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Preparer's Note
Preparer's Note
Typographical errors have been retained in this text. Few people have a comprehensive idea of a penitentiary, especially the daily life of the inmates and the routine work in connection therewith. We will endeavor to give an accurate account of the prisoner's mode of occupation, his ideals, hopes and aspirations and follow him from the day he entered the prison, from his initiation into the various departments, to the day of his final discharge. One of our celebrated poets has truly said: This s
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PREFACE
PREFACE
This stanza sums up the situation very nicely, although prison life is not the horrible nightmare that many authors have depicted. Most writers seem to get their ideas from the comic papers, wherein the prisoner is absurdly cartooned with close-cropped hair, low-browed and villainous looks, dressed in striped clothing of grotesque fit, and in many cases he is pictured chained to the floor by a huge ball and chain. This may have been an authentic description of the average prisoner years ago, but
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THE PRISONER'S RECEPTION AT THE PENITENTIARY
THE PRISONER'S RECEPTION AT THE PENITENTIARY
This officer now takes the new arrival in charge and searches his person thoroughly, empties his pockets of everything they contain, and takes his coat, hat and vest. Any valuables found on him, such as money, jewelry, trinkets, tobacco, etc., are immediately tied up into a bundle and sent to the deputy warden's office. A duplicate receipt is made out for all articles of intrinsic value, is signed by the Captain of the Cellhouse and also by the new arrival so as to insure their safe keeping unti
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BERTILLON MEASUREMENTS
BERTILLON MEASUREMENTS
To Dr. Alphonse Bertillon, the celebrated French anthropologist, the world is indebted for the knowledge of the scientifically demonstrated fact that no two persons are exactly alike in physical measurements. In fact any single individual can be identified from thousands of others by this cleverly thought-out system, which was first adopted in this country in 1887. The accompanying illustrations are self-explanatory. The system embraces three distinct parts: First, the measurement of certain unc
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THE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM
THE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM
Our new arrival is still in the hands of the record officer; his next introduction is to what is known as the “finger-print” system, which method has but recently been inaugurated at the Minnesota State Prison. All prisoners are at first compelled to have “photos” taken of the balls of their fingers, the procedure being very simple. The recording officer has an inking-stone and brayer similar to those used in a print shop for “pulling” proofs. He inks the stone, grasps the outstretched finger of
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THE PRISONER IS ASSIGNED WORK
THE PRISONER IS ASSIGNED WORK
By this time the new arrival is, in all probability, wondering what will happen next, but he is soon enlightened. Work in one of the various departments will be assigned him, for instance, presuming that the shop where he is to be employed is the twine factory, he is turned over to the guard of that particular shop. This officer instructs him very minutely as to shop rules and duties that will devolve upon him, and usually accompanies his instructions with some good, sound advice as to how to be
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THE FIRST NIGHT IN HIS CELL
THE FIRST NIGHT IN HIS CELL
At the close of the first day's work the prisoner is marched to his cell. Just inside the entrance to the cell house he is handed his supper in a tin dish, goes to his cell, previously assigned to him, and remains standing with his right hand on the cell door until the evening count of the number of prisoners in the institution has been verified by the deputy warden. If the count is correct the prisoners are notified by the sounding of a gong near the desk of the cellhouse captain, at which sign
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THE PRISONER'S RELEASE
THE PRISONER'S RELEASE
Now arrives the day so anxiously anticipated by those incarcerated in our penitentiary. A new beginning and a new chapter in their life's history is before them. It is an event that so greatly excites the average outgoing prisoner that he hardly knows what he is doing, and in many cases his nerves are in such a condition that he is unable to sign the receipt for the money that he receives. The inmate in the forenoon is notified of his release, and is immediately taken to the tailor shop, where h
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WHY SOCIETY SHOULD ACCORD HIM A SQUARE DEAL
WHY SOCIETY SHOULD ACCORD HIM A SQUARE DEAL
The discharged prisoner is now in the hands and at the mercy of society. If he is accorded a square deal he may become a useful citizen. If it is his misfortune to become associated with bigoted zealots who taunt him with his past degradation the chances are that he will become a criminal again and prove a source of great expense to the state. In closing this chapter it would be well to suggest that every ex-convict is not a dyed-in-the-wool villian, but that persecution may make him such in the
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DEPARTMENTS AND INDUSTRIES OF THE MINNESOTA STATE PRISON
DEPARTMENTS AND INDUSTRIES OF THE MINNESOTA STATE PRISON
Minnesota should rightly feel proud of her penal institution, and especially of Warden Wolfer, who has advanced the prison to the high standard of efficiency it occupies in the ranks of modern penology. The deputy warden ranks next to the warden in the administration duties of Minnesota's penal institution; in fact, he is the warden's right-hand man in conducting the disciplinary affairs of the institution. Much depends upon his efficiency in promoting harmony and goodwill among the prisoners. T
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THE DINING ROOM
THE DINING ROOM
Two of the inmates' dining rooms are located just above the officers' kitchen and beneath the prison chapel. The population of the prison, however, has increased so rapidly during the past few years that it was found necessary to make room for the overflow in the chapel and mess room opposite the officers' kitchen. One of the rooms in the main dining hall is devoted to first-grade prisoners and the other to the second grade. Entering the dining room, the prisoner promptly takes his seat and rema
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THE IMPLEMENT FACTORY
THE IMPLEMENT FACTORY
At present, although still in embryo, there is in the Stillwater penitentiary a factory devoted exclusively to the manufacture of rakes, mowers and binders, but this branch is just emerging from the experimental stage and may require a year or two to reach a scale large enough to supply the needs of the Minnesota farmers. This factory is in charge of Supt. Downing, an experienced machine man, with years of experience in this kind of work. At present all preliminary work is being carried out and
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PRISON LIBRARY
PRISON LIBRARY
The inmates of the Minnesota State Prison have a fine library of about 6,000 volumes at their disposal, and it is well patronized. The books have been carefully selected, and all those of a suggestive nature or of the “Dead-Eye-Dick” variety have been excluded. Here are many volumes pertaining to history, biography, science, art and fiction, bound magazines, poetry, reference books, etc. However, the intellectual pabulum mostly preferred by the inmates is fiction and bound magazines. The state s
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THE MIRROR OFFICE
THE MIRROR OFFICE
The Prison Mirror, with the exception of the Summary, published at the Elmira reformatory, is the oldest institutional paper in the country. It is also the only paper exclusively managed by prisoners, all other penal and reformatory periodicals being conducted by a high-salaried superintendent or else the policy is under the supervision of the chaplain. The Mirror is issued each Thursday, has a circulation of about 1,500, and is distributed free to the inmates of the institution, who are permitt
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THE BINDERY
THE BINDERY
There is a bindery department in connection with the Mirror office and the prison library in charge of a life prisoner, who learned the business while in the institution from a well qualified short-time inmate. He repairs all the library books, binds the state magazines and attends to the binding of all the printed books, blank forms, etc., issued in the print shop. He is frequently called upon to bind books and magazines for the various state institutions, is a very competent man and performs h
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THE STEWARD'S OFFICE
THE STEWARD'S OFFICE
The steward's office is in charge of Mr. T. W. Alexander, a man who has had at least twenty-five years' experience in institutional work, well qualified to fill the position of chief steward of the prison. All supplies are ordered for the prison through this department and upon receipt are carefully checked to ascertain if they comply with specifications. Supplies are issued from this departemnt on the 5th, 15th and 25th of each month, the heads of the several departments making out requisitions
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THE FEMALE WARD
THE FEMALE WARD
On an average there are ten females in the matron's ward. This department is located above the administration quarters, and is entirely separated from the cell house; it is impossible for the occupants of the latter to communicate with the former. The women's ward is presided over by Miss McKinney, who has been in charge for many years. The rules governing women prisoners are not nearly as strict as those pertaining to the men. Their food, also, is of a better quality. In the summer they are per
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THE GREENHOUSE
THE GREENHOUSE
A large greenhouse is located in the western end of the prison yard, just opposite the prison hospital, presided over by a life prisoner who has been there over eighteen years. By the boys of the institution he is known as “Sindbad the Sailor,” having spent many years on the high seas before the mast in the merchant marine, on board of whalers and in the old navy. The greenhouse supplies flowers for decorating the lawns and park, cut flowers for the hospital inmates, the officers' and guards' me
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THE POWER HOUSE
THE POWER HOUSE
The engine room is located on the main street of the institution, and it is here that power is generated for driving the immense lines of shafting that radiate through [pg 103] the several departments. The power plant is in charge of a chief engineer and several inmate assistants, two of whom are life prisoners, one having charge of the big engine and the other attending to the electric light plant. Both men are under considerable responsibility, but they are conscientious workers and have littl
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THE PRISON FIRE DEPARTMENT
THE PRISON FIRE DEPARTMENT
It is not generally known, but, nevertheless, the prison maintains a well organized fire department. This brigade is not a large one, but as a first aid in case of necessity it is equipped to do efficient service. There are eight prisoners on the day shift and the same on the night crew. The fire alarm system of the prison is as nearly perfect as human ingenuity can devise. There are two hose carts, and frequent experimental runs are made in order to keep the department to a high state of effici
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PRIVILEGES
PRIVILEGES
You are not compelled to attend service, but you are specially requested to do so, believing that the moral support of religeous instruction is necessary to all. You are required to bathe once a week in summer, once in two weeks in winter, and oftener if considered necessary by the prison Physician unless excused by him, the Warden or Warden. On entering the prison you will receive three (3) tickets entitling you to the following privileges as long as you obey strictly all the rules of the priso
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CHAPEL RULES
CHAPEL RULES
Any wilful violation of these rules will be promptly reported, and severely punished if necessary to enforce compliance....
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GRADING RULES
GRADING RULES
The Board of Control by virtue of the authority and power conferred upon them by Section 5 of an act of the Minnesota Legislature, entitled “An Act to regulate the sentencing of prisoners convicted of felony and their subsequent release on parole,” hereby establish three (3) grades of prisoners to be known and designated as the First, Second and Third Grades, together with a system of marks to be governed by the following rules and regulations, which shall be in force and have effect from and af
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LIBRARY RULES
LIBRARY RULES
In ordering books the following directions must be carefully adhered to: Write plainly upon a slip of paper your name and cell number. Underneath place the numbers of fifteen or twenty books you prefer to read. Always take your library book with you when moving from one cell to another. Bear in mind that all books are charged to you and that you will be held strictly responsible for their preservation and safe return. The catalogue and all books charged to you must be accounted for on the day of
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RULES FOR EXCHANGING PAPERS
RULES FOR EXCHANGING PAPERS
Any person wishing to exchange papers or periodicals with other prisoners may do so by observing the following rules: Mark the numbers of the cells to which you wish to send the paper or periodical plainly on the margin thereof and drop it in the exchange box at the foot of the stairs as you go out with your bucket in the morning. After reading papers sent to you scratch your number out and replace papers in the exchange box the following morning, but do not add any numbers to the list nor erase
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RESTORATION OF CITIZENSHIP.
RESTORATION OF CITIZENSHIP.
A convict who shall pass the entire period of his imprisonment without a violation of the rules and discipline, except such as the Warden or Board of Control shall excuse, shall upon his discharge from prison be restored to the rights and privileges forfeited by his conviction, and shall receive from the Governor a certificate under the great seal of the state as evidence of such restoration, to be issued upon presentation to the Governor of a certificate of such conduct, which shall be furnishe
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SOLITARY CONFINEMENT.
SOLITARY CONFINEMENT.
The mode of punishing infractions of the prison rules at the Stillwater penitentiary consists of standing the prisoner on the inside of a cell door; putting his hands through the bars, and handcuffed on the outside. He is kept standing in this position ten hours during the day, and then let down during the night; is allowed only a single slice of bread and a cup of water each day while undergoing punishment. There are no beds in these cells, nothing but a plank on which to sleep. As a rule, pris
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THE TWINE FACTORY
THE TWINE FACTORY
There is a twine factory in operation in the Minnesota State Prison having a yearly capacity of nearly eighteen million pounds of binder twine. This adjunct to the prison's industries was inaugurated about eighteen years ago, the author of the measure being the brilliant Ignatius Donnelly, known as the Sage of Nininger. At that time the farmers of this state were groaning under the iron heel of the trust, being compelled to pay eighteen cents a pound for their twine, but today the prison is manu
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THE STATE BOARD OF PARDONS
THE STATE BOARD OF PARDONS
The members of the State Board of Pardons, next to the weather man, are the most severely criticised in the state of Minnesota, and unjustly so. In the exercise of the authority conferred upon them the Minnesota State Board of Pardons is the most conservative in the United States. Notwithstanding the fact that they grant about seventy-five per cent less pardons than similar bodies in other states, the press, in many instances, holds that it is too liberal in its disposition of mercy. The true fu
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PATHETIC INCIDENTS AT MEETINGS OF PARDON BOARD.
PATHETIC INCIDENTS AT MEETINGS OF PARDON BOARD.
“My little girl Virginia, only four years old, has been praying to Santa Claus every night for the past week, instead of to God. She has asked Santa every night to give her her papa for Christmas.” “It seems all a dream, and I am afraid that I will awake to find it isn't true. But I felt all day that the pardon would come. I don't know why it was, but I caught myself singing this morning as I went about the house. It is the happiest day of my life. It will be the happiest Christmas that my famil
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A NOVEL VOLUME.
A NOVEL VOLUME.
“Convict Life at the Minnesota State Prison” Published by Mr. W. C. Heilbron of St. Paul. “Convict Life at the Minnesota State Prison,” of which Mr. W. C. Heilbron, assistant public examiner, St. Paul, is the author and publisher, is a neat volume, replete with halftone illustrations of scenes, views and incidents of this institution, occupying 134 pages of text, including pictures. The frontispiece is a remarkably good likeness of Hon. Henry Wolfer, the warden, under whose guidance during the p
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EDITORIAL.
EDITORIAL.
On the first page of this issue of The Mirror will be found a brief review of the volume entitled “Convict Life at the Minnesota State Prison.” Until recently the publication of matter of that character has been tabooed by managers of penal institutions. However, there is no harm in such publicity. Conditions are constantly improving and penologists recognize that fact. Corporal punishment and the lockstep have been abolished in many prisons. The problem confronting wardens is not “how to punish
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