Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-15
HOW n|NETy-TWO WOMEN
LIVE IN PEN|TENT!ARY
Decorated in Remark
able Taste.
PRISON is MUCH IMPROVED
How One Ihfe-Term Woman Made
Desperate Effort to Escape, Break
ing Leg in Jumping From High
WRll-Captured in Hollywood.

nails were obliged 10 suffer Mt tho State
penitenttery n few years ago. tho con-
dittons under which they now live there
as single glance will show-arc
about ms good as they could well eS-
poet. and compare most favorably with
those IN the penitentiarics OF other
States.
The great public agitation which
took place little while ago resulted
In the erection OF new buildings. so
that tho inmates are not, Mt this mo-
ment, ct all crowded. OF nil the con-
viots In the State there arc only about
600 in the pcnitent,ary now, tho rest
being employed on the roads or at the
State farm. OF this 600 ninety-two are
women.
Each woman has her own cell with
fresh. whitewashcd walls and iron bed
Rude pine tables serve as bureau wash
stand and chair. It is very touching to
see the care with which these tiny
homes nre kept clean by their owners,
and-what is moro pittful st!ll--orna-
mented and adorned In almost every
room there IS careful scheme Of deco
ration, and some particular color pre-
walls THIS color Is carried out in the
bureau cover. washstand cover, pillow
cham and curtain at tho foot OF the
bed. and the decorators reveal a most
remarkable amount OF ingenuity IN
what they can devise with such limited
UNIQUE DESIGNS FOR
DECORATION OF CELLS
Ono woman. who was sent to tho
pen!tentiary about a year ago for an
extremely clever series of . thefts
evolved a new method of room decora-
ton In the center OF her pillow sham
mater1al-procured Heaven knows
where-sho had pasted design cut
from piece OF wall paper, represent
ing basket OF flowers. The effect. IL
not In strict accordance with rules laid
down by the modern Priscilla" and
other authorities on ornamental pillow
shams, is at least effective and oriCi-
nal.
other amateur decorators had en-
PioFeo various devices. simple embroid-
cry. crepe paper. etc. One hardened
einner. thrice convicted Of theft and
sentenced at her third trial 10 n life
tern-the patience OF the Judge having
neen strained to the breaking point
mao JUSTIFIED the hard opinion that her
ccaptors had of her by having the hardi
nood TO steal from the penitcnttary H.
self. Tho object that caused her down
raj! was prison sheet which she had
cut up into pillow sham and orna
mented by making Sits all around m,
cage and running therein strip OF
b!ue crepe paper. doubtless stolen from,
ahother inmate Although she was. OF
course. punished for this o1ense tha
authorities allowed her. with remark
abie elem ency, 10 keen her handiworl
which is st!ll the chief adornren, nt
her room.
WOMEN PRISONERS
DO NOT WEAR STRIPES
inc women do not wear prison
str!pes. like the men. Tho reason for
this len!ency is no, quite .vider,
escaped convict is certnInIw 49, ~,
easier TO recover when obliged 70 GA
FeTuse her identity IN this way q,
course, the clothes OF the wornc, al,
Var INC prison mark. and their petit
striped. but these facts are
my apparent at single glance The
!ie or the woman convict Is ~ cou-s. |
anonymously regular being ordnr.d
according 10 the following scbes,,In 80,
GAYS Out OF the week: &C 4. NJ ris.
b-ess ana stra!Ehten room A N
r. lunch: 5:2o-s p NJ, sunner.
NJ. recreation out Of doors: IS r.or
non N cells: p. NJ, lights ont
in, On sundays and nauona! holiday,
~o!H ceases, and some sort or er,c,.
.a;hHent' with specia! refresbma,,
takes It's place L
BASEBALL GAME is
FAVORITE RECREArrov
Part OF the enterta!nnen,
quito often attendance M on. ~ w
ha'ch baseball games .iotavoa, ~, 49,
men foT the prison charn,. The
Zines given by the men 10 tho rival
tvi "S are worthy OF note. care
ina go HcoFeooard al the end OF
~ heid announces the standino.
rants, G; Overalls. =" Onn ,nimS
,tnheihc az first glance that rho co
lection o: these TEAM names was Ia
r.'eu nF the clothing example set hv
me White Son, bu, tho n,,iru, SO
Is that pants and overalis 40 I'm
we inmates Of tho pen!tcntiarv work
al IN making. day after dav Tba
."fe nF constant association become
!nti;nate part Of their daiIv
S, H,a that they even intrnde them
selves into their play.
V!sii to the factor, wh.-. ~,
men and women work is vor,
teFest!ng. nnA fills the bchold., vii,
e's ,"ht Fhc did not think 10 bring
al ncF hniion'ess clothes With her. 50
gu.chty ano eAPed!tionary are buttons
pu' on mere In the work tim, no
men and women do In the ,actorv
Ihey nave free access to an nlros,
'Hochn!te assortment of tools % cav
coming o, quantities OF c!t!zcr,s
t,o.n'hE. IN" marvel IS that they
40, o.%n able TO avail Themselves
"'eneT Q: this means ~ cscnpe
WOMAN MAKES DESpTJ,.rt.
EFFORT TO ESCAPE
one woman escaped not long oyo
She obtained permission to ,riv. b.r
c"'! a thorough whitcwashine and
cHan!hE on certain Shturdny ana jn
2r1eF 10 do 80, to move he furniture
..'.h hefS 20 the adjacent coll, which
WAS vacant. and occupy J., Tor seynr,i
aaFs unii her own was ready AGAIN
"a 'nfoa% nigh, she began 10 dig wt,h
a ,ooi brought from the rac.or,,
noe Tom the 'aeant gelI into her
own, which she concealed ,,f,R ioo
OF furniture in tho dag ti.uc py ,ray
OF disguise sne shaved nor hair
close. and tied her head ap In 8 ,oyyoi
which she was allowed 70 Kecp on
because 81 her 2itful declaration TIM,
ralgia"
Sunday night she made her escane
through the hole into tie noxt rou
which was "nlockcd and nlbcd o, el
the nigh iron grating 20 mo auor
several feet below Tho pua.d sl..,t
his cot surrounded by a .creco ana
~ his head hang the prison k.ys