http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php Copyright 2010, Thomas Dagg Thomas Dagg en-US SPHPBLOG 0.4.8 http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080824-235915
Not only were they using the yarn given to them for mending to send notes to the cellblock below, but they’ve been making socks and hiding them away for their own use; cat-calling the men on hard labour; making passes at the governor and the chaplain on their rounds (would have loved to see their faces); and one of them even assaulted the surgeon.

Interestingly enough, she wasn’t punished for it, which leads me to believe that our incompetent and questionable doctor in residence deserved it.

Mrs. Mason won’t provide any details, but I did catch a glimpse of the girl in question – not only was she a looker (I’ll admit it, I looked), but she had a black eye and swollen lip.
]]> http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080824-235915 Thomas Dagg Mon, 25 Aug 2008 03:59:15 GMT http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=08&entry=entry080824-235915 http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080727-102518
Imagine my surprise, then, when I was outside overseeing hard labour, and I saw a piece of string, or yarn coming out a window from the women’s cellblock and re-entering into a window on the floor below – one of the men’s cellblocks. Couldn’t quite figure out what was up – so I decided to investigate.

Got one of the watchmen to take over for me outside, and headed in to confer with George (we wanted to catch the prisoners at whatever it was they were at, and not give them time to hide).

Turns out they were passing notes to each other.

The women were using balls of yarn they’d been given to do mending for the gaol, and using the paper that wrapped the yard to write notes. Then they’d tie the notes (and pencils they’d scrounged from somewhere) to the end of the yarn, throw it out the window, and lower it to the floor below, where the men grabbed it, and pulled it in.

Of course we punished them all (everyone involved got 3 hours chained to their cell doors – to keep them away from the windows, of course!), but you have to give them credit for coming up with the scheme.

Mrs. Morris wasn’t too pleased that it was us turnkeys who’d discovered that “her girls” were breaking the rules right under her nose, though…better watch ourselves around her until she’s over the embarrassment.]]> http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080727-102518 Thomas Dagg Sun, 27 Jul 2008 14:25:18 GMT http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=07&entry=entry080727-102518 http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080713-190427
Means everyone is spread out pretty thin throughout the gaol, and it’s requiring George and I to do a whole lot of running around (Mrs. Mason is lucky – the board wasn’t so concerned with segregating the women from each other…though I’m sure she could tell them stories about some of those gals that’d make their hair stand on end).

I just don’t think we have enough inmates at the moment to make classifying them into so many groups necessary – if we keep them all together, then there’s still us turnkeys to watch over them and ensure nothing untoward is going on….But they say there’s too much risk of inmates “infecting” each other with criminal intents.

Personally, I think that’s a load of bull. If someone is going to commit a crime, he’s either already got it in him, or he’s been driven to it by some exterior force (say…he’s lost all his money and needs to feed his family) – he’s not going to talk to a murderer and suddenly decide that he, too, would fancy killing someone – just for a change of pace.

You can really tell these “inspectors” are suits. Sure, they mean well. But they’re too “by the book” – it’s just not always practical to follow the official guidelines.
]]> http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080713-190427 Thomas Dagg Sun, 13 Jul 2008 23:04:27 GMT http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=07&entry=entry080713-190427 http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080713-190127
Alice is just thrilled, I can assure you.]]> http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080713-190127 Thomas Dagg Sun, 13 Jul 2008 23:01:27 GMT http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=07&entry=entry080713-190127 http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080706-123321
We’re starting to think that reference to “pea soup” is actually some sort of code. Inmates are always complaining about it, in general, or else saying it’s “not fit” for “such and such” – what if “pea soup” is actually a reference to the gaol?

As in, the gaol isn’t fit for humans, and it isn’t even good enough for dogs…that sort of thing.

I mean…they’d be right to think so. The cells are far too small, dark and smelly – it hasn't even been a humid summer yet!

(Oh bugger…imagine what this place is going to smell like once it DOES get humid outside?)]]> http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080706-123321 Thomas Dagg Sun, 06 Jul 2008 16:33:21 GMT http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=07&entry=entry080706-123321 http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080628-175613
But it did get me wondering: could the pea soup really be all that bad? So I decided to go to the kitchen and taste it for myself.

It’s pretty good.

I don’t know what they’re complaining about.]]> http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080628-175613 Thomas Dagg Sat, 28 Jun 2008 21:56:13 GMT http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=06&entry=entry080628-175613 http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080418-100530
And thankful. The hopes I have for Alice and my new family are what keep me afloat. Without them, I’d only have this stinking prison, its morally decrepit inmates, and the strict discipline we impose upon them to keep me going. Needless to say, if that were all I had, I’d be a very different person (sure, I’m becoming hardened from working here – but I take that hard, brittle, and cynical exterior off with my uniform when I’m with Alice).]]> http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080418-100530 Thomas Dagg Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:05:30 GMT http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=04&entry=entry080418-100530 http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080327-092725
Mrs. Mason said she could hear the guy screaming in pain as the surgeon sawed off his foot without any kind of medication, or anything. Her theory is that the liquor meant for the patients (to dull their senses while one of their limbs is being hacked off), is going into the doctor, and not the patient.

I bet she’s right.]]> http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080327-092725 Thomas Dagg Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:27:25 GMT http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=03&entry=entry080327-092725 http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080325-091347
Had a lunatic in here – and I mean a verifiable insane person awaiting transfer to an asylum – that just went berserk in his cell after lockdown. He started ripping his bedding (that alone would normally get you the strap and a few nights in the dark cell), shouting, cussing, screaming incoherently, and banging his water dipper against the bars.

We’d already been told to just let him get this sort of thing out of his system – since he was in here for just being crazy, and not for committing any crime, we’ve been trying to cut him a little slack (he’s also, apparently, the son of someone the governor knows).
But I guess due to our lack of response, he decided to up the ante: by smearing the contents of his night bucket all over the walls of his cell (did I mention he was in one of my cellblocks?). So of course at that point, I had to get him out of there – my plan was to bring him straight to the hospital and get him drugged into oblivion, or into a straightjacket, or something.

I opened up the cell feeling a little nervous (lunatics are not my specialty), and this now faeces covered maniac just threw himself on me!

Worst thing is…I think he was meaning to hug me for letting him out of there, but…oh God it was disgusting. I can still smell it, just thinking about it.

Being somewhat traumatized by the event, George (ever the good fellow) took the lead in getting the cell cleaned up.]]> http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080325-091347 Thomas Dagg Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:13:47 GMT http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=03&entry=entry080325-091347 http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080317-160406
I don’t know what’s gotten into them.

Maybe it’s the soup.]]> http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080317-160406 Thomas Dagg Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:04:06 GMT http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=03&entry=entry080317-160406 http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080310-164926
Turns out he was some suit who’d been caught in a bawdy house. Was feeling real superior to everyone, and didn’t think he belonged in gaol at all (later heard from some of the court clerks that the only reason he ended up with a sentence, rather than a fine, was that he insulted the judge with his haughtiness).

But honestly – he really doesn’t belong here – he’s too soft. George says he damn near soiled himself when he saw his cell.]]> http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080310-164926 Thomas Dagg Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:49:26 GMT http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=03&entry=entry080310-164926 http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080303-112316
Wonder if anything specific has happened to make her so strong in her convictions.

All I know is that he’s real chummy with the governor…gotta be the only reason he (still) has a job.]]> http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080303-112316 Thomas Dagg Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:23:16 GMT http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=03&entry=entry080303-112316 http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080225-112413
Didn’t seem to care much about the prisoner, either.

(I tell you, this guy is really not impressing me)]]> http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080225-112413 Thomas Dagg Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:24:13 GMT http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=02&entry=entry080225-112413 http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080219-103512
Was real cold in the cellblocks too. At least three prisoners in my areas had to be brought up to the gaol hospital to warm up – they were actually blue with cold. Surgeon looked at me a little funny when I brought them up there, wondering what I wanted (wasn’t it obvious?). I had to spell everything out for him: These inmates are freezing. They need blankets. They need to sit near a fire.

How did this guy become a doctor anyway?!

Anyway, took a good part of the day just to clear the snow away. At least it got everyone feeling warmer.

And what do you know? It’s snowing again already.]]> http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080219-103512 Thomas Dagg Tue, 19 Feb 2008 15:35:12 GMT http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=02&entry=entry080219-103512 http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080212-091213
Punishment served.]]> http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080212-091213 Thomas Dagg Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:12:13 GMT http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=02&entry=entry080212-091213 http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080204-170200 http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080204-170200 Thomas Dagg Mon, 04 Feb 2008 22:02:00 GMT http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=02&entry=entry080204-170200 http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080128-165044
Luckily I was on the other side of the cellblock and made it over in time before they got too far. When I got there, they’d knocked him off his feet, and were just starting to kick at him.

Truth be told: I was scared.

There were four inmates involved (three others watching, and the rest at the other end of the corridor “minding their own business”). Thankfully, I had the advantage of surprise, size, and the baton I picked up on my way over. I didn’t even think about it, really…I just started hitting them.

The four involved are the first in the gaol to receive the strap as punishment – 12 strokes each – they won’t get it until George is back on his feet and can do it himself. Until then, they’re in the hole with a reduced diet.

The onlookers are being confined to their cells for an indefinite period – or until the governor changes his mind on the matter (something about letting them keep looking upon the other prisoners as they’re allowed out of their cells).

As for the rest of the cellblock, they’ve been given two days on a reduced diet – just to get them ticked off at the others, I think.

I’ve been put in charge of that corridor.]]> http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080128-165044 Thomas Dagg Mon, 28 Jan 2008 21:50:44 GMT http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=01&entry=entry080128-165044 http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080121-144339
I suggested the dark cell – Mrs. Mason (always with an opinion of her own) didn’t like that. We compromised on restricting her to her cell for a week.]]> http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080121-144339 Thomas Dagg Mon, 21 Jan 2008 19:43:39 GMT http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=01&entry=entry080121-144339 http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080114-172227
George and I had a good laugh over the irony of it: it’s the first in a series of death row cells – imagine someone was in there, and we couldn’t get him out to execute him?!]]> http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080114-172227 Thomas Dagg Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:22:27 GMT http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=01&entry=entry080114-172227 http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080107-102241
I know it’s best to get them off the streets, but the whole process seems a little flawed: we pack ‘em three to a cell – even if there are individual drum cells available – and then, predictably, they get into fights, over which we punish them.]]> http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/index.php?entry=entry080107-102241 Thomas Dagg Mon, 07 Jan 2008 15:22:41 GMT http://www.carletoncountygaol.com/content/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=01&entry=entry080107-102241