The Washington times., 1923-03-25
JAIL
HOME Of SIGHs
AND DEAD HOPE
Drab Monotony Of Life Be-
hind SteeI-b AIRED Walls
Breaks strongest Of. Men
TREATED WITH KINDNESS
But Must Pass Long Days and
Nights IN Same Marrow Con-
fines, Always Being Watched

| Fl
ssIf ever get out of this ism,
It's never again for me- declared
3 prisoner ~ the District jail,
Yesterday, as tie door Of his cell
closed behind him.
saThat's what they all say cOfIls
nnented Maj. William q. Peak, Sc
sistant superintendent Ct the lgs:
stitution.
MANY ARE SINCERE.
Many Of Major Peaks priscnsrs
however. are sincere ii their a.
tention Of leading clean HE after
their release.
A prisoners first day IN jar n
the longest. This ID particularly
true Of the man who enters prison
for the first time. a prisoner y
the District jail by no means has
the comforts he enjoys ~ home.ssis
Convicted and sentenced n court,
one ID taken to fail handnuffed ~
other prisoners, and after being
searched for penknives. SAWS axld
other articles which may be used
| IN an attempt to escape. he II a..
| signed to cell. Many Of the first
offenders weep as the cell door
closes behind them.
UP AT 5 O'CLOCK "A. M.
At 5 o'clock in the morning the
inmates are awakened BY the
guards. Each Is given . broom
and mop to clean out his cell. re
then airs and makes up his bed,
At 6:16 o'clock the prisoners afS
led to breakfast. which consists 81
oatmeal. three slices Of bread. meMG.
and black coffee. II the prisoner
has funds he IL permitted TO buy
cream for his coffee. eggs and other
foodstuffs. lf1
After breakfast. the prisoners r.
turn to their cells, where they are
permitted to write letters, read
newspapers. books and Ynagazines.
At 11:30 o'clock they have lunch
1 and at 4:S0 In the afternoon they
have supper.
LIGHTS OUT AT o r. nG.
Each cell Is equipped with an
electric light. These 60 out at 81
O'clock, the prisoners being per.
nitted TO read until that hour. IA
each cell there are two prisoners.
On Mondays and Fridays, between
and IL and to O'Clock they
are permitted to see their friends..
VISITORS, however, are not Y1er.
mltted to enter the cells,
i Conversations are held throa,rh
wired screens. On visiting dnVm
friends and relatives of the prison
ers are permitted to bring fruit ard
otner roodstuffs, but It Is examinrd
before being handed over to then.
/ the examination Of the articles ls
made to prevent dope" kniv.
saws and such articles being smll-
gled to the prisoners.
NO KNIVES Or FORKS.
At meals the prisoners are not
given knives and fortss They drink
their soups and eat with apooisa
Before leaving the table. guayes,
count the prisoners. and spoons On
the table. A spoon might be ca1-
verted into q saw. OF used to PICK
a cell lock.
The jail maintains dn upsso-dats
| library and the prisoners ara ter
| magazines. a list Of which % ~
ways available.
! But with all these advant
the nonotony Of the prison Ak
| terrible. Most of the inmates be-
come morose. This % particularly
true Of those who are from ether
cities, who have no local friends
or relatives to visit them. ri
VISITING DAY PATHETIC.
There are many pathetic scenes
at the prison on visiting days.
Wives. sweethearts and intimate
friends calling on the prisoners fire.
quently are overwhelmed with
grief. 1t is not unusual on these
days to. find mother or q wife
weeping Historically as she talks
with prisoner Some Of the more
hardened prisoners laugh at these
scenes, and were 1t not for the
presence OF guards, many fights
would follow this laughter.
IT have seen strong men, SEEM
ingly hard clear through, break
down and weep when taken into a
cell,' said Major Peak yesterday.
ut seems that the first offender,
\ convicted In court and sentenced
to serve a. term In the fail, does
not realize the value Of hts free
dom until the door Of his cell IL
closed behind him"
"But after a day or no the man
will become acclimated to the new
life. A strange thing about most
prisoners is that they confide their
troubles. to those locked UP with
them. Some boast OF their exploits.
others give various excuses. Since
have been in charge q the jaitTI
have found that most OF the pris.
oners want to go straight. CT
course, many Of them come back.
"Just because a man serves q
prison term is no reason why ne
will not make good citizen. he
! lieve In giving every man q chance.
It has been my experience that this
policy has resulted In many men
with prison terms behind them 90.
ing out and making good