In a Turkish Prison.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 56, 7 March 1896, Page 1 (Supplement)

In a Turkish Prison.

A Bad System but not a Harsh One.

(iTBOM OUB, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)

London, January 6. The ' terrible Turk' ia nob afber all so black as he'here been painted, if we may judge from, bhe appended brief account of the Constantinople State Prison, in which besides malefactors of various degrees, many Armenians are at present confined. The system under which the prison is worked ia of course in sharp contrast with bhe general civilised method, but still one fancies thab many of the inmates of say Panbridge or Holloway, would willingly change places wish their Eastern brethren. Says the ' Central News 'correspondent:

I visited yesterday, under a firman from Ilia Majesty dated.several weeks back, the main Constantinople prison, near the Ab Maidan, on the Golden Horn. I had given no notice of my intended visit, bub simply showed my curd, and was at once admitted. I was taken to the North Ward, flanked by a yard about 120 yards long by 60 in width. In the yard, three sides of which are bounded by a lofty wall, the fourth by a high wooden railing, 'there were two large paved basins set apart—one for washing clothes, the other for bathing. On each sido of the passage are two large wards, each capable of containing about 200 prisoners. The ground floor wards are paved, and from them wooden steps lead to the upper floors, also tilled with.prisoners, and from upper to lower wards there is free communication. Prisoner* are allowed to bring in thoir own bedding and clothes. Some few of the prisoners were in irons. They had been convicted of murder or highway robbery, but sare for the drawbacks all wore perfectly free to roam aboub thoir own wards, to mount to the upper floor, or to wander about in the yard when bhe doors of the wards wore open—viz., from oighb to four in bhe winter and from seven to six in the summer. Hard labour, or, indeed, labour of any kind, there was none. Prisoners were allowed to pursue such little trades as they wore able, the making of mats or small article? of furniture, etc. Any money they had brought bhey mighb keep and spend in extras. There was no restrictions aa to bhe viflib of friends, all depended on the

Goodwill of the Govebxor. la each yard stands a small shop or booth kept by a free man, who pays the prieon authorities so much for the privilege. There prisoners buy tobacco, coffee, fruit, food, and other noc6Bßarias. In each ward, generally close bo the door, is another small shop kept by a prisoner; by his side are ranged coffee and tea cups, and ab ail hours of the day those who have means may purchase hob tea or coffee of dubious quality ab absurd prices. Yesterday one man had secured a present of fiah-I should think five or sir pounds we'ghb of a small tich nob unlike a. Bmelb— anil these he was frying in the midst of an admiring circle of friends, who were ready Co purchase these toothsome additions to a not very vaiied daily menu. The food vraa sufficient, however, and of good quality, each man having 2ib o< bread and a badiu of i?oup daily, the latter ab mid day, whilst twice a week §tb of meat is served out to each man. There are eigho wards in all, capa'ule of containing about 1,500 prisoners eta pinch, bub the present afcats showed 560, of whom only . seventy wero Christians. There are three mosques for the use of tbo Muharamadane and one small ciiapol, which is attended by Greek and Armenian priests, I was introduced bo two Greek priests who were commissioned by fcheir Patriarch to present a Christinas dole to each Greek prisoner. Ono who was the regular authorised chaplain had a list of the prisoner;?, and as each name was called out the man ran forward and received five piastres—about one shilling. The wards are all lofty and well ventilated, but they are also well warmed, and one of the Greek priests aaid to me, ' Most of these men are

Fab, Bbttkk off-Here than in their own homes.' It was curious to see the Htble attempt; ab Christmas decorations commenced by the Christian, but joined in by Muhammadan, prisoners. From the centre of the ceilings of the ward to the corner of the room and to every win dow hung fostoona of coloured paper, and even the prison lamps had in many caeca beea covered with artificial flowers. There appeared to be no distinction in the treatment of any of the prisoners, except thab those sentenced for murder or highway robbery were in chains, some with cannon-shot attached, which impeded their movements, bub these tnen were not confined separately, nor were they prevented from smoking. One cheerful individual, the hero of many murders, was presented to me. He was smoking- a cigarette and nursing hia chains, which muab have weighed libtle shorb of a hundred weight. Sleep under these conditions must be difficult. 1b must be confessed that the Turkish prison eystem is hopelessly and radically wrong. No attempt) is made to improve the condition of the prisoners., who arc for the most part without education and the lowestof the low, either by imparting education or by teaching them a trade. A man

must perforce i ea ve the prison a greater brute than when he entered. I may add chat there is a , very c | ean ii tb j e j, 08 . pital consisting o! two storeys with 20 boda on each floor, and there were in all 26 patients, all suffering f rom fever or influenza* ' "'.%