Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1935-03-02
Montana Boasts Model State Penitentiuru:
MISUNDERSTANDING Diversions for Inmates
Bv LON COOK.


Montana, stan wild ana woody" IN
spots, has one Of the ma0def state
penfsenfiaKies Of America. The state
prison At Deer Ledge Is the home
Of the nations first prison band, or
chestra and choral organization. re Is
also the only penal Institution Of its
kind that boasts an opera house. IL
was built by a donation from che Late
United States Senator w. A. Clark
Jr., who also set mp an endowment 20
engage an outside director for the
prisons orchestra.
The chorus Of 300 voices specializes
in cowboy ballads and songs Of the
range.
The state penitentiary Is q monument
to the courage and human understand
ing Of Frank Conley, one Of the great
peace officers of the old West.
In 1885 he was named warden and
he took 46O bad men" Of the frontier
and put them to work building the
walls and cell blocks in which they were
later confined.
Conley is recognized as the first
penologist in the United States to in
stitute an honor system, and it worked.
He was the first to remove stripes
from prisoners. His was the first pris-
on in the United States to have pic
ture shows. And he found that such
activities as bands and choruses did
much to give the inmates better out
look upon life.
He retired in 1921 after serving his
state for IS years in rounding up and
caring for Montana's early day pub
Lie enemies"
They recognized his fairness and
respected him for his fearlessness.
fully IS percent of my prisoners
made good after they were discharg-
ed" he said. But we never hear Of
these, only the few who go wrong"
'aThe trouble with most honor sys-
TENS for prisoners" continued MIR.
Conley, lis that they are imperfectIy
planned, and carelessIy and ignorantly
carried out When a trusty at Deer
Lodge was given privileges and free
d6ms he was not permitted to carelessly
pass IN and out Of prison at his own
When out, he was kept
put until he violated his rule. Upon his
reentry his clothes were taken off and
be and his possessions were searched.
In my judgment, Montana State prison
viii never have a prison break unless
t is brought about through the work
ngs of civil service Civil service forces
! warden to take on q lot of incom-
oetents that cannot be discharged
Given prisoners with money, corps
" guards and attendants whom the
warden cannot discharge, one has the
nakings Of all kinds Of trouble. Money
ind opium are the warden's greatest
snemies.
There Is little within prison walls
N outsider would consider amusing, but
t Is the exception that proves the rule,
md must tell you the story Of Tom
Brown and Ben Lydrick
Tom was convicted in Helena for
obbing the Montana Central ticket Of
ice and given twelve-year sentence.
lie was considered harmless, but &C.
'entrtc. Three years after he was re- II
'eived at Deer Lodge, Ben Lydrick was
convicted and sent to us for killing a
nan over IN the lowlands.
I'VE were crowded for room at the
ime," and put Tom Brown and Ben
,ydrick together.
"While crossing the yard one day
he riot bell rang. I, together with the
yards, rushed in and found Brown
tanding over an unconscious Lydrick
nth stool in his hand, with which he
lad severely beaten and cut his cell
nate. We gave Lydrick first aid, threw
yater in his face, gave him water TO
rink, and finally brought him to con-
ciOusness.
o explain why he had attacked
larmless prisoner.
'Harmless?| sneered Brown. Harm
sss hell I've been In my cell with him
low for three months and have dis
overed only this morning who he is
e was the foreman Of my jury