Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-06-21

WdB never CHAluGO w W sho ossssAoss
and he was never put on short rstions
nor denied the right to get out OF the
cell into the corridor every day. What
a chance for Elk Convict Bill Richards
to 90 to Leavenworth and start some
thing for the newspapers.
Incidentally the state Of Iowa II just
now building for the first time some
solitary cells at the Fort Madison
prison. They will be part Of the new
and modern equipment
A visitor at AnamoaA reformatory q
short time ago had an interesting ex-
perience. The visitor was lady mar
ried only a few years. She was shown
thru the womens section at the re-
formatory and ore Of the inmates
spoke to her Familiarity.
why" said the visitor in surprise.
you're the girl that made my we'd
ding dress last year"
And 1t was true. The inmate was
employed in very prominent dress
making establishment in Dies Moines
Just prior to her having gone wrong.
She was a competent person and much
esteemed. She was not the victim Of
under paid employees for she had been
able to earn good wages at all times.
Warden McClaughry OF the Ana
mosa reformatory recently stated while
in Des Moines that the cost OF the food
and support for the inmates at Ana
mosa is considerably higher than at
some other prisons. The state OF Iowa
spends more, far more per man per day
than the federal government at Leav-
enworth. The cost per meal is greater
than at the Georgia prison at Atlanta.
In the south food is cheaper and they
do not feed the men as well as In Iowa.
In fact Iowa feeds its prisoners unus-
ually we'll and cares for them better
than in most OF the states.
There Is not prison In the coun-
try but that maintains SOLITARY cells"
for the punishment Of prisoners who
disobey the prison rules or are mutt
nous and who defy the authority OF the
state. But Iowa VII soon have, at
Fort Madison. the most modern system
OF this kind. The cells will be better
lighted and better ventilated than the
ordinary cells. They will be in the
upper part of the prison and will not
seem that it would be no punishment
TO place convict in such cell. and
that one might wish for the transfer.
But a convict placed there will be left
absolutely alone. He will see nobody
and hear no sounds other than the
rattle Of the dishes as his associates
are getting good dinners In the big hall
below. The man in the solitary will be
fed on the scantiest food and be left
alone with his own mediations. Where
this system has been tried 1t has been
found most effective In breaking the
rebellious spirit Of the men. 1t will not
take six months. as in recent and
somewhat notorious case at Fort Madi-
son, to bring convict to his senses
and make him realize that after all the
state of Iowa is bigger than any one
individual law breaker.
1t Is very probable that as soon as
he can get other work cleared up and
secure time for its consideration Gov
ernor Clarke will take up number OF
the cases Of lifers who are asking
clemency. or at least. that their cases
be considered carefully. and among the
cases he will ask to have presented to
him will be the Rainsbarger cases.
They were considered by Governor
Cummins and Carroll and by the legis-
lature and the parole board.
-
While one after another of the stock
holders In the Maybray association
have received short sentences or fines
and that old case is being cleared from
the dockets. Dobbins. the one who had
least to do with the get-rich- quick
schemes is languishing In prison on
five-year- sentence. His friends have
urged a parole and 1t Is probable that
he will get it. He has already been
punished far more than any OF his as
sociates and he was about as much
victim as otherwise in swindles.