OCR Interpretation


The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, April 06, 1893, Image 3

Image and text provided by Minnesota Historical Society; Saint Paul, MN

Persistent link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86063465/1893-04-06/ed-1/seq-3/

What is OCR?


Thumbnail for

3£freffrisou!Mimrr.
THURSDAY April <>. 18113.
PRISON OFFICIALS.
M ANAGERS.
EDWIN DUNN. President Evota,
JOHN F. NORItISH Hastings.
JAS. S. O’BRIEN Stillwater.
F. W. TEMPLE Blue Earth City,
M. O. HA LI Duluth.
RESIDENT OFFICIALS.
HENRY WOLFER Warden.
F. H. LEMON Deputy Warden.
E. A. O’BRIEN ...Clerk,
B. J. MERRILL Physician
MRS. H. A. WALKER Matron,
J. H. ALBERT Protestant Chaplain,
CHARLES CORCORAN Catholic Chaplain.
PRISON AGENT.
CLARK CHAMBERS Owatonna,
LOG/XLi fIGKINQS
—Population, 323.
—Weather superb
—Received. 4; discharged, 5.
—Are yon going to the World s Fair?
—The clock in the cellhouse has been repaired.
—Guard Orff has been placed on the sick list.
—Col. Chambers paid the prison a visit last
Thursday.
—Steward Benner passed Sunday at his home
in Minneapolis.
—Guard Bordwell's absence is occasioned by
the serious illness of his daughter.
—Guard Qallagher says that the only ball lie
attended was the baby’s bawl at home.
—Ass’t Deputy Glennon lias moved his office
to the front room of the “ lower office.”
—Hospital Steward Hall has been doing a com
fortable business in vaccination bill ing the past
week.
—Miss Shaw, daughter of F. N. Shaw of St.
Paul, and Manager O’Brien’s three children visit
ed us Tuesday.
—Statement of population April 5: Working
for Thresher Co.. 133; working for state, 162; sick
and infirm. 8. Total population, 323.
—The Mirror addressed to Miss Hattie Ells
worth. Minneapolis, should be changed from 314
Hennepin Avenue to 13 S. E. Maine St.
—Sheriff's Geo. H. Monroe of Stevens Co., Al
len Mollison of Mower Co., and Reuben Clewett.
Deputy of Ramsey Co., were callers this week.
—Two men were transferred from the tailor,
shop to the machine-shop on account of work be
ing somewhat slack in the former department.
—The following table is the grade report for
the mouth of April;
First grade...i UK)
Second grade 110
Third grade 17
—Mr. Hart Row. of Minneapolis, the state
agent of the National Fire ins. Co., paid the
prison a visit Tuesday. He attends to a part of
the prison’s insurance.
—A lire alarm box, connecting the prison with
the central lire alarm station in the city, has
been placed against the outside wall of the en
gine room near the main door. The number of
the box is 15.
—Prisoners received during the week: From
Stevens Co., 1 for murder first degree, life; Mow
er Co., l for burglary and assault, <; years; /im«-
sey Co., 2 for grand larceny second degree, 2
years and 3 years respectively.
—The way in which our waiter boys in the
dining room dodge each other in the “alleys,”
when serving the food, carry us back to the days
of the dear old Virginia Keel. By the way, Sieg
fried will make an excellent leader of a German
when he leaves here.
—Last week Warden Wolfer extended the
courtesies of the prison to Mr. H. D. Brown, the
senior member of the firm of Brown, Treacy &
Co., of St. Paul. Mr. Brown was a visitor to our
sanctum, and was pleased with the way Thk
Mirror w r as conducted.
—Capt. Ben Cayou has military genius of a high
order, and last Tuesday lie marshalled the entire
cellhouse force, ami forming them into compan
ies, regiments and brigades, lie put them through
the “broom drill.” The “boys” didn’t show
much enthusiasm for this kind of drill,
—One of the new arrivals w as suffering consid
erable with an ingrowing nail and “ Doc ” Hall
was called upon to “ operate ”on the man. The
nail was so deeply imlieddeil in the flesh that it
necessitated using extreme measures, and the
young man had to lose considerable of his blue
blood after the operation was performed. Both
man and nail are doing well.
—On account of the press of business the car
penters have been unable to get around to the
dining room to remove from the tables the neces
sary number of seats in order that more room
can be given to the boys while seated. The ex
periment has been tried on a couple of the tables
to the satisfaction of the management.
—The freight elevator in the twine factory
through some mysterious agency broke loose on
Monday from the top floor, and fell with a crash
to the bottom. The convict, who runs the same,
was reclining on some bales of hemp at the time,
and though falling with the elevator he very
fortunately escaped being injured if not killed.
It will be sometime yet before the " lift ” will
be in running order again.
'
—Several of the boys, armed with shovels and
picks, have been busy during a couple days clear
ing away the snow and ice which had accumulat
ed in great quantities on Main and adjacent
streets of our prison home.
—The G. A. R. Relief Corps of Stillwater gave a
ball on Monday night, and it was, we understand,
one of the swell affairs of the season. Many of
the guards of this prison are members of the
Corps, and those who were able to get away from
duty were present and enjoyed themselves very
much. Long life to the G. A. R. Relief Corps.
—lt was an innocent looking padlock that se
cured the door of a certain closet in the engine
room. It was a beautiful smile that illumined
the classical ’features of a man named Jones.
His Siren-like voice was as melodious as the
rushing waters. We accepted his invitation to
pass comment on the quality, of that piece of
hardware. We did. We were elevated, we
think, into space about 400 feet. We retired to a
corner and thought deeply over the occurrence;
and then, and only then, it Hashed through us
that it was April Fool’s day and that Jones had
charged that padlock with 400 tons of Edison’s
best.
—The last quadrille had been danced, and
the soft strains of “ Home. Sweet Home ” floated
through the air. The ladies had given each
other the liurried-whispered “good night,” and
the Third Annual Ball given by the Boiler Mak
ers Association had passed into history of musi
cal gatherings as one the most noted ever held
in the city of Stillwater. < >ne hundred and liTty
couples glided over the mirror-like floor of Music
Hall as the
“ Music arose with voluptuous swell.
Soft eyes look’d love to eyes which spake again.
And all went merry as a marriage bell.”
We are indebted to Ass’t Deputy Glennon for
one of the beautiful programs. Mr. Glennon
was one of the floor managers, and with the as
sistance of Messrs. Irving, Cummings, Maloney,
and Akins “ wall-flowers ” were not permitted
to adorn the ball room.
—A committee of the state Farmer's Alliance
composed of President Donnelly, R. J. Hall. H.
F. Bjorge and Robert Eckford were guests of the
board of managers yesterday. The object of the
committee’s visit was to try to formulate a plan
for handling a part of the twine output of the pris
on for the benefit of the farmers. The prisoners
were agreeably surprised during dinner by the
entrance of Mr. Donnelly, and after we had made
a good inroad on our meal we were called to or
der by Warden Wolfer who called our attention
to the presence of our distinguished visitor. For
fully fifteen minutes the Senator kept his audi
ence enjoying the sound of his well-known voice,
and the fatherly advice that lie gave us was no
doubt fully appreciated by every convict present.
Before closing he told us that our Warden had
asked if there was anything he could do. and he
in turn asked for the granting of some privelege
to the boys in remembrance of his visit. The
privelege of writing an extra letter was granted
to the men.
The Review of Reviews for April is unusually
profuse in its illustrations. Perhaps none of its
other illustrated articles w ill attract more atten
tion than one upon the question of dress reform
from the standpoint of the World’s Fair. The
Woman’s National Council is proposing to in
augurate a movement for short and comfortable
walking dresses, and the Review of Reviews pub
lishes a number of very interesting portraits of
well-known ladies as photographed in their
dress-reform street gowns, several of the photo
graphs- being specially taken for this number.
Easter Sunday dawned fair and
bright, without a cloud to mar the
beauty of the day which is observed
throughout Christendom in commemo
ration of our Lord Jesus Christ. At
8 a. m. Rev. Father O’Brien, of St.
Michael's church, read mass for the
benefit of those who are of the Catholic
faith, a beautifully painted altar having
been prepared for the occasion. After
mass the regular Catholic services were
held, Father O'Brien preaching a power
ful sermon appropriate to the day. At
the conclusion of the chapel services we
returned to our cells until the noon
hour, and were then marched to the
dining hall. Steward Benner had not
forgotten what was due to the occasion,
and in addition to our usual Sunday
dinner three boiled eggs were placed at
each man’s plate. After dinner we were
again locked in our cells, and many of
us who have passed other Easter days
here in prison and had learned to look
forward to this day in anticipation of a
visit from the Rt. Rev. Bishop M. X.
Gilbert, began to fear that something
had prevented him from being with us
on this occasion. But the good Bishop
did not disappoint us, for at 3 p. >i. we
were marched to the chapel, and a few
minutes after we were seated the Bish
op, accompanied by the Rev. A. D.
Stowe and Rev. J. H. Albert, ascended
the platform. The services began by
the prison choir singing the anthem,
“ The Lord Is Risen.” After a prayer
by the Rev. A. D. Stowe the Ascension
church choir, under the leadership of
Prof. Blakie, and Mrs. C. H. Browne,
organist, sang the anthem “Jubilate,”
Easter With Us.
Bishop (Gilbert then arose ami prefaced
his sermon by saying that he had missed
being with us but one Easter Sunday
during the past six years, and that he
was always glad to be with us on this
day to bring a little sunshine into our
darkened lives. The Bishop under
stands the weakness of pur nature, and
has the rare faculty of appealing direct
to the hearts and judgment of his
audience, and throughout his sermon
he was listened to with profound in
terest; and his fervid language and the
earnestness of his manner could not
fail to make a deep and lasting impres
sion for good upon his hearers. At the
conclusion of the Bishop's address the
congregation sang, “God Be With You
Till We Meet Again.” And thus ended
our Easter Sunday in prison. But the
memory of the day will live in our
thoughts and strengthen us to bear the
heavy burdens of life patiently and
hopefully.
Snap Shots.
Minnesota believes in looking at both
sides of a thing. She appoints a com
mittee to investigate the good roads
plans, and, another committee to in
vestigate the had Khodes’ plans.
I always thought that something bad
would come of that “In God We Trust”
silver dollar worth only (54 100 of what
it represents, and now you can see for
yourself what a lot of skin trusts it has
fathered.
First Grade Convict: That was an
excellent dinner we had Easter day!
Second Grade Convict: Yes. decided
ly. Eggs-a-lent dinner.
Third Grade Convict: We had an
egg-cell-lent dinner, too.
What a man does may sometimes
prove his ingenuity. What he does not
do, may sometimes prove his claim to
wisdom.
A good for nothing fellow—The one
who does not derive any benelit from
being good.
A problematical solution Cheap
whisky.
Nineteenth century Ruler works ei
ther way Do a cash business on a trust
basis, or, a trust business on a cash ba
sis. R. M.
The Parole Bill
The bill introduced by Senator San
born "to regulate the sentencing of
persons convicted of felony and their
subsequent release on parole" was pass
ed by the Legislature, and has now be
come a law. The following is the bill
in full:
Be it < naeted hi/ tin Legislature of the State of
Minnesota.
Section l. That whenever any person not less
than sixteen i It!) years of age who has never be
fore been convicted of crime, shall he convicted
of an offense punishable by imprisonment in the
Minnesota State Prison, such criminal may, in
the discretion of the court, be sentenced to the
Minnesota State Prison in like manner and on
like conditions as prescribed in section eleven
(.111 of chapter two hundred and eight (208) of
the General Laws of Minnesota, for one thousand
eight hundred and eighty-seven (1887), providing
for the sentencing of convicts to the Minnesota
State Reformatory. Such sentence shall be des
ignated as a sentence to the State Prison upon
the reformatory plan. In respect to the convict
so sentenced, the board of managers of the state
prison shall have the same power and authority
as the board of managers of the reformatory to
grant paroles and releases to convicts, upon the
like terms and conditions as prescribed in sec
tions fourteen (14) and fifteen (15) of chapter two
hundred and eight (208) of the General Laws of
Minnesota, for the year one thousand eight
hundred and eighty-seven (1887).
Sec. 2. The clerk of the court in which any
person is convicted and sentenced, as prescribed
in the preceeding section, shall, as soon as may
be, make out and deliver to the sheriff of the
county in which the conviction and sentence is
had, a certified record containing a copy of the
indictment and of the plea thereto, the name
and residence of the judge presiding at the trial;
also the jurors and witnesses sworn on the trial,
such synopsis of the testimony as the judge may
direct, the charge of the court, the verdict, the
sentence pronounced and the date thereof, which
certified record shall be sufficient authority for
the sheriff of the county in which the conviction
and sentence was had, to execute such sentence
by carrying and delivering the person convicted
to the warden of the state prison, with whom the
certified copy of the record aforsaid is to be tiled
at the time of the delivery of the person convicted.
The necessary expenses and legal fees of sher
iffs and other officers, incurred in conveying con
victs to the state prison who have been sentenced
to imprisonment therein, under the provisions of
this act, shall be paid in like manner as pre
scribed in section twenty-nine (29) of chapter tw r o
hundred and fifty-four (254) of the General
Laws of Minnesota for the year one thousand
eight hundred and eighty-nine (1889).
Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the superintendent
'
of the Minnesota state reformatory, at the close
of each calendar month, to notify each judge of
the district court in the State of Minnesota how
many prisoners are in confinement in said re
formatory on the last day of the month, and no
convict above the age of 21 years shall be sen
tenced to the state reformatory, unless the re
port of the superintendent shall, show that the
number of available cells in said reformatory
was at least four (4) more than the number of
prisoners in confinement at the close of the pro
ceeding month.
Sec. 4. The board of managers of the Minne
sota state prison shall have authority, under such
rules and regulations as the governor may pre
scribe. to issue a parole to any prisoner, except
ing life convicts, who is now or hereafter may be
imprisoned in said state prison, whether com
mitted on a time sentence or on the reformatory
plan, provided:
1. That no convict shall be so paroled who is
known to have served a previous sentence in any
prison for a felony.
2. That no convict who is serving a time sen
tence shall be paroled until lie lias served at least
one-half of the full term for which he was sen
tenced, not reckoning any good time.
3. That no convict who is serving a life sen
tence shall be paroled.
4. That such convicts, while on parole, shall
remain in the legalcustody and under the control
of the board of managers and sub ject at any time
to be taken back within the enclosure of said
state prison; and full power to re-take and re-im
prison any convict so upon parole is hereby con
ferred upon said board, whose written order,
certified by the warden, shall be sufficient war
rant for all officers named in it to authorize such
officers to return to actual custody any condition
ally released or paroled prisoner, and it is hereby
made the duty of all officers to execute said order,
the same as ordinary criminal process.
5. That in considering applications for parole,
it shall be unlawful for the board of managers of
the state reformatory to entertain any petition,
receive any written communication or hear any
argument from any attorney, or other person not
connected with the said prison or reformatory ,
in favor of the conditional pardon of any prison
er; but the said board of managers may. if they
deem proper, institute impiiries by correspond
ence, or otherwise, as to the previous history or
character of any prisoner.
Sec. 5. The board of managers of the Minnesota
State Prison is hereby authorized and empowered
to establish three (3) grades of prisoners, together
with a system of marks, and to prescribe rules
for the regulations of such grades and marks,
and no prisoner shall be released on parole un
less he shall have been for six (ill months pre
ceding a member of the first 1 1st t grade. Prison
ers in the second (2d i and third <3d) grade maybe
deprived of such privileges as the board of man
agers shall direct, and third (3d) grade prisoners
shall be deprived of the good ronduct money
heretofore allowed by law.
Sec.O. This act shall take effect and be in
force from and after its passage.
An Opinion On A Public Question
Perhaps it is a matter of perplexity to a citizen
that a non-citizen can take any interest in public
affairs. But, if he lias lost his citizenship, it does
not follow that he ceases to take an interest in
the world of which he was once a part, nor be
cause one’s country has deprived one of liberty
does it follow that he is imbittered against it, and
cares nothing for its welfare. In reading the
history of this country. 1 have come to the con
clusion that the term of our presidents are too
short, it should be extended to six years without
the right of succession. Eight years is too long
for any presiding head to hold sway over any
nation, four years is too short a period for an ex
ecutive head to carry into effect the wisdom his
tenure of office has taught him. It requires at least
two years for a president to become acquaint
ed with his executive duties and to learn by what
methods to best reach the wants of the people.
The last two years of office have been the most
judicial and fruitful of nearly all our presidents,
and were the time to be extended to six years no
doubt the nation would profit by it. Our ex-pres
idents should, if fate spares them, be placed in
retirement responsive to the call of the president
in office when grave matters pertaining to the
state are under discussion. Their wisdom and
experience would help to solve intricate matters
that might be beyond the scope of the ones en
trusted with the government, and thus tide the
“ship of state - ’ through dangerous shoals and
insure the tranquility of peace. C. C.
Three Things to Remember.
Three things to govern temper,
tongue and conduct.
Three things to fight for honor,
country and home.
Three things to hate cruelty, arro
gance and ingratitude.
Three things to love—courage, gentle
ness and affection.
Three things to delight in- frankness,
freedom and beauty.
Three things to wish for—health,
friends and a cheerful spirit.
Three things to avoid—idleness, lo
quacity and flippant jesting.
Three things to admire—intellectual
power, dignity and gracefulness.
Three things to think about—life,
death and eternity —Detroit Free Press.

xml | txt