FAVOURED AMERICAN CONVICT

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12754, 29 March 1910, Page 1

FAVOURED AMERICAN CONVICT

Acting upon- reports that wealthmen in gaol can secure all the com forts of home,- the Federal authorities (states an American newspaper have given orders that in the Federa piisons, at least, rich-and poor shal be treat:.-.! just alike. In the cast of persons awaiting trial or convictec prisoners awaiting tho decision of the Appeal Court, American public opinion is lenient, and nobody grudged th< favours extended to Harry Thaw, foi example, or, later still, to Mr. Charles W. Morse, tho fraudulent banker, whe was allowed to entertain his wife to a Christmas dinner in his cell. Both wero allowed privileges such as would shock conventions on the other side of tho 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 prisoners in the Tombs through the grating of tho cell or in a waiting room. [ It is urged, however, that once a man outers prison as a duly labelled convict, no matter whether ifc is a Federal or a State prison, he should sink his identity in the great democracy of prison life and become, like any other convict, just a mere number. This representations is being forcibly made to-day in American newspapers, wliich cite the case of John Walsh, the Chicago bank wrecker. who formerly owned £5,000,000 and is still credited with great possessions. Walsh is now Convict 6801 at the Fort Leavenworth Gaol, Kansas, but it is complained that ho 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 pose for the 'Rogues' Gallery' picture; his measurements were not. taken for the Bertillon system ; he has not been forced Lo eat of coarse fare, nor at the common wooden ta.hles, as were the flfl.'i other convicts who violated the -aire 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 his five years' stay in prison, and while other Federal offenders, incuding thirty former financiers and bankers ,are handling bricks and sawing stone, Wtilsh will .be reading the newspapers. His daily task will be to clip criminal news, for he is to be the news clork of the Bureau of Crime Records now being conducted at tho prison. It is further complained that on Walsh's arrival in gaol a special dinner awaited him, a much better dinner tlmn that served to tho prison officials, and that his new "duties." will not be particularly onerous; As to Morse, the other fraudulent banker, he is also' going on nicely. A message from Atlanta to-day reports that, although he has, been a prisoner for tli ree weeks, he is still on the favoured list. He has books, papers,, magazines, and tobacco galore. Like Walsh, Morse will not break stones or pick oakum, but will get some much less fatiguing task. In the case of Morse, it is not pretended that he is in bad health ; and of Walsh, despite symptoms of neurasthenia, it is stated that he entered th© gaol whistling softly." - .