the twin hells(两个地狱)-第43节
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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 chains。 Standing at the post； in
a helpless condition； he receives the lash。 The whip consists of several
leather straps； or thongs； at the ends of which small pieces of steel are
fastened。 Every blow brings the blood。 I have been told by reliable persons
that； at times； prisoners have been so severely flogged that the blood；
flowing down their limbs into their shoes would fill them and run out over
the tops。 This seems barbarous in the extreme； and my humane reader at
once cries out； 〃It should not be tolerated。〃 In Missouri this flogging of
human beings in prison has been going on for more than fifty years。 After
the punishment is over； the prisoner； half dead with fright and pain； is led
back to his cell； where he remains for a day or two； that he may recuperate。
He throws himself down on his 〃bunk；〃 and remains there for hours； the
blood still flowing from his lacerated back。 Often the blanket on which he
lies； sticks to his bleeding back； and a fellow convict is asked； often； to
assist in removing it。 Many a poor fellow carries with him through life the
scars which were made while a convict in this prison。 One day while I was
working in the coal mines of the Kansas penitentiary； a fellow… convict
showed me his scarred back。 He had served a term in the Missouri
penitentiary； and while there had been severely whipped。 His back told the
story too plainly that his whipping had been a severe and cruel one。 It
would seem that the day of the whipping…post had passed away； that the
doors of our advanced civilization were shut against it。
Many of the prison officials claim that it is the most healthy mode of
inflicting punishment； that to place a convict in a dungeon and to feed him
on bread and； water is far more injurious to his health than to give him a
good 〃paddling；〃 and it don't require so long to do the work。 The same
results are reached more quickly。 Others claim that it is impossible to have
good prison discipline without resorting to the lash。 This statement is not
correct。 There is no better discipline to be found in any penal institution；
than that in the Kansas penitentiary； where no prisoner ever receives a
stroke from a whip。 The laws of that State forbid it。 In our humble
judgment it would be the best thing that the Missouri Legislature could do
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at its next session； to prohibit any further use of the lash。 Sometimes a
paddle is used； with small holes bored in the end； and every time this
paddle strikes the nude flesh； blisters are raised。 Again； another instr
