The Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 191?-19??, 1919-11-25
EDDYVILLE WARDEN HUMANE
METHODS FRUITFUL; TAKES
AWAY PRIVILEGES
HE CALLS POLITICS BANEFUI.
John B. Chiffon, In Failing Health,
Will Return to this County
To Live.

Eddyville, KY, Nov. 21.-John B.
Chiffon, warden of the penitentiary
here, and his small group of guards
and deputies who are calmly waiting
for Edwin P Morrow's AK to fall
They know that when it does their
official heads will drop into the pro-
verbal basket, but they are prepar-
ed. Mr.. Chiffon, perhaps will re-
turn to Christian county, from
whence he came, and many of those
holding places under him will go
back to the farm.
For more than seven years now
Mr.. Chiffon has been head of the
Eddyville prison, the lash that form
erly made prisoners writhe in agony
has been locked in the drawers of
the desk in his Office. Other instru-
ments of torture have been banished
also, the retiring warden never hav-
ing believed in the Dark Age meth
DDS of dealing with prisoners.
There are 457 inmates Of Eddy
vile penitentiary at present, 800
less than were doing time behind the
gray, grim walls of the institution
three ears ago. Three reasons for
the falling off in enrolment are as
signed by Mr.. Chiffon.
First" he said, "the war came
along and as a result the army alb
sorbed big per cent. of the crimin-
al element.
Second, people in general are
more prosperous than formerly,
there being work for all willing TO
work, and in consequence there is
not the incentive for stealing.
"Third, the temperance wave that
has swept the country doubtless has
had lot to do with decreasing the
number of inmates"
Four In Death Cell.
Four of those now in Eddyvillc
prison are facing death in the cleo
trio chair, having been sentenced
and their sentences confirmed. Dates
for their executions have not been
fixed as yet, however. Those under
death sentence are Charles Douthitt,
Scott county; Delbert Thomas, Har-
Ian county; Charles Music, Boyd
county, and Joseph Hughes, Oldham
county. The latter is negro.
Since this prison has been in eX-
istence there have been thirty-two
executed within it's walls. Twenty
four of these have taken place dur
ing Mr.. Chilton's term of office. I'm
til the last ten or twelve years capi- |
tai punishment in this State was ad-
by hanging in the county
in which the crime was committed.
Only two of the 457 inmates of
Eddyville prison are wearing stripes,
the badge of convict degradation, all
the rest are first or second class pris-
oners, the first denoted by the gray
uniform and blue cap and second by
cap and uniform of the same color,
gray.
Instead of melting out physical
punishment to the states bad men in
his charge, Mr.. Chiffon has adopted
what he considers a more effective
method of disciplining them, that of
curtailing privileges.
Recreation For Prisoners.
After considerable dickering with
contractors employing prison labor,
Mr.. Chiffon, early in his administra-
ton, reached an agreement with
them whereby a convict, after com
pleting his task, would have the re-
mainder of the day for recreation,
such as baseball in summer and pool !
playing in winter, instead of being
compelled to put in twelve full hours
at his work.
The convicts soon came to look
forward with keen pleasure to the
late afternoons, when, with tasks
completed, they we're free to leave
the shops and go into the conpara-
tive open. Rainy afternoons they
spent in the so-called recreation
hall, a former foundry building, go
by $50 feet in size, equipped with