Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-07-19
PRISONERS PAY
BOARD INBRITAN
Beqgars Especially Forced to
Give Money When in
~. Jail
by Latest NALL

i LONDON. - If there is one class OF
offender upon whom British law looks
with less kindly eye than another, II
is the rogue and vagabond - the in
tcorrigible vagrant who never does q
days work, but subsists Oh the charity
1 of HIS fellows.
1t is net generally known that there
is an old. law in force by which gentry
OF this type may not only be impris-
oned, with hard labor, but also forced
to pay for their keep while in Jail, and
in several recent cases this distinctly
sensible law has been actually en-
forced
For instance, an elderly Russian
alien named Gadowsky was convicted
of begging, in the Thames police court.
Though in rags, nearly $40 in gold,
silver and copper was found in his
pockets, including. go farthings The
Same man had been arrested about a
year earlier, when no less than $40
was found ins his possession
The police testified that he was in
corrigible and he was sentenced to
three months Imprisonment, and at
the same time was ordered to pay for
his keep at the rate of IL shillings and
pence a week.
In Birmingham was a similar case,
when an ineorrigible yagrant was
given months hard labor. and the
magistrate made an order authorizing
the prison governor to use the money
found upon him for the expenses of
his maintenance, as well as for his APP
prehension and conveyance to Jail.
Prisoners Awaiting Trial
Prisoners awaiting trial and first
class misdemeanants are not compell-
ed to pay for their maintenance in
Jail, but, on the other hand, are per-
mitted to do so:
Those who can afford the money
naturally prefer to have their food
brought in from outside. The statu-
tory rules and orders for local pris-
ons make special provision for prison,
ers awaiting trial and for first divi-
sion offenders"
To the Visiting Committee is deput-
ed the duty of allowing such prison.
er to occupy suitable room or cell. |
furnished with suitable bedding and
other articles, in addition to or differ
ent from those furnished for ordinary
cells.
The payment, which. is a regular
one, is fixed by the commissioners.
Also, to have "the assistance of
some person to be appointed by the |
governor, relieving him from the per- |,
Torrance of any unpleasant tasks or |
Offices" is another of the privileges !,
conferred upon a'prisoner.
In other words, he may hire for
few pence daily a prisoner of lower
grade to sweep out his cell, make his |
bed and so on.
He may also send out for all his
food. But such meals must be inspect
ed by prism officers, and it is espe-
cially laid down that he may not have
more than a pint of malt liquor, nor
half, pint of wine, during the day.
in German Jails
Other countries besides Great Brit
ain have somewhat similar regula-
tons. In Germany, for instance. many
prisoners are required by. law to pay
for their own keep while in sail.
Out of this law arose recently a
case which caused an extraordinary
sensation. A Berlin saddler named
Miekle was arrested year ago last
December on suspicion of murder. He
was kept in prison, untried, nine
weeks, and, when his trial did at last
come on 1t was plainly proved that he
was entirely innocent of the crime.
He claimed; compensation and was
awarded by the courts the sum OF $40.
But, instead of being paid this amount,
ba found that all that was handed over
% him was $4S. The other $22 had
been deducted by the ministry of JUS
ice to pay for his board and lodging
while in prison.
Mielke published his grievance and
woke to find himself famous. But, de-
spite this, the poor man has not yet
been able to recover the sum of which
ne was unjustly robbed by red tape.
IN nnn MIMI HCl