The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-04-30
TEA TIME DATES
OF INDIANA PRISON
TRUSTEES REVEALED
Prisoners Walk Away to
Join Girl Friends in
'ReveIry,' Is Claim.
GAMBLING ALSO Barred
Doomed Man Bets Himself
on Horse Races, and
Loses $6.45.


races and baseball games are
INDUCED in by trusty inmates
of the Indiana state prison, it
was revealed this afternoon.
Revelations of the pastimes of the
trusted prisoners were made in a
report presented Governor Paul V.
McNutt by Wayne Coy, secretary in
charge of penal affairs, after the
latter had probed the walkaWay eS-
cape of two TRUSTEES last week.
The prisoners, Charles irwin and
Willard Butler. Negroes, were re-
turned to the state prison. Saturday
after their capture here, where they
had spent an extended vacation
after leaving the prison grounds.
From the content of Mr.. Coy's re-
port it appears that certain TRUSTEES,
following an old CUSTOM" have en-
gagged in matinee rOmanCes be-
tween 3 and in the afternoon,
when at the completion of their
work they have met women friends.
These women, according to the
specific cases of Butler and Irwin,
took them to their homes in Mich
igan City CT to the home of friends
where they participated in after
noon revelry.
McNutt Makes No Comment
Governor McNutt made no COM
ment on the report but was study
ing it this afternoon. The report
was released to newspaper men
after it was prepared for Governor
McNutt
Mr.. Coy informed the Governor
that the inmates seek every OPP
portunity to gamble with one an
other. They bet money if they
have it very few have it, or any
item Of value which they have to
buy. such as soap tother than
prison soap, tooth paste, tooth
brushes. tobacco (even the tobacco
issued by the PRISON.. They bet
on the outcome of the league base
ball games and the races"
Excerpt Is Given
Mr.. Gov said he found no in
stances in which the inmates were
able to place bets with outsiders on
the outcome of sporting events, but
practically every day. articles are
copfiscated by guards because of the
betting activities.
An excerpt from Mr.. Coys re-
port on the matinee turnout at the
prison follows:
The men employed in the resi-
denceS of the officials evidently have
some leisure time outside the walls.
The work following the MONDAY
meal is completed about p. m, the
time depending on the number OF
lpeople for whom they prepared
when they completed this work and
bther work in the residences.
They have the time to themselves
until time to prepare the evening
Iheal. During this time it has been
the custom of the prison over a pc
Rod of years TO give these men the
freedom of the yard. This custom
enabled Butler and Irwin to meet
with their women friends of Mich
igan City.
Left without Permission
From them I learned they had
been doing this for a period of seven
or eight years. Butler stated that
he was able to meet his women
companions once or twice a week
Irwin stated he met his friend about
every eight or ten days.
To meet the women. Irwin and
Butler left the prison yard without
the permission of any prison Of
fetal. Never at any time have they
had permission to leave the grounds
of the prison. They were able to
walk away from the yard because
the prison yard is not patrolled eX-
cept on special occasions when men,
not TRUSTEES. would be permitted out
from the inside of the prison to
do special work in the yard or in
the residences of officials.
Irwin and Butler told me they
would leave the yard and meet
their women friends several blocks
away from the institution and 60
with them to their homes in
Michigan City and to the homes of
their friends. Almost all of the
meetings between Irwin and Butler
and their women friends occurred
in the afternoon, between 3 and 5.
Doomed Man Bets Himself
Occasionally meetings occurred,
however. after the supper hour,
when they would complete their
work"
In questioning Irwin I learned
that the Berry woman with whom
he had been keeping company for
the last several years had a baby
late in 1928 or early 1929"
Prison betting Mr.. Coy discovered.
does not require more than Cne
person.
He said he obtained information
that a man. condemned to die in the
electric chair several years ago,
wiled away his time by placing bets
with himself on the horse races.
According to Mr.. Coy, the prisoner
posted his bets on the wall of the
cell, keeping a daily record on how
much he would have won or lost if
he would have been out of the
prison and had been able to collect
at the "bookie" Office odds.
Mr.. Coy's report says:
According to stories, he was $40
900 ahead at one time. but that was
early IN the game. Shortly before
his execution he was seas behind
the books"