Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-03-07

went on in the cells. colored prisoners
came around to collect the mattresses
and sleeping was at an end. We were
given the remains of a broom. mop
and a bucket of kerosene to clean
the cell. I got into the i'll graces OF
all my bunkies for putting too much
kerosene on the floor and making II
greasy. but I couldn't see that it made
much difference after the first layer
OF dirt had been spread around.
Breakfast was at $50. after which
fingerprints We're taken of all the new
arrivals, and thus started another day
that was very similar to the one
before and the ones to follow. With
the crowded conditions prevalent there
is little work to do for the transients
and the days are spent entirely in
the cells. The coming of the boys
with morning and evening news
papers, the store" boys with ciga-
rettes and tobacco for sale. the pic
boys, for those who could afford such
luXuries, were hailed as real events
How Death Affected Him.
One afternoon as the conversation
was continuing along it's usual lines.
one OF my cell-mates, who had been
glancing listlessly over the headlines
of the morning paper. Strengthened
up and strange expression came
over his face.
We'll. by God" he said, Here's u
piece in the paper that says me
mother died. Damn If she didn't die
just when I was in that courtroom
yesterday getting sent UP here"
nf
soicitude from his companions and
some one remarked that he ought
to be let out for that. The he
reaved boy stationed himself 81 tn"
door and the next guard that came by
heard his trouble with interest, took
the message to jor w. l.. Peak, st-
perintendent of the Jail, and within L.
minutes the boy had been let out on
his honor to return after the funeral.
That seems to be typical of the man
ner in which the Jail is run--a sane
intermiXture of decent humankind
ness, but no wishey-washey sentimen-
tality-and stern and strict discipline.
The prisoners all toe the mark but are
not bullied into it. The guards are
well chosen, fine type and they han
die the men tactfully. They keep
things orderly without having to fight
the men to do il. They are firm but
tolerant. l tried to be tough and
arbitrary TO see what would happen
and they put me right back into
place without getting the least bit
ruffled.
Hanging over the heads Of the
prisoners is the 'hole." a black cell
where they are confined on bread and
water when too unruly. This tends
to prevent any foolishness. 1t sell
dom has to be used. There is also
talk among the prisoners of more
severe punishment for serious breach
of discipline. Especially among the
negroes ] heard stories of a place
where bad prisoners had their arms
wrapped behind them around pillar
and handcuffed and left for hours at a
stretch. There's also n tale of a cross
where men are chained with their
wrists to the outstretched bars. These
may have been purely fabricated
myths manufactured for a purpose.
The general understanding among the
prisoners was that such a place does
exist, but that it is only for the most
incorrigible prisoners, those who beat
up guards or try TO make their es-
cape.
After what seemed a lifetime. but in
reality was only n few days. my re
lease came. Dividing what cigarettes
said good-by without pang and was
led to the door. There in the outer
Office / met my resCuer with a straight
and solemn face.
"Well. Skipper" / said. you're a
good pal TO help me out like this
He countered for the benefit of the
Jail officials. What have you been up
to this time? Remember. this is the
last time l ever get you out of here.
Identity Never Suspected.
Apparently up until the moment of
my release. none suspected l was any
thing but the tramp | represented.
had let my hair grow two months, my
beard a week. An old Army overcoat,
a disreputable old suit and brown
flannel shirt were purchased in second
hand row on - street, in the very
shadow of the courthouse. A new
cap was purchased and mutilated. All
these clothes. together with under
pinnings and gray socks, went through
q degrading metamorphosis. All were
soaked in ashes and water. splattered
with mud and buttons pulled off. \
doctor friend with experience in police
work warned me TO be careful of de
tails or l would be found out. Hence
/ manufactured some blisters on my
hands by rubbing them against the
corner of n brick wall and made the
backs rough, swollen and cut by fric-
ton against stone fireplace. The
nails were mutilated. An application
of coal dust and furnace SCOT applied
to neck, ears. feet. wrists and arms
gave me the look of a stevedore 10
days from a tub. At the last minute.
the final touch was applied when the
office dentist artistically applied silver
nitrate and other chemicals to my
teeth to give them a black and de
Cayed appearance. The picture was
completed. No one saw through IT.
With the formalities ended. my boss
led me from the Jail and the next
thing on the program was two square
meals and a Turkish bath.
Written and sworn to this day OF
our Lord, March the sixth, Nineteen
hundred and twenty-siX.
PETE MARTIN.
Kills Mark.