The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-09-08


the "squealers."
1t may be A little more to-
bacco or a softer job, depend
ing on the Importance of the
information.
And don't think the inmates
don't know everything that goes on
in here" an inmate told The
Times investigator. If the screws.
truardsl have a stool pigeon system,
50 do We" the old timer whispered
as he glanced from side to side to
see whether fellow prisoners were
near enough TO hear.
For example" said the prisoner,
"everv fellow here wonders why a
certain guard stationed at the mann
gate when the Dillinger gang were
making their break still is at his
old post.
when the ten cOnvictS came up
70 the main gate, pushing the
sr,Derintendent Of the shirt shop be-
fore them. this man opened the
gate and then ran and hid IN
cell which lies just of the entrance.
He had to be attended by doctor
for his nerves when it was all over
Il Got a Soft Job"
so YOU see we know what's going
ou in here" the Michigan long
timer insisted as he grlnned tooth
Iessly at his interrogation.
7 cot a soft Job when l found
letter sent to one OF the former OIL
cials in which it was minated a
prisoa break would take place.
THAT was i'm 1881 That letter was
red hot. II described money that
was to be paid to certain guards and
mentioned that the money was be-
ing collected. The official knew
about the plan almost as soon as II
was made. II never came oil. 1
guess they couldn't raise the money"
After that 1 didn't have to
Worry
Prison murders are frequently
traceable to "Squealng.' this ielon
claimed. The cOnvictS grapevine
system Of discovering prison secrets
and passing the information on TO
the inmate population Is response
bic for many a cutting affray that
ends in death in the prison or IN
gang feuds on the outside
The killings are not always done
by the fellows harmed by the
souealing." the reporter was told.
THE wav these tough fellows do II,
the prisoner continued. is 10 poison
the mind Of some weak-minded IN
mate with fantastic stories about
the convict whose death Is desired.
Somebody Else Takes Rap
In this way the ringleaders-the
fellows who have learned that some
one Souealed-get their revenge.
They are safe. some one else takes
the rap if caught during or after the
cutting
Revenge for squealing Is usually
meted out by groups Of weak
minded felons fired with bitterness
by others. prison officials agree.
Sometimes the prisoner whose plans
have been upset by the convict in
former gets his own vengeance. but
seldom.
See that fellow over there" the
Ioouacious convict said. nodding to-
ward a fellow-COnviCt seated across
the room. That long scar on the
right side Of his face. starting at
the ear and ending at the mouth. is
the .souealer's mark That was
put there by foreign cOnvicts VINO
practice daily with knives. They
are expert in slashing g face from
care 10 mouth. They never fail
The convict shuffled off TO his
cell
Prisoners All at Work
The reporter joined a sightseeing
tour about 10 start out from the
main gate 70 view the prison Guild
ed BY A screw" IN his blue uniform
and brown sombrerO-the uniform
for gusrds-the party. consisting OF
a clergyman. a business man ana
ten young girls, went through the
prison.
In all parts OF the twenty-three-
acre yard. blue-clad prisoners were
at work In the shop where auto
mobile licenses for 1885 are being
manufactured. several hundred men
labored Ike titans amid the clang
Of heavy machinery and kissing
steam. Hundreds more bent over
intricate patterns in the rug shop;
the shirt shop hummed with aCtiv-
ity. The whole prison resembled a
modern manufacturing plant work
ing al peak capacity.
The guard halted the party at the
newest dollhouse. a model building.
to point out the difficulties men
Fright encounter who plotted escape.
Re demonstrated how every cell in