the twin hells(两个地狱)-第36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！
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
147
… Page 148…
THE TWIN HELLS
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 instrument
of punishment in use is a thick； broad； leather strap； fastened in a wooden
handle； at the end of which lateral incisions are made that give it the
appearance of a saw。 There is no trouble in raising huge blisters 〃with this
engine of warfare。〃 All these modes are barbarous； and should be
forbidden。 Whenever severe punishment becomes essential； let the
prisoner remain in the dungeon； living on bread and water until he
promises； in good faith； to behave himself。 A great deal of useless
punishment can be avoided if the officer in charge of the prison discipline
is a humane man and a good judge of human nature； and no other should
be permitted to fill this important position。 We must not； however； be too
hasty in condemning prison officials for harsh treatment of those under
their charge。 They have some of the most desperate men on the face of the
earth to deal with； and at times it becomes a necessity to use harsh
measures。 Notwithstanding this is all true； there are but very few human
beings but what have white spots in their otherwise darkened souls； and
often a word of kindness does more than a cruel blow from a merciless
officer。
The excellent discipline of this institution is due； in the main； to
Captain Bradbury； the deputy warden。 He is beyond doubt； one of the best；
and most experienced prison men in the United States。 He has been
connected with the Missouri prison for thirty…three years。 The warden
looks after the finances of the institution； and it belongs to Captain
Bradbury to hold in subjection the two thousand criminals that are
crowded together in that small prison enclosure。 This celebrated deputy
warden is a Virginian by birth。 He is sixty…two years of age。 He served in
the Mexican war； and now draws a pension from the Government； because
of his services there。 If a prisoner conducts himself properly； Captain
Bradbury will treat him as humanely as he can under the circumstances。 If
he becomes willful and unruly； the Captain no doubt will take great
pleasure in giving the offender 〃a good paddling；〃 to use his own forcible
expression。 This official is a strong advocate of corporal punishment。 He
148
… Page 149…
THE TWIN HELLS
claims that a 〃little loosening up of the hide〃 of an obstreperous prisoner
does the said prisoner a vast amount of good。 Among the convicts the
deputy warden is austere。 He is never seen sauntering about the prison
enclosure with his long arms entwined about any of 〃the boys in stripes。〃
He claims； that too great a familiarity breeds contempt。 This seeming
harshness when in the presence of the prisoners is only borrowed for the
occasion； for； away from the convicts； there is not a more social gentleman
in the State of Missouri。 Great credit is due to Captain Bradbury for his
excellent management of this institution； under such unfavorable
circumstances。 Could he be persuaded to quit the use of the whipping post；
and use other measures less barbarous； I think the same discipline could be
secured； as now exists。 The officers here do not seem to be so exacting as
in many other prisons。 In the Kansas penitentiary； when prisoners are in
ranks going to and from their meals； their cells； or workshops； they are
required to fold their arms； and keep their eyes fixed upon the back of the
one's head just in front。 No gazing about is permitted； and should a
prisoner speak to one in the front of him and be detected； he would be
summarily dealt with。 In the Missouri prison I noticed that the convicts
while marching would gaze about wherever they wished； and go swinging
along with their arms dangling at their sides。 In many prisons the inmates
are required； while in ranks； to keep their hands on the shoulders of the
man in front。 This would seem to be the most desirable way of having the
prisoners march。 In this prison one can detect more of a homelike feeling；
not so rigorous and exacting as in many institutions of this nature。 Captain
Todd； assistant deputy warden； is another official of long standing。 He has
been with this prison for eighteen years； and is very popular。 In this
connection we must not fail to mention Captain Crump； who has been
connected with this prison for thirty…six years； but who was discharged
during the last administration because of his making statements to the
effect that the prison was run by a political ring。〃 He is now deputy
marshal of Jefferson City； and is a faithful officer。 He incurred the
displeasure of the contractors because of the grave charges he made
against them； because of their inhuman demands upon the prisoners；
requiring of them more work than they were able to perform。 Because of
149
… Page 150…
THE TWIN HELLS
his humaneness； and because he wanted to see the helpless prisoner treated
as he should be； after thirty…six years of faithful service was discharged
from the institution。 In 1883 there was an investigation made of many
serious charges preferred against the contractors and some of the leading
officials。 The committee made their report to the governor； and some five
hundred pamphlets containing this report were printed for distribution。
When the Legislature met none of these books could be found； and the
whole matter was a specimen of whitewash。 The report contained some
very damaging charges； but nothing was ever done with the matter。 I
visited the office of the secretary of state and asked to see one of these
books； but even his office did not contain a copy of this State document。
The Legislature should keep a watchful eye over this penal institution； and；
while there should be good discipline maintained； the prisoners should not
be treated in a barbarous manner。
A PARDONING BOARD
The governor has the pardoning power。 He extends executive
clemency to a number annually。 He has not time to attend to the duties
connected with this prerogative。 There are 2；000 prisoners。 No doubt
many of them have excessive sentences。 If a thorough investigation was
made； many would be found innocent。 The governor has not the time to
attend to these matters。 There should be a pardoning board appointed to
investigate these cases and advise with the governor。 To show the
necessity of such a board； I have only to state that during the past year the
Pardoning Board of Kansas has advised executive clemency to fifteen
criminals who received their pardons on the grounds of innocency。 One of
the number being a Mrs。 Henrietta Cook； who was sentenced for life； and
who had served fifteen years of imprisonment； when； upon an
investigation of her case by the Pardoning Board； she was discharged；
there being no doubt as to her innocence。 The great majority of these
prisoners are poor and friendless。 They have no one on the outside to aid
them in securing their rights； and unless a pardoning board is appointed to
investigate these cases； many a man and woman entirely innocent； will
have to serve out a sentence in this prison。
It is but natural for the contractors to use their influence to prevent the
150
… Page 151…
THE TWIN HELLS
men under their control from receiving pardons。 If a man is sentenced for
ten years； and has been in one of the shops for two or three years； and has
learned to do his work well； the contractor will want to keep him instead
of letting him go； and will；
