Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1926-06-19
n COnVicfS
Graphic Recital.
Wins Fame Behind Prison
Walls. Remarkable Elk.
DeHience of a Brilliant
COyOred Man.

leave Of absence from the regular
army was warden and neither he or
his wife would permit any prejudice
within the institution. 1t was Col.
Disque who gave his assent for a
colored man to work in the prison
Office in the capacity as clerk, some
thing that other wardens have been
narrow-minded enough to forbid.
Wonderful Ideas.
Col. Disque had wonderful origi-
nal ideas for the up-building of
character, etc., within his prison and
it was unfortunate that almost at
his inception of Office the regular
army called him and it is in keeping
with his wonderful ability in the
handling of men that at the close OF
war, ne had become a brigadier-
general and is now holding down a
$4,000 executive position in private
life. Warden Disque was granted
a years leave of absence by the
prison board of control and Mr..
Edward Frensdorf, chairman of the
board, volunteered to serve as Act
ing Warden during Col. Disaue's
leave. 1t was under Mr.. Frensdorf
that / acted in the dual capacity of
general office clerk and attending to
the secretarial duties of the warden.
Mr.. Frensdorf was real mans man
with an outstanding liberal leaning
towards leniency and during his
reign of nearly one year the prison
took on added life.
Not Front Office Warden.
He was not front office. warden,
but man who had the respect of
all the inmates and he mingled free
ly with them in the yard and more
than any other of the seven wardens
whom / have served under, Mr..
Frensdorf favored the colored man
to the extent that at the time 1
wrote that special article which was
run in the Chicago Defender a
colored man held every kind of
a job within the prison that he was
capable of. They were in the office,
residence, garage, hospital, dining
room, ETC., all of which places are
generally filled by politicians"
only, not to mention good jobs in
the various shops At a later period
in this story / will contrast these
conditions under different type of
warden.
Prison Amusements.
Life in prison at that time de-
pended entirely upon the degree
that the inmate could divorce his
mind from outside conditions. af
fairs and loved ones. Unless YOU
deliberately set out to seek trouble
life certainly was bearable. Each
week In winter months late NOV
ing picture would be seen in the
chapel. Every second week a prison
forum or literary club would hold
its meetings (the writer was its
publicity MANI and at these meet
ings learned men throughout the
State would come and lecture to
the boys. At intervals shows would
be held in the chapel, which not
only used inmate talent in producing
but in some instances in creating as
well. Usually when such shows
would be given the public would
come for one or two nights to wit
ness same, paying a small admission
fee which went into the entertain
ment committee funds. Ball games
were held four times a week. An
tuesdays, Thursdays and SATURDAYS
the prison league clubs, composed
OF club representing each shop,
would play, while on Sundays and
holidays the best teams in the State
would come in and play and get
beat, too.
(To be continued.)