the twin hells(两个地狱)-第45章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
receives a first…class meal。 This is a capital idea。 A great deal of sickness is
prevented by thus permitting the convict to have an occasional change of
diet。 On holidays； such as Thanksgiving day； Christmas； etc。； an extra
dinner is given； which is keenly relished by all。 I have before me a
statement of the expenses for a Sunday breakfast and dinner。 There are
only two meals given on Sunday。 The hash was made up of 612 pounds of
134
… Page 135…
THE TWIN HELLS
beef； 90 pounds of bacon； and 30 bushels of potatoes。 Fifty…one pounds of
coffee were used； and four and a half barrels of flour。 The entire meal cost
68。38。
For dinner； 1；585 pounds of beef； 30 bushels of potatoes； and 4 1/2
barrels of flour； were used。 This meal cost 100。61。 It costs about ten cents
each a day to feed the prisoners。 Some of the convicts； after they get their
daily tasks performed； do overwork。 The contractors pay them small sums
for this extra labor。 With this money the convict is permitted to purchase
apples from the commissary department； which he can take to his cell and
eat at his leisure。 The commissary keeps these apples on hand at all times
in packages； which he sells to the prisoners at twenty cents each。 In prison；
apples are the most healthful diet the inmate can have。 Should friends on
the outside desire to send delicacies to any of the prisoners； they are
permitted to receive the same； and； taking them to their cells； eat at their
leisure。 These luxuries are highly appreciated by the men in stripes； whose
daily food is largely made up of hash and corn bread。 The female prisoners
must subsist on the same kind of food as the males。 In some penal
institutions； Kansas for example； the women have better diet than is
furnished the men。 Not so in this penitentiary。 All are treated alike； so far
as food is concerned。
Three times each day the men march into the large dining…hall； which
accommodates 1；500； and partake of their meals。 The tableware is of tin
and somewhat meager。 The tables themselves present the appearance of
the modern school…desk； being long enough that twenty men may be
comfortably seated at each。 No table…linen is used。 When eating； the
convict is not permitted to call for anything he may wish。 When a dish is
empty it is held aloft； and an officer or a convict waiter replenishes it。
Ample time is given to eat。 All have a sufficiency of food such as it is。
Every thing is clean。 After the meal is over； the prisoners； in ranks； return
to their workshops； or to their cells in case it is the last meal of the day。 It
is a very interesting sight to witness 1；500 convicts eating at the same
time。
The officials are to be commended for the following privileges they
grant the prisoners： On all holidays； such as Fourth of July； Christmas； etc。；
135
… Page 136…
THE TWIN HELLS
they are let out of their cells into a large open square； inside the prison
walls； and are allowed to converse with each other； and are given full
liberty to do as they wish。 These are days of freedom。 Officers； of course；
are among them to see that no fighting occurs； and also to prevent any
from effecting their escape by scaling the walls。 The prisoners do certainly
enjoy these times。 They shake hands with each other； run about； shout；
leap for joy； and have more real happiness than a lot of school…boys who
have been shut up in a room all day at their studies and are in the evening
turned out for play。 The men are very careful not to abuse this privilege
which they prize very highly。 There never have been any disturbances； nor
fights； nor attempts at escape during these holidays。 These privileges
granted the prisoners demonstrate the humaneness of the prison officials。
The question often arises； why is it there are no more riots and
insurrections in this prison。 Here are nearly two thousand men huddled up
together。 They are prisoners； suffering the worst kind of bondage。 Why is
it they do not make a rush for liberty whenever an opportunity presents
itself？ Many of them are in for life； and may never again see beyond their
prison walls。 Why are they so docile？ These questions can be easily
answered。 Many of the men are short…time prisoners； having from one to
three years； and cannot afford to get into trouble； as their time is short。
Added to this； if the prisoner behaves himself； and obtains a good prison
record； he obtains a pardon and restoration to citizenship when three…
fourths of his time has expired。 If a man is sent for ten years； by good
conduct he will be pardoned at the end of seven and a half years。 This is a
great inducement to good behavior。 The reason the life…men cause but little；
if any； disturbance in the prison is； that they all have a hope sometime or
other of receiving a pardon； and they know very well that； if they do not
have a good prison record； they can never obtain a pardon。 A custom also
prevails at the prison； that has much to do in causing the long…time men to
behave themselves； and be obedient to the regulations of the institution。
Every Fourth of July and Christmas the governor of the State grants
pardons to two long…time men； so there are four chances annually for a
man to obtain his freedom。 Before the governor will pardon one of these
men； he must be satisfied； among other things； that the convict has a good
136
… Page 137…
THE TWIN HELLS
prison record。
Any one can readily see that this is a great inducement for the prisoner
to behave himself。 Missouri is the only State； so far as my knowledge
extends； that has this custom。 It should become； not only a custom； but a
law； in every State。 It is founded on good sense。
THE PRISONER'S SENTENCE
I believe in capital punishment。 When a man falls so low as
maliciously； willfully and premeditatedly； to take the life of a human being；
he should be hung by the neck until he is dead。 Before it is just to impose
such a sentence as this upon a human being he should have a fair and
impartial trial； which many persons charged with crime do not get。 If poor
and unable to employ the best legal talent； the court should see that it is
furnished。 Too often is it the case when a poor man； charged with crime；
makes affidavit that he is unable to procure counsel； that some young and
inexperienced attorney is selected； in order to give him a start in practice。
The consequence of this inexperience is that the man charged with crime
has to suffer for his lawyer's inability to secure for him his rights。 After the
jury has brought in a verdict of guilty he should have the privilege of
taking his case to the Supreme Court； and have it reviewed by that tribunal
at the expense of the State。 No human being should be hung on
circumstantial evidence； unsupported by positive
