The copper era and Morenci leader., 1912-06-14
ST AT E NE W s
HONOR SYSTEM NOW REACHES ACME IF
 EXPERIMENT
Convicts From Cochise County Turned
 Loose in Phoenix on Their Honor.

convicts From Cochise County Turned
 Loose in Phoenix on Their Honor.
 Strange and unusual sights are wit messed in and about the State Peni- tentiary at Florence. Under the ad- ministration of Governor Hunt a new policy of prison reform has been put into force and effect by the new sup erintendent of the penitentiary, w. F. Sims It is known as the "honor system Notwithstanding the new honor system more than one convict has shown an inclination to take unto himself a little less more honor and more liberty. Fortunately, so far, al! of these ''honor men, have been cap tured and returned to the prison.
 Captain Wheeler, Sheriff of Cochise county, is a great believer in Governor Hunts convict honor system, and in sending a batch of prisoners to the state penitentiary last week from Co chiSe county he determined quietly to prove the truth of the system without the governor finding the matter out until the men had reached the peu. He therefore instructed Deputy Sher- if Allie Howe of Cochise, who was put in charge of the party, to turn them loose in Phoenix, with lnstruc- tions to go down to Florence by them selves and report to the superintend- ent of the pen and tell him who they were and what they came for.
 The plan worked fine, except mat part of keeping it from Governor Hunt The governor found out, and immediately telephoned the peniten- tiary to be on the lookout for the men who were to arrive in Florence at 1925 this morning. The phone line was busy at every attempt to get in touch with Florence, and it was not until too late to tell Superintend- ent Sims to go to the depot and get the prisoners that he was able to con:- municate with Florence.
 Faithful to the promises made to Deputy Sheriff Howe and Captain Wheeler, the men spent the night ill Phoenix without guards, and next mornning took the train for Florence and arrived there on time.
 Another feature of the trip from Cochise county to Florence is that under ordinary circumstances two special guards, or maybe three, would have been sent with the party, which was composed of Deputy Sheriff Howe three prisoners and an insane man by the name of Burnet. Instead of hay ing to employ an additional guard to take care of the insane person, who was violent at stages, the prisonei 5 assisted the deputy sheriff in taking care of him, and upon arrival at Phoenix last night he was taken to the asylum.
 William Sparks, of Globe, tells an interesting story about how a prison CT who escapes and IS caught is treat ed by the penitentiary authorities un- der the new system.
 You know" said MT. Sparks, they have what they call a snake cell over there. It is sheet iron room The day I was there they brought back Lopez the two termer and murderer who escaped from Tempe. And now what do you suppose they did to him?''
 Well, what did they do,'' he was asked, did they throw him in the snake hole2"
 Well, you wouldn't hardly believe it possible, if I told you how they treated him. said MT. Sparks. Tt is so strange and ridiculous. But you can see an account of it in the Blade Tribune of Florence or verify the story by any member of the community there.
 Lopez was brought to town and dressed in a suit of red flannel which was cut off at the knees. A white fringe was placed around the bottom A fools cap was placed on his head In this way he was marched to the penitentiary. I myself saw his recep- tion. As he neared the walls of the state prison, the band commenced to play Home, sweet home" and the prisoners were all lined up in q double row welcoming him Back to our City, they said.
 AS Lopez walked down this inc the prisoners made faces at the wan derer, laughed at him, and hoOted him. In some respects it was laugh able, in other respects pathetic, in all respects absurd.