Upon the arrival of the deputy warden the prisoner is taken in charge and marched through the officers' barber shop and kitchen. Upon leaving the latter room the “fresh fish” is commanded to “turn to the right,” and a short distance ahead, about twenty feet, he is told to '“turn to the left.” He now enters the large cellhouse—his future home, to remain for the number of years that His Honor, the Judge of the District Court, has sentenced him to serve. The cellhouse contains 664 cells (referring to Minnesota's institution, which furnishes the [pg 8] nucleus for this article) and is in charge of an officer known as the Captain of the Cellhouse.
This officer now takes the new arrival in charge and searches his person thoroughly, empties his pockets of everything they contain, and takes his coat, hat and vest. Any valuables found on him, such as money, jewelry, trinkets, tobacco, etc., are immediately tied up into a bundle and sent to the deputy warden's office. A duplicate receipt is made out for all articles of intrinsic value, is signed by the Captain of the Cellhouse and also by the new arrival so as to insure their safe keeping until the day of his release.
The next move, and one that is a decisive reminder of his future status in the world, is to the bath room, where he takes a bath and puts on a “second-grade” uniform, there being three grades in all. The first is the highest. Its garb consists of a neat grey suit and cap. First grade prisoners are entitled to write one letter each week, to draw a ration (four ounces) of tobacco weekly, and to receive visitors once in four weeks. They have a dining room to themselves and are served with a greater variety of food than are the prisoners in the other grades. They have also such other privileges granted them from time to time as their general conduct warrants.
Prisoners in the second grade are clothed in a black and grey check suit and cap. They are permitted to write one letter a fortnight, to draw a ration of tobacco weekly and to see visitors once a month. They also have a dining room of their own, but the food served therein is not as varied as that served to first grade men. The latter, for example, are served with butter and other relishes at stated intervals, but such things are not part of the diet of the second grade prisoners.
Administration Office
Between the Gates
Group Showing the Three Grades of Prisoners