Laurel outlook., 1950-05-24
Life in. Prison
Can Be 'Funny,'
One Girl Claims

NOTRE DAME, IND. Life in
prison?
Aw, it's not so terrible. But that
depends upon which side Of the
bars you may be. However, life
in prison can be very funny, &C.
cording to an inmate of Statewide
prison at Joliet. III.
The Inmate" referred to is a tall
blonde of 81 with a slow smile and
soft voice. She is Jane Ragen, and
why life in prison may not be so
tough for her is due to the fact
that she is the daughter of Joseph
Ragen, the warden at Statewide.
She is a senior at st. Mary's col
lege here.
There's nothing really unusual
about her home life, Jane asserts.
A police guard or two outside the
Ragen apartment, meals cooked
and served by convicts, wardens
and other minions of the law as
frequent house guests-but nothing
unusual.
'It's just ordinary to u.s." says
the girl who has spent her life in
prison.
Jane and her brother, Bill, a 20
year old student at st. Ambrose
college in Davenport, Iowa, were
born and brought up inside prison
walls.
Mother Went as Bride
With a straight face. Jane ex-
plains, my mother went to prison
as a bride"
For the last IS years, the Ragens
have lived in their 10 room apart
ment in the administration build
ing at Statewide. Previous to 1885,
Ragen was warden at Menard
prison in Chester, IL.
Not that living inside prison gates
put a damper on James childhood.
She and Bill played cops and rob-
bers In back of the prison with the
neighborhood kids with just as
much zest and more authenticity
than most. Their wooden guns were
handmade for them by the con
victs.
The convicts were good to the
children, Jane recalls. Bill, in his
preschool days, had one favorite
who dressed and undressed him
each morning and evening. No n
else could touch him.
The day this convict was to be re-
leased on parole, Mr.. and Mrs. Ra-
gen took a short trip. The convict
requested leave to stay on in prison
until the Ragens returned. For who
would dress Bill if he wasn't there?
Jane, who is majoring in English
and mirroring in journalism at st.
Mary's college, says her main am
bition, in addition to working on a
newspaper, is to write a book about
life in prison. 1t will be a comedy.
Except for the time that James
Stewart, Richard Conte and Lee j.
Cobb were dinner guests Of the
Ragens during the filming Of "Can
Northside TT" at Statewide, Jane
SAYS prison life isn't too exciting.
No Spectacular Breaks
There haven't been any spectacu-
lar prison breaks as far back as
Jane can remember.
There may have been a couple
of attempts, but mother and I were
always in Chicago, shopping, when
they happened"
The only time Jane can recall
coming near a prison "break" was
the night at dinner her mother was
describing an expensive tablecloth
she had seen that day in Chicago.
One of the walters, a Texan who
was in prison because of an affinity
for other peoples belongings, how
cred over the table, listening close
ly to Mrs. Ragen.
Finally he leaned over confiden-
TALLY and said, well, now, Mrs.
Ragen, if you'll just let me out for
a day, I'll be glad to get that table,
cloth for you"
Mrs. Ragen refused the offer. But
it gave Jane the idea for a comedy
on prison life. And, when you think
about it, it's not a bad idea.