Now arrives the day so anxiously anticipated by those incarcerated in our
penitentiary. A new beginning and a new chapter in their life’s history is
before them. It is an event that so greatly excites the average outgoing
prisoner that he hardly knows what he is doing, and in many cases his
nerves are in such a condition that he is unable to sign the receipt for
the money that he receives. The inmate in the forenoon is notified of his
release, and is immediately taken to the tailor shop, where he dons his
discharged clothing, is given any personal belongings that may have been
in his cell by the captain of the cell‐house, who inspects them in order
to ascertain whether or not he is the owner thereof. He is now conducted
to the administration building by the deputy warden, where he is given his
discharge papers and twenty‐five dollars in money, a sum provided by law
for each released prisoner. Just before he walks into the world a free man
the former inmate is told to step into the warden’s office, and this
gentleman gives his departing “guest” a few words of helpful advice,
bidding him Godspeed on his journey.