Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1923-08-08
MEAD OF FEDERAL PRISONS Is
PLEASED WITH SUCCESS OF
CRUSADE AGAINST 1T.
CLEVER SCHEMES ARE FOILED
Many Ingenious Methods Of Getting
Dope to the Addicts in Penitentiaries
Have Been Discovered by the Gov
ernment's Investigators.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK

nave Deen matched by the governments
investigators, who, Superintendent of
Prisons Votaw declared, have been
Waglng crusade against the traffic
$50 vigorously that conditions today
are more satisfactory than at any time
since the drive began, more than a
year ago. Amazing ruses were re-
sorted to, 1t was revealed, by the clever
prisoners, their wives, sweethearts and
Friends, in order to smuggle IN past the
prison guards their drugs in curious
ways.
AS a result of the campaign Mr..
Votaw said that thousands of prison
eTs were now experiencing great diff
guilty in obtaining even small quanti-
ties of narcotics strict guard is
maintained in all federal penal insti-
buttons, especially in the Atlanta peni-
Tertiary, where traffic was found in a
hourishing stage when the investiga-
tion began. Each incoming prisoner is
now subjected to a searching exam
dnation, and is not permitted to enter
until he purchases a new pair of shoes.
Ut was discovered, officials explained,
that many of the convicts when ar
irving at the penal institutions had Sc
GREETED in the heels and soles of their
shoes large quantities of drugs.
Clever Tricks Revealed.
Connivance between the prisoners
and some guards and TRUSTEES was dis
cOvered in a few institutions, it was
revealed, and in some instances the
guilty guards were discharged or ar
rested and indicted. SO thorough has
the investigation been, it was said,
that the prisons now are believed to
be almost entirely free of that ele-
ment of connivance which made pos
Hble the importation of drugs.
Among the clever tricks evolved by
drug addicts whose natures cried out
for their narcotics, were means of
smuggling through handkerchiefs,
kisses, baby napkins, shoe heels, cloth
dng, mouths and letters
The handkerchief ruse was consid-
cred among the most unusual and
difficult of detection. 1t was found
ahat occasionally a prisoner would re
'ceiye several ordinary handkerchiefs,
which appeared to be new and harm
less. Careful scrutiny by the guards
and prison authorities, according to
MIR. Votaw, developed the fact that the
handkerchiefS had been saturated with
cocaine or other drugs, and while
moist were irOned and given the ap-
pearance Of newness. The prisoners
Ncy l1x
were aware of what the handkerchiefs
contained and after a quantity of
them had been received, the prison
officials found that the prisoners
would virtually eat the cloth or permit
it to remain in their mouths. sucking
their drug therefrom.
Narcotics were found secreted in
clothing and sometimes in the prison
ers' mouths. All letters received by
the prisoners are now subjected to
close examination, as it was found
that under the fold of the envelopes
very frequently was "a quantity of CO
caine.
1t was also found that in many in
stances when the wives, sweethearts
or other women relatives were per-
mitted to see prisoners, they surrepti-
tiously passed to the men in their part
ing kiss, a small receptacle containing
drugs or narcotics.
Infants as Drug Carriers.
Infants were discovered in some in
stances who had been pressed to the
bars for a final cuddling by the pris-
oners, who found secreted in the small
rubber clothing of the baby, or else
where, the drug they craved.
when the fact is realized" Mr..
Votaw said, that at Atlanta there are
more than 1900 prisoners and but no
guards it is marvellous that the govern
ment has been able to cope with the
situation as well as it has. We have a
splendid system of checking up on all
material received into the prison, but
occasionally some dope slips by. The
drug evil is one of the most alarming
situations that we must cope with, and
1T is O regrettable fact that thousands
If young men and women, too, are
slaves to the habit.
IF the federal government would
establish an institution for first of
tenders, we would be able to salvage
many incipient human wrecks. AS the
situation is, however, these men and
women who are just beginning to fall
victims of the drug habit must be
herded together with old Offenders and
incurable users of narcotics"
Mr.. Votaw said that while he was
not entirely satisfied with the progress
made by the government in its war on
the "dope evil" in the penitentiaries,
yet he was certain that every human
effort had been made to remedy condi-
tions.
Uncle Sans Lessons in Play.
Under the direction of Miss Grace
Abbott, The children's bureau Of the
Department of Labor is doing carefully