Another case of shirking is that of Mr. M., who is a life prisoner and who has spent over a quarter of a [pg 60] century behind the bars of Minnesota's famous penal institution. He insisted that something was wrong with his limbs and that he could not walk; that he needed the assistance of crutches, but one night one of the nurses observed him walking back and forth in his cell, evidently taking a needed constitutional. He was sent to work in a few days and is today walking as successfully as ever. He employed this deception for many years.
A “HORSE” ON THE PRISON PHYSICIAN.
Some time ago there arrived at the prison a man who appeared to be, as far as visible appearances were concerned, a chronic sufferer from epileptic fits. On the day he entered prison he had two of these fits, and almost every day thereafter they occurred with surprising frequency. The assistant physician was always called on these occasions, but could do nothing for the sufferer, he being thoroughly convinced that the fits were the real article. The prisoner was given an easy position in the cellhouse, as it was considered too dangerous to have him working in the shops alongside of the machines, belting, etc.
Finally, however, this easy job began to pall on the epileptic prisoner's nerves; and he asked the deputy warden to be transferred to the shops. “I can't do it,” said the deputy, “as it would be against the physician's orders to change your work.”
“Well, if that is the case I will have to cut out the fit business,” replied the prisoner.
“What do you mean?” asked the deputy warden.
“These fits are all fakes,” smilingly retorted the prisoner, “and I can cut them out any time.”
“The only way you can convince me that these epileptic fits are not genuine is to stop having them. If you do this for thirty days, I will give you any job you want.”
The prisoner got the job, greatly to the mystification of the physicians and the deputy warden.