The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-08-28
What the State Penitentiary Is Doing

Noah to bat Bliss on deck" call
ed the scorer.
"Hit 'er out, old boy" "Clout i
on the nose" 1--WE want a Hom
rum" came the cries from the bleach
ers.
The pitcher wound up" groun(
the ball into his hip and the frs
pitched ball of the day shot across
the plate in the Sunday afternoon
game between teams representing the
state penitentiary and the town Nc
Kenzie, east of Bismarck.
To many residents Of Bismarck
these Sunday afternoon games are
"old stories," but to the stranger, to
the one who has not been acquainted
with the methods of caring for prison
ers at the state penitentiary the sight
is one never to be forgotten.
Preconceived notions, ideas gained
from visiting other prisons, with their
guards, closely watched cell houses,
lock step, absolute silence 60 glim.
mering after an afternoon with Frank
E. Talcott, warden of the great insti.
| tuition.
The baseball game last Sunday aft
ernoon followed, Immediately, divine
services in the prison chapel To
certain of the clergy, and laity as
we'll, the conjunction of the two ap-
pears homogeneous, with perhaps a
tendency in the ball game to dissi-
pate the good effects of the church
services. Warden Talcott, however,
sees no reason why the care of a pris-
oner's body, and happy, cheerful
frame of mind, is not essential just
as is the preservation of his soul.
A brief visit to their cells for hats,
and the men trooped into the big en-
closed yard, and bats, balls, masks
and mits were distributed and the
team, composed Of the best ball play
ers in the institution, began the warm
ing up process. A colored man,
serving time for burglary, did the
honors behind the bat, and his whip
to second, and rare judgment in help
ing direct the pitching would have
been an honor to any team in the
state.
The pitcher, whom we picked out
as being one of the finest and most
intelligent looking of the convicts
taking part in the game-and who up
on inquiry turned out to be Frank
Tallcott, Junior, son Of the warden
pitched a pretty game from start to
finish and had the visitors at his
mercy with the exception of one in
ming, when three runs were garnered
from his delivery, and through err
ors by the infield players.
With the exception Of young Tai
colt and his brother Porter, every
man on the team was convict, and
their misdeeds against society COM
prised many crimes which would
make some people shrink from con-
tact with them, in holy horror.
For instance, there was Noah, cap
tain Of the team, its heaviest hitter,
and star at his position in center
field. The crime of murder in it's
most cold blooded form is laid at his
door. We couldn't see that his play
ing of the game was affected in the
least, or that his control of the team
as Captain, was impaired by this fact.
Conroy the score keeper, and EVIL
IDENTIFY a man with an exceptionally
bright mind, is held for a long term
Of years for participation in the stick
up" of the bank at Sawyer, this
state, several years ago.
The remainder Of the team are in
type similar to these two, and the
shock of seeing them on the diamond,
using all of their skill in game of
baseball, is unusual and interesting.
The non combatants among the con-
victs took seats upon the bleachers
which faced the diamond. They Sc
lected their own seats, lit their
pipes, and preceded to enjoy the
game with as much zest as the most
rabid fan watching post season con.
test between the Sox and the Cubs.
The roofing was unique, and sug-
gested the frame of mind of the on
lockers. For instance, when a Nc
Kenzie man knocked several fouls
into the air, facetious convict called
out gleefully that the "pen is in luck,
boys, here's where we get chicken for
SUPPER" Another convict tried to
steal second base, but was headed of.
The crowd condoled with him, offer
ing the suggestion that he must not
feel badly-he could steal horses, any
way, The man Is serving term for