. They are birds
of a feather and should flock togeth-
er is their slogan. o.