The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1924-12-20
The Dead House
at WaUa WaHa
BY RAY w, FFLTON

W.
.WTALLA WALLA, Dec. 2O-The charne house on the
w hill! That's what Wala Wala prison looks like now
does not harbor dead bodies stacks of bones like the
eharne houses Of old Instead II has become mortuary
for dead hopes and bleak despair Governor Hart and the
state parole obard have sung Christmas carols TO than
60 inmates, TO whom they have given paroles But they
nave played funeral dirge for thousand more.
Edward Fion, Tacoma murderer of Tacoma taxi drIv-
executive cemency Wealthy and influential friends of
both got TO the governors and they paroed Both
parole board does its best TO keep it all secret Publicity
gums up the works and the machinery of the parole board
must run smoothly If friends Of the administration to be
taken care Of.
pUT you can't beat the inside intelligence system in
- prison. Even the fish" the dubbed
hear what's going on outside Like dumb beasts their in
stnct is developed TO uncanny keenness The word wh
pered softly passes swiftly when anything of Importance
happens in the front office.
So when Fon and Soudas whom peace officers say were
two of the most brutal characters that entered the big
house on the HILL passed out the gate the other day
cell wing and every shop got the flash
First it was general buzz, then rumble and then-be
you can't beat the systematic thunder of threat
ened storm died. and with it the confidence of men in their
masters.
TT WAS cold and depressing fog hung waa Walla
when went TO the prison city after the governor had
passed out his notorious Christmas presents Thru the I'M
certain light of the gloomy dawn the charne house oomed
like great, gray monster The prison whistle blew like
wall from the tortured souls within.
Christmas paroes-one isn't supposed discuss that sub
iect in the front office Nobody TO know thing about
it, Would Mr. Mahoney, the superintendent chief clerk
and secretary of the parole board mind telling what it's
all about? Mr. Mahoney, being very loyal young man,
fers the newspaper man. in low voice. TO the superntend
ent, Mr.. Long.
Mr. Long obviously nervous gances furtvely about and
refers the newspaper back to Mr. Mahoney he being
the secretary of the parole board and the parole board and
the governor being responsible for the paroles
IR MAHoNEY did not seem surprised at this course
1pl But he sat tight He is good secretary Getting in
formation from Mr. Mahoney is like getting blood from the
proverbial turnip
trip thru the prison is suggested We go first to
old Tom Robinson, from Olga Friday Harbor. Tom
says he's SO old Anyhow, he's the Oldest prisoner
there Perhaps Mr. Mahoney suggests, old Tom Will tell
us how he is going to spend Christmas Tom laxative, in
sists telling his story the outstanding feature OF
which is the fact that IL years he sentenced to the
pentenary to from six months to 10 years for as
sault with deadly weapon.
Why don't they let go? asks Tom. Tom didn't con-
slider himself much dangerous to society than either
Fion or Soudas But Tom has influential relatives.
THAT pain in my back-ts awful today" he moaned
WE LEFT Tom and on the way down the corridor caught
w glimpse of Percy Sinclair. Sinclair is SO years old
Less than two years ago he was political power IN TINS
state He was senator from Pacific county and he and his
son ran bank South Bend The bank failed and jury
said father and responsible Both got penitentay
sentences. , -
The father serves assistant in the hospital He
was neat and clean in his indoor prison uniform of striped
gray shirt and gray trousers. He looked well physically
hut he was in the very depths Of despair
christmas my goodness, what Chrstmas! he
murmured "And just think, it was two years ago
about now that visited President Harding at the White
House"
DOWN in the auto license plate shop Ole Larson, former
head of the defunct American bank which
Jury said he wrecked worked diligently He had hopes of
getting out before Christmas but Fon and Soudas beat
him and the storm of protest so strong that
the says about out of Christmas presents for
the time being.
Up at the prison library we found Peter Miller convicted
of burglary and sentenced as habitua criminal Miller
has made game fight for his freedom but he says every
effort has been blocked by Governor Hart
'What great laugh Filion and Soudas must get when
they contemplate the operation of the law and its majesty
Pete remarked.
The smile with which he usually greets had faded.
Pete Miller had drunk his cup of gall.
my light has failed" he said 81 nothing ahead"
The charne house the hill
That's what WaIIa Walla prison looks like now.