The toiler. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1919-1922, 1920-03-26
SIDE LIGHTS ON ATTAIN
ia PENITEN7IARY
A. L. Hitchcock.

ohNiSho iuSoj VI an OgO ioA Oil wv
where such thing as justice has no
part, should be better known to the
citizens of these United States.
An Institution where men are sent
under the, to the public, idea that
they will reform and come away
honest; where truth is stranger,
where manhood is strangled, where
the Judas is privileged person
There are so many things to be said
about this cess pool Of civilization,
that a book will be required to re-
cord it. So I am merely going to
hit few of the high spots for this
time. First the name, Department Of
Justice, is misnomer; plenty of men
ire doing time in that prison who
are only guilty of being poor, hun
dreds there had no chance to secure
Justice, being railroaded thru the
courts for no other purpose than to
help cut the records of struggling
and inefficient district attorney.
An Institution maintained at public
expense, where three criminals arc
made for every one set up, Where pub
lie moneys are spent, not to protect
TIE citizens from vicious men, but to
furnish jobs for political hcnchmen and
lame ducks, this is not so evident at
the prison, as in the army of those
WHO profit indirectly.
The brutalizing of men begins al
The very entrance, and it extends
turnout the whole place. Every one
knows that to de-humanize man
makes a brute out of him, so tht
process of brutalizing the inmates al
so has the same effect on the offices
Warden Zerbst poses as a philantro
phist and uplifter, but the majority o
the prisoners know him to he bully
whose favorite way of starting al
interview, is to take off his coat, la.
his gun on the desk and offer t.
fight the defense,css man. If Ceza
Lomhroso could see the warden b
would be more confirmed than eve
in his theory of n criminal type.
Deputy Warden Girdeau is anothc
poser, fis being that Of a christian
gentlemen. A more brutal scoundre
would be hard to find. To taunt me
who are in solitary on bread an
water liet with the fine breakfast h
had this morning, is only one of hi
stunts. Another was to chain men Il
to the bars for days, until order
from Washington put stop to j
When the good people of Atlanta rails
cd a row about the brutal whipping u
prisoners at City and County Prison
- the Warden then said, If you thin
there is whipping here now, yo
shoulG have seen it when Charlie G
ardeau was warden. With bible
his pocket and hymn on his lips h
could consingn a man to the "Hole
on bread and water without sign 9
reason or show of justice.
Holy Joe Sewell is another shinin
light of this so called place Of r
form. With his corps Of stool pigeon
(The lowest known form of animi
life), and the aid of numerous guard
well armed with full grown clubs, i
tells the men, bearded in the chap
whether they wish to hear or nc
ahout the loving kindness of Jesus.
This panderer after Judas has IL
supreme gall to talk about being u
right and true, at the same time u
able to look man in the face.
These beauties cultivate n dual pc
aonahty; a nico suavo voice and ma
ner towards the FREQ men and nev
paper reporters; honey could not me
in their mouth.
But what a difference in both volt
and manner when it is some po
unfortunate who has been framed ,
on and sent to prison looking for
square deal.
Great stress is laid on religion, eve
man being required to attend Divin
Service us conducted by such chs
actcr as the Chaplain is known to
by all the men.
Compulsory Church Attendance,
clearly violation of the Constitute
especially in Federal Institution, b
the majesty Of the law gets no respe
from the religious fanatics like
aradcau and Sewcll.
To cap the whole thing, men are
quired to send away the clothes th
wear to the place. Then when th
time is up, they are fitted ont with
on,fit that is the last word in pc
clothes. The poor wretch who lea'
prison without friends may very SC
he forced to steal to raise funds,
If he failp to get new suit, and tl
very soon be viii find himself ARE
cd for indesent exposure.