ear 'round, and who tried all persons
charged with Felony, and if proven guilty, committed them to the
District Court-but a charge of Felony could be made before the District
Court, and if probable cause was shown, the case came up for trial. The
Magistrate was authorized by law to release any person charged with a
misdemeanor on probation, or to sentence them from one month to twelve
months' imprisonment at hard labor within the district, and the
prisoners were paid for their work from five to twenty-five cents per
day, according to their ability and skill, and the money they earned
was sent to their wives and children, if they had any. If they were
single, what they earned was paid to them at the expiration of their
sentence. No handcuffs, balls or chains or Oregon Boots were permitted
to be used, but if the person in custody was violent, a jacket with
straps at the waist to secure the hands at the side was provided and no
punishment was inflicted for violation of the prison rules-but bread
and water for three days at any one time. If a prisoner committed
sodomy or other infamous crime against nature, while in custody, he was
castrated, and if he still persisted in committing crimes against
nature, he was chloroformed. No trial by jury was permitted in cases of
misdemeanor-but an appeal to the Governor was allowed by law and a copy
of the evidence in the case was sent to him and he had to decide
according to the law and evidence within thirty days and publish his
reasons therefor in the District Newspaper. By permission of the
Minister of Justice I was granted authority to visit the State Prison,
carrying with me a letter instructing every prison official to assist
me and to furnish me all the information within their power. The prison
was located in the center of a Military Preserve, consisting of
ninety-two thousand one hundred and sixty acres, all in a high state of
cultivation. Railways traversed the reservation, but no trains but
military ones were permitted to stop within its limits.

CHAPTER III.

A VISIT TO A STATE PRISON.

The Minister of Justice placed an automobile at my service, and when I
arrived at the boundary of the reservation, I was stopped by a military
officer. I handed him my letter from the Minister of Justice, and,
glancing over it, he replied, "You are welcome," and, taking a seat by
my side, we drove to the prison grounds, where I was introduced to the
Superintendent, and invited by him