The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-11-26

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in this institution, either of the inmates
or of the guards and employees. All
follow hard, fast, set rules.
What are some of the duties of the
guards? Well, take the day captain,
for instance. Capt. John McArrison OF
the morning shift. He controls the bells
which tell the guards and prisoners
bell; the breakfast bell. He goes into
the kitchen before every meal and
locks up the kitchen and bakery. He
counts every knife before the men enter
the dining room; every e that
might be used as a weapon. He counts
five men at each table and two serv-
ing spoons to each. There are over
500 men eating in that n great
for each meal.
Everyone knows that meal times are
the dangerous times in prison. Inc
men march in at each n of the room,
which is nearly a block long n 81
from cell house No. l and cell house
No. 2. The captain stands in the center
of the room when this orderly crowd
marches by him. He pushes the bell to
signal them in. They stand at their
tables, 500 men from the most DANCE
Gus strata of American ife-murderers,
robbers, thieves, thugs and just plain
unfortunateS.
He pushes a bell and 500 folding seats
go down with a clatter. The TRUSTEES
Serve them quickly. passing the vittles
from table to table. The men eat IN
absolute silence. Many carry jars OF
butter. of peanut butter, Of other
special foods they are permitted to
Without a single word in that whole
roomful of men. The captain stands
there watching. There are five other
guards stationed at strategic places
in the room. Only six unarmed guards
among 500 prisoners. Should a riot
break, their chances would be slim
indeed. They are locked in, just as the
prisoners are locked in.
Guards, Convicts Locked in
But see that narrow slot low on that
side? The captain already has passed
his keys into the men in there. And
hey are armed with riot guns, tear
gas. A disturbance here would be ter
rible for all. The men are locked in
like rats in a trap. They know it. Iher
has never been a riot in this prison.
The meal is over and the men file
out in platoons, arms folded, each car
tins with sugar or butter in them.
These articles must be kept by the
men in their w cells. But the state
of Montana feeds it's prisoners we'll,
though cheaply. They get three meals
at an average cost. through the year,
of Is cents a day, or five cents a meal:
Plenty of good bread, baked here;
plenty of good vegetables and a good
variety. Tiresome, heavy n not SO
tasty, but ample. clean, fresh and sus,
tanning. Most prison riots are caused
by poor quality, improperly prepared
food and not enough OF it. Hunger
breeds discomfort, and cruelty is used
to stamp it out.
Now the captain takes his station
in the center watch station / the
center of the exercise yard. AS the men
file out for exercise, he steps to one
side. Now and then a man will step
ont of the single file line OF march
ing men and approach him. Then n
other will step out and the W VIII
talk in the presence OF ING guard: mere acs
with one another; arrange to make
horsehair belts, and things,
requests. All exchanges Of funds pc
tween the prisoners is malntalned by
a system of transfers, n a checking
account. This is kept in duplicate, one
set of books inside the prison ana tne
flee. TRUSTEES do the work. The men are
given blank transfer slips, resembling
checks. They write the amount. the
person to receive it, and the check on
the money they have left or accumu-
lated with the warden. Scores OF these
transfers are made daily.
Sometimes, they will cheat and issue
more slips than they have funds avail
able. Then all slips are turned down.
In the meantime, the cheater has spent
his funds by buying groceries for him
self. The men are left with bad checks
on their hands. These instances require
investigation and punishment. 1t Gre
ates hard feeling among the prisoners,
a condition which leads to trouble and
fights. Such cheaters are soon put
where they can do no mischief.
Stern, Vigorous Life
TRUSTEES working in the sewing room,
around the yard, in the various shops,
all have knives. These knives are
counted before the men are locked up,
and turned over to the captain. The
captain is responsible for conditions
on his shift. He holds his guards re-
sponsible for their actions toward the
men and toward each other. It is a
stern and vigorous life, M that re-
quires eternal watchfulness, alertness
and training. 1t takes at least two years