New Britain herald., 1925-07-03
By WHISPERED MASON HUCk Former Representative to Congress
 From Illinois

By NlNNli htl' NASON hCNh Former Representative to Congress
 From Illinois
 Miss Ruth Green a tall, gray haired woman. was the first to ap- proach Us.
 Have you any moncy?" she ask. cd.
 That question again! gave her my pockcthook and she counted my money.
 seven dollars and 45 cents," she said, "Is that right?"
 "I suppose 1t is" I answered, and would have made tho same answer if sine had said "one dollar and 45 cents"
 Are you sure that Is The right ?" she said.
 "If you have counted it, I am sure" I said Shc gave me a fleet ing look of inquiry and then quizzcd Susie, who had 15 cents.
 "Is that all you have?" I asked Susie, forgetting that l was not per mittod 10 speak unless spoken to.
 l asked Miss Green 10 make mine an even seven dollars and give the change 10 Susie. Susie risked speak ing ont of turn 10 thank me.
 Under Suspicion
 ! got q surprise when. weeks later, I learned that a report of my gift was made at the superintend- cnts office and that Susie and were under suspicion for the whole time that was in the prison.
 This was because gifts made in prison seldom have 9 good motive back of them, arrorling 10 obserlA- lions made by the prison authorities through years of experience.
 "Nou may come with me now" said Miss Green. Susie was led away to the cottage for negroes.
 I was taken down a long. dark corridor into another, which seemed to be sunshine itself. This. l learn cd, was "A' corridor, one of tho gathering places for the prisoners.
 The windoWs on ono side opened on d large court.
 It was then noon. Tho prisoners had had their noon meal and thc whistle had not yet blown for the bcginnikS of afternoon work.
 pf r1 C.orc I, game Of "Flinch." Others were playing jacks. A good many were crochctinG. All seemed much inter- Csted in mo.
 \ New Girl"
 learned that I was a new girl" ." It matters not how old VIC arc, we are all girls"
 New girls arouse an interest in the prisoners because they are proof that there are others in inc outside world who arc getting into trouble, too,
 Down an intcrminable gauntlet Of questioning eyes VIC passed to "B'' corridor. There Miss G.ourey. the matron of that division, took charge of me and led mo into tho dining room.
 I had been hungry, but entrance into inc prison had taken away my appetite, and I asked for 3 glass of milk only.
 Tho milk had strangely unplcas- ant flavor and I could not drink if.
 It was my introduction 10 prison milk which is occasionally sweet, but always scrupulously skinned.
 Twas taken to the sleeping guar ters of the "B" girls, where Miss I.ourcy opened my bag.
 "You may use your own voolcn stockings if you Wish,' she said, putting two pairs aside, and this little tin box you may keep to put your toothbrush and such thinss in. What is this?" She held up a small bottle of Elycerine
 You may koop that, hut you are not allowed to have perfume or rouge. Nou can keep your nail fln, your crochet hook. this hair net -- and what is this?" She held mp 8 small celluloid sewing kit.
 Might Bc Stolen
 "Thore are no rules against your having this. but it's kind Of cute and you may lose it." She did not say what she meant, that 1t might h" stolen from me.
 But tho prisoners were less reti- cent. One day a girl cam" to me ir the vashroom. Say Elizahe'h, she said. you left all your things right ont on Your bed in plain sight and with all those girls passing you'n lose everything you own. took off my apron and covered th'm ID with it."
 I had dumped the things ont or my bed, 10 use the tin box for g drinking cup until one should bf issued to me.
 "Aw, there aint nothing there that no one would want" l said ir my best jail vernacular.
 Say, Elizabeth. you don't know them girls. They'll steal anything from anybody" said my friend who by the way, had como tt Marysville recommended as ono O tho clcvcrest and fastest working ! hold-up women in the state,
 These bits of biography VIC picket ur only by rumor. for We nNve' knew anything officially Of one an other.
 \ Dreadful Moment
 As Miss Louroy continued search ing my bag. helped her. ] In a dreadful moment I c7ugh sight of an old handkerchief hear l ing a laundry mark, My real name
 For a moment the walls srun. Then I acted, l held iha hand llerchief in my hands Slowly wh,l'