the twin hells(两个地狱)-第48章
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detention in prison； without remedial influences； is not more of a loss than
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a gain。 The critical time of a prisoner； desirous of building up a new life； is
when he crosses the threshold of the prison and goes out into the world。
He is met with distrust wherever his past is known。 He is in constant terror
of exposure if he tries to keep it secret。 And what does the State do to put
him on his feet or to give him a chance？ It gives him a few dollars to carry
him here or there； and bids him shift for himself。 And finding every
avenue of honest employment closed against him； he is driven in
desperation； however well disposed he may be； to renew his criminal
habits and associates。 What； then； are the remedies； as far as the prison
system is concerned？ Chiefly； classification。 Let not one who desires to
reform be compelled to associate with those who are almost sure to
degrade and debase him。 The neglect of discriminating classification of
offenders is a dark stain upon civilization。 Then； again； I believe it to be
the duty of the State to reinstate the penitentiary man in society。 This may
be secured by a conditional discharge； the finding of work for him； and the
obligation to report himself at stated periods to the proper authority。
〃I have regarded it as within the province of my office to thus briefly
set forth what I have gathered from experience in my intercourse with
convicts； as well as from sober conviction； after mature deliberation。 Let
the State consider and act。
TABLE SHOWING SENTENCES OF CONVICTS DURING
THE YEARS 1887 AND 1888。
Years。 Mos。 No。
1 2 1 。。。 14 1 6
1 2 。。。 745 2 3 1 2
6 15 2 8 8 3 。。。
296 3 6 8 4 。。。 86 4
4 1 4 6 1 5 。。。 164
6 。。。 12 7 。。。 21 8 。。。
6 10 。。。 72 11 。。。 3
12 。。。 8 13 。。。 1 14 。。。
1 15 。。。 13 18 。。。 2
20 。。。 10 21 。。。 2 22 。。。
1 25 。。。 13 30 。。。 2
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35 。。。 1 38 。。。 2 48 。。。
1 50 。。。 2 99 。。。 4 Life 。。。
4 Total 1523
I have here inserted the foregoing table to show the reader about how
the sentences are。 It will be observed that of the one thousand five hundred
and twenty…three prisoners admitted during the past two years； seven
hundred and forty…five of them； or nearly one…half； have but a two…years'
sentence。 This shows that the crimes committed were not very 〃horrible in
their nature；〃 or the sentences imposed would have been more severe。 This
is probably the first offense for these offenders。 By good conduct in the
prison one…fourth of their time will be deducted。 This will give them but
eighteen months of actual service。 What can they accomplish in so short a
time？ The contractors care but little for them； since their time will expire
before they can master a trade and be of any service。 Had these youthful
offenders been given a term in a county jail or reformatory； would not
justice been satisfied； and there would have been more hope for the
prisoner as to the future。 HE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A
PENITENTIARY CONVICT。 I hope soon to see the day when the great
State of Missouri will have a reformatory institution which will receive the
wayward youth of that great commonwealth； and； after keeping and
training them for a time； will send them out into the world stronger and
better men than when first received。 So far as reformation is concerned；
the Missouri penitentiary is a dismal failure。
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CHAPTER XVIII
PRISON DISCIPLINE
The Missouri penitentiary ranks among the leading penal institutions
of the country in matter of discipline。 The rules and regulations are placed
in the hands of the prisoner as soon as he enters。 If an inmate obeys these
rules and regulations he will be let alone； and will go through his term of
service without being punished。 If he becomes unruly and disobedient he
will be punished； and that； too； very severely。
Each prisoner is allowed one pound of tobacco a month for chewing
and smoking purposes。 In this prison the inmate is permitted to smoke in
his cell。 This is the only institution with which I am acquainted that
permits smoking。 The prisoners seem to enjoy their smoke very much； and
I do not see but that it is just the thing； for if a person on the outside takes
comfort from the use of his pipe； much more will the man who sits in the
solitude of a felon's cell。 If a prisoner violates a prison rule his tobacco is
taken away from him for a time。 The majority of the inmates will obey the
rules of the prison through fear of having their tobacco； taken away from
them。 Each prisoner also has access to the books of the library； and
another mode of punishment is to deprive the offender the use of the
library for a time。 This； also； has a very salutary effect。 Another mode of
punishment； is to place the unruly convict in a dungeon and feed him
nothing but bread and water。 The prisoner on entering this dreary abode
must leave behind him his hat； coat and shoes； and in this condition he is
required often to spend days and weeks in solitary confinement。 The
dungeon contains no furniture of any description save a night bucket。
Prisoners do not remain in these dark holes very long until they promise
obedience。 It is one of the most successful modes of prison punishment。 In
case of a second or third offense； and sometimes for the first； in case it is a
bad one； the offender is liable to receive a flogging。
This is one of the few penal institutions in our country where the cat…
o'…nine…tails is used。 When a prisoner's conduct has been such that it is
deemed advisable to whip him； he is taken from his cell and led to a post
in the rear of one of the large buildings； out of sight of the other convicts。
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His clothing is then removed； with the exception of his shoes。 These are
left on his feet to catch the blood that flows down his limbs。 In this nude
condition he is tightly bound to a post with c
