The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-07-06


formcr coHgrCSSWomdH and
the first WomGR 10 preside
orer the house Of representa-
tires, got herself sentenced 10
prison.
GmltleSS of any crime, she
sought dnSWerS 10 the Ques-
tons
Are our prisons humane!
Can a girl, crushed by her
feilolC men, regain her place
~ society!
This is the Sirth story.
tUrItten for The Seattle Star.
BY WINNIFRED MASON HUCK
Former Representative TO Congress
from Illinois
MISS RUTH GREEN. tall gray
lfl haired woman, was the first 90
approach US,
~Haye you any money!" she
asked.
That question again, gave her
my poekcthook. and she counted my
money.
seven dollars and as cents" she
said, lis that rightf'
II suppose Il is." l answered. and
would have made the same answer
II she had said ''one dollar and as
cents"
Are YOU sure that Is the right
smountG" she said.
III you have counted Il. am sure,
] said. She gave me u fleeting look
Of inquiry and then quizzed Susie,
who had rs cents.
is that all you hRves" asked
Susie. forgetting that l was not per
mitted to speak unless spoken TO.
| asked Miss Green TO make mine
an even seven dollars and give the
change 20 Susie. Susie risked speak.
ing out Of turn 10 thank me.
Under Suspicion
I got a surprise when. weeks later.
! learned that report OF my gift
was made at the superintendent
office and that Susie and l were I'M
der suspicion for the whole time that
was In the prison.
This was because gifts made In
prison seldom had a good motive
back OF them. according TO observa-
tious made by the prison authorities
thru years OF experience.
You may come with me now"
said Miss Green. Susie was led away
10 the cottage for negroes.
was taken down long. dark
corridor into another. which seemed
10 be sunshine itself. This. l learned,
was "a" corridor. one OF the gather.
ing places for the prisoners.
The windows on one side opened ON
q large court.
II was then noon. The prisoners
had had their noon meal and the
whistle had not yet blown for the be-
ginning OF afternoon work
Some OF the girls were playing
game OF "F'linch." Others were play
ing Jacks. A good many were
crocheting. All seemed much inter.
ested in me.
A New Girl
I learned that I was a new girl"
II matters not how old we are, we
all are girls"
New girls arouse an interest In tho
prisoners because they are proof that
there are others in the outside world
who are getting into trouble. too
Down an interminable gauntlet OF
questioning eyes we passed to 'B'
corridor. There Miss Lourey. the
rnatron Of that division. took charge
OF me and led me into the dining
room.
I had been hungry. but entrance
into the prison had taken away my
appetite. and asked for a glass Of
milk only.
The milk had strangely unpleas.
ant flavor and could not drink II.
Il was my introduction to prison
milk. which Is occasionally sweet,
but always scrupuiously SKINNED
was taken TO the sleeping quar-
fers OF the B. girls, where Miss
Lourey opened my bag.
You may use your own wooden
stockings IL you wish" she said. put
ting two pairs aside. ''and this little
tin box you may keep to put your
toothbrush and such things In. What
Is this?" She held up a small bottle
Of glycerine.
You may keep that, but you are
not allowed TO have perfume or
rouge. You can keep your nail file, |
your crochet book. this hair net--and |
what is this7' She held up small
celluloid sewing kit.