The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-10-17
FORMER
CONVICT'S
OPINIONS
Warden HeIIstrom Is Charged
With Playing Favorites
His Absence From Pen Knocks
Out Discipline
Military System Is Unpopular
With Prisoners

"WardeE IieiIstrun has fayorites
among the conviets and permits q few
'snltchers to direct the government OF
the penitenttary.
"The warden also uses the honor
system to advance his political ambi-
tions.9
The two charges were made against
Warden Heilstrom this morning by
Lawrence Duffy a recently discharged
prisoner. Duffy was sent up ten
months ago for year on a third de-
gree burglary. charge after having been
kept in jail at Grand Forks for FIVE
months. The Herald had a story at
Iailroaded to the pen by jury on
general principals, just because he
was regarded as too fresh.
The honor system at the state
pen" said Duffy to The Forum, ''is al
right in theory but it's combination
with the military system is disliked
and it doesn't work out in practice.
Under Warden Hellstroms present
plans a few fellows who will 'snitch'
and quill get all the power They get
en- the good side OF the warden and
their likes and dislikes govern the rest
of the prisoners. 1t is unfair to the
body OF prisoners and gives few
petty fellows too much authority. 1t
lessons the respect and feeling the
prisoners should have for the warden.
THE honor system, alone, would
be all right, and probably 80 per cent
of the men would observe it, but the
military system is obnoxious to at
least 40 per cent of the prisoners, some
of xxh arn a T1fa af 10
The guards also dislike it. Prisoners
who are guilty of infractions of the
rules don't mind having punishment
imposed by the warden or proper off,
GERS. but they resent having other con-
yicts usurp that power. Guards dis
| like to be sworn and to be compelled
to testify against one convict at the
direction of another. The system
| places a premium on spies and tell
tales, causes a lot of resentment and
friction among the prisoners and gem
crates an undercurrent of ill-feeiing
| istead of harmony. With the military
| system entirely abolished and the
honor system enlarged and strength
ened the prison would be a great deal
| better governed
while it is claimed that the military
system rules, its sentences are not OBJ
served. Robinson and Irwin, two
j
| had neither signed the honor roll but
had been given the same privileges as
| hose who had. When they were re-
| tUrned to the prison ard under military
rule the convictE gave these men
| twenty days on bread and water in
solitary confinement. Their time Is
up, but both are still held in solitary
| confinement.
sWarden Hellstrom permits Moan
and Conroy, two Ward county men, to
practically run the military end OF
| the system and they stand in with him
to such an extent other prisoners
whom they dislike suffer penalties they
/ don't deserve.
/ ''If Warden HeIlstrom was really in
earnest for reform he would have the
military plan promptly abolished.
| Another thing that Is causing
/ trouble" concluded Duffy" is the fact
that since his nomination by the dem
/ ocrats for governor, and before, the
warden has frequently been absent
1 from the institution. He goes off on
political missions and leaves the per
/ in charge of his deputy. The prison
ers quickly realize his position. and as
| a result there is a lack Of discipline IN
/ the institution
Duffy is returning to his home in
the east and will take up some trade
i He is a. bright little fellow with more
| than the average intelligence,
He has some good stories about the
different phases of prison life, especi-
ally about the warden and Convic'
/ Wooler to whom SO much favOritism
4 Is alleged to have been shown by He'll
/, stroni. Duffy thinks that WooIen
i rather slipped one over on Hellstrorn
/ after all.