The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-11-19
I'm at State Prison
as Told by Big House Inmate

and bread for breakfast. For dinner
at u o'clock, we get boiled vegetables,
navy beans, chocolate pudding, tea,
bread and milk. And for supper at
4:3O p. M, we get chile con carne,
mashed potatoes, rice, custard, hot corn
bread. coffee and milk.
Boy. this is better food than I got
in the army. After supper, we get three
or four hours of reading. Lights out
at 9 p. m. There's a radio that goes
on at 6 o'clock. Can keep up with the
news, too.
What's this little card the guard
gave me? Fish Tips" All, a fish is a
new inmate. 1t says:
DO your own time; do not allow
anyone else to do it for you. Remember
this: When you are reported for o
rule violation, no matter how small,
the details are put on your card that
is on file with the parole board as well
as OH your card here, and may be held
against you when you come up for
parole Oil watch my step, you bet.
This joint isn't bad, but give me the
outside, every time. These dam rules
drive a man ScreWyO
when you write a letter write only
your personal affairs; make no men,
ton of others that are here; do not
write anything about the institution
or its officers, either good or bad.
Remember that the warden did not
send for you, but now that you are
here he insists that you live up to the
rules of this institution"
Okeh, buddy, sail right with me.
There goes the guard. Wonder If this
mug neXt door will tip me off to what's
what. Yeah, I'm a machiniSt: TRUSTEES
sleep outside the cells, eh? How can I
get. a working job? Must apply to the
warden. Need a pull, I suppose. He's
pretty fair, eh. What happened to you?
He hit you and they put you both back
inside. Tough luck. Hope I can keep
my temper. You can buy your W
butter? Well, I've got about Sc down
there. Can. check against 1t, eh? Make
a few dimes weaving hOrSehalr belts,
brides and stuff. Swell. Can't get any
m%arijuana. Have to get along without
it. I guess. Sh-h-h, here comes the
guard.
- Well, I've broken my first rule and
got. away with it. Butt had to know,
Won't talk any more. Too risky. I want
to get a job and get out of this damned
cell. They lock you in here after every
meal, and they lock the cell house and
they lock the gates and they lock the
entrance. Locks. locks, locks. And r
bars and more iron bars. And that high
stone wall! with those machine guns at
each corner. Concrete and iron every.
where. Even an iron mattress to: sleep
on. Jeez, why didn't I stay out while
1 was out? Every day the same, every
month the same. Don't do this, don't
do that. Get up, walk out, keep your
arms folded. Walk in again. Ctahg
goes the cell door. Clang! goes the cell
door. These guards have eyes like ice
:: Look like they're just waiting to. sap
up on you. Two years of this. It's going
to be he'll, but I'll be good and get out
in a year. Get away from these silent
mugs that stare at you. Wonder what
that little waitress down in Dago is
doing tonight. Taking out some >goh
for his dough. I suppose. God! I won't
even see a woman for a year: This Is
a hell of a hole. Food tastes the same
And that awful spell at night-pltcl
dark and no sounds except snoring ano
grunting. And I can't sleep here. 1t's
too hot or too cold. I've got an awful
rain. but I don't dare say a word. Day
after day. until you lose track of time
of everything. That guard walking W
and down all the time. It's driving mt
nuts! It's driving me crazy, I tell you
Jeez! Why did I let them get me;
Why did I take that damned car?
WHY didn't they let me Join the arm.
and get killed? Oh, Mother; Mother
Mother!
N. B. So prisoner No. O144301 ended
his first day in the big house: sobbinf
silently for that mother he left behlnc
him, years ago..