MILLIONAIRES IN PRISON.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 770, 19 March 1910, Page 12

MILLIONAIRES IN PRISON.

•■ \. ■■:• -,■■. ■■-■ ..-■■• HOW THEY-ABB FAVOURED,

; Acting upon reports that wealthy men in gaol can secure all the comforts of home, the United States Federal authorities have given orders that in the Fed; era! prisons, at least, rich and poor-shall be treated just alike. In the case of persons awaiting 1 trial, or convicted prisoners awaiting the decision of the Appeal Court, American public opinion is lenient, '■ and nobody in New York grudged the favours extended to Harry Thaw, for example, or, later still, to Mr. ■ Charles W. Morse, the fraudulent banker, who was allowed to entertain his wife to a Christmas dinner in his cell. Both were allowed' privileges such as would shock conventions on the other* side of the Atlantic. Each man while in his cell was allowed a chance now and then of giving his views to the newspaper reporters, who chat , to prisonera in the Tombs through the- grating of the cell or in a waiting-room. ■ '. • Jt is urged, however, that once' a man enters prison, as a * duly • labelled convict, no matter whether it is a Federal or a State prison, ho should sink his identity in the great democracy of prison life: and become( like any other convict, "just * a mere number. This representation is being forcibly made in American newspapers, which cite the case of John Waish, the Chicago bank wrecker, who formerly owned £5,000,000 and is still credited with great possessions. Walsh is now Convict 6861 at the Fort, Leavenworth Gaol, Kansas, but it is complained that he enjoys many privileges such as malefactors of great wealth alone can secure.' ■ *■'

Newspaper correspondents' . describe Walsh's "good time" in special telegrams from Leavenworth. Here is what the "New York American" says:— • . "Walsh was not compelled to for the Eogues' Gallery picture; his measurements were not taken for the ttoriillmi sj'stem; he has not been forced .to. eat of coarse fare, nor at the common wooden tables, as were the 996 other convicts who violated the same statutes, although to a lesser degree than he violated them. Furthermore, Walsh has not been, and probably will "not.be, compelled to sleep in one of the iron-grated cells during all his five years' stay in prison, and while other Federal offenders, including thirty former financiers and bankers, are handling bricks and sawing stone, Walsh will be reading the newspapers. . His daily task will be to clip criminal news, for he is to be the news clerk of the Bureau of Crime Eccords now being conducted at the prison." ■ It is further complained that on Walsh's arrival in gaol a special dinner awaited him, a much better dinner than that served to the prison officials, and that his new "duties" will not be particularly onerous. ■",'■■

As to lioree, the t other fraudulent banker, he is also going on nicely. A message from Atlanta reports that, although ho has been a prisoner for three weeks, he ig still -on the favoured list. He hoe books, papers, magazines, and tobacco galore.