Evening star., 1934-09-16
OLD PRISON SITE
At DETROIT USED
IN HOUSING PLAN
LoW.Cost Project viii Be
Built in SIum-RemoVal
Program.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
DETROIT, September 15.-Where
whips once cracked on bare backs and
prisoners groaned as they were strung
up by their thumbs within the gloomy
walls Of the old Detroit House Of
Correction, the Government is plan
ming a low-cost home project as part
of its slum clearance program.
The site, which has been cleared
since a new and modern House of
Correction was established in subur-
ban Plymouth three years ago, has
been selected by the Federal Emer-
gency Housing Corporation as one OF
two on which $6,oo0,O0O will be ex-
pended.here in building homes for ur
to $50 families.
Had Reputation for Cruelty.
The House of Correction was
opened in 1861 and, although its man
agement gained commentator fol
humane treatment Of prisoners under
difficulties in later years, 1t had 9
reputation for stern discipline during
the years when prison authorize;
we're supposed to be tougher than
their toughest inmates.
And toughness predominate6
among the inmates, for in addition
to short-term city prisoners and the
overflow from Michigan's State pris-
ons there were Federal prisoner.
from ss far away as Denver and the
Southeast and violators of the law.
Of other States.
The House of Correction, with its
chair, brush, button and cigar fac
tories, was one of the first penal in
stitutions ever to show q profit. Te
keep the industries manned, the man.
agement solicited prisoners, especially
long-termers, from other States.
Used Lash and Rack.
It was no bed Of roses, keeping bac
men from many States under con.
troll, and frequent use was found fol
the dungeons, the lash and racl
where particularly unruly prisoner
were lifted by their thumbs unit
they thought better of whatever hap.
pened to be the point Of disagreement
with their keepers.
It was estimated that $4,000 men
women and children served sentence.
in the grim old institution. Numer.
Gus children were imprisoned therl
in the 1870's, some Of them for sucl
ofenses as stealing bread, and tn
records disclose the case Of boy sen.
fenced at the age Of 9, who died threl
years later of tuberculosis.
Probably the most colorful prisonel
was Cherokee Belle" starr, sen
fenced from Oklahoma for hors,
stealing. She carried two guns, wor,
spurred boots and stood accused O
killing several cowboys.
Lincoln Spared Spy's Life.
During Civil War days many sus.
pected Southern sympathizers, o.
"Copperheads," spies and other sus.
poets of that type were imprisoned
here, and q courier from Presiden
Lincoln once brought q Communication
that spared the life Of condemned
spy.
The prison never was the scene O
riot, such as have occurred in re-
cent years in numerous other peniten
tiaries, but in 1922 q dope addict
hoping that partial suffocation woult
get him a narcotic shot," stuffet
paper down o rat hole In his eel
and set fire to it. The hospital anc
auditorium were destroyed. It wa.
not recorded whether the instigatol
got his shot"
So many were the legends attached
to the House Of Correction that after
it was abandoned it was made into Q
museum, and thousands of persons
paid to explore its inner recesses.