POKER IN PRISON.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 66, 1 November 1911, Page 3

POKER IN PRISON.

CONVICTS REFORMED BY THE GAMBLING HABIT.

Cambling among prisoners in Nevada State Penitentiary at Carson City with tiio full consent <>!' Superintendent Baker lias divided .Nevada into two hostile camps, one insisting that Superintendent Baker should be removed from office, and the other declaring that he should be left alone to do what he likes. Superintendent Baker has a wide reputation in America and also among criminologists in European countries, who study his methods. Ho attempts to reform criminals by putting them .111 their honour, and permitting as much liberty as prison walls allow. Re. has introduced a currency system into the. penintentiary, whereby the prisoners are paid for their labqiir in orders for money, and receive similar pecuniary rewards for good conduct. The'orders are eashedat the prison office for the prisoners' benefit. The Superintendent won high praise throughout the State, until recently he began to permit the prisoners to gamble as a recreation. This fact, hitherto not generally known, is now creating a deep sensation. Superintendent Baker declares that gambling is a harmless diversion which temporarily obliterates the prisoners' brooding memories, and he insists that he intends to continue the practice. . The gamblers use prison money, and nobody is allowed to play on credit, and prisoners are put on their honour to ostracise anyone caught cheating. As each prisoner receives only a small amount of money daily, the stakes are low, but thi's does not interfere with the intense interest there is,in the favourite'games"of roulette and faro, though chuckaluck, fantau, and poker hare devotees. "'• , '\ A few prisoners 'who during their better days paraded the higher walks of life enjoy whist rubbers. --Dice games are forbidden as vulgar and tending to develop quarrels. Not the least peculiar feature of the matter is that recent State law prohibits gambling within Nevada. The possession of gaming devices outside the gaol is sufficient to send a man to prison. Once inside the penitentiary the gambler can resume his pastime without fear of the law.