Looking Outward by Robert Stroud

Author:Robert Stroud [Stroud, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780982853177
Publisher: Looking Outward, LLC
Published: 2014-02-05T00:00:00+00:00

“What did you do to him?”

“Nothing, sir! I only ___”

“Poppycock! Young man, do you think inmate Number ___ is crazy?”

“No sir!”

“Well, only a crazy man kills without good reason. A man in prison, where he has no chance of escaping, will stand a lot more provocation before resorting to violence than will the average man on the outside. If you have given inmate Number ___ cause for wanting to kill you, I would suggest that you mend your own conduct instead of coming and crying to me. To be on the safe side, I shall have this man examined by the doctor. If he is crazy, appropriate steps will be taken to restrain him. In the meantime, I am confident that my guards are capable of affording you all the protection required. You may take this consolation, however; be assured that if he kills you, we will hang him for it, and should you injure him in any way, you will be properly punished. That is all.”

It should be noted at this point that a criminal psychology is merely the desire to benefit or aggrandize oneself at the expense of someone else. That is the essence of all antisocial conduct. The stoolpigeon and sycophant trying to curry favor and the weakling looking for sympathy are both members of this group. Pampering such persons is the surest method of encouraging their criminal tendencies, and in the latter group, is sure to lead to the development of a persecution complex, which is the certain forerunner of paranoia. Usually, one interview with McCloughry was actually of more value to such an individual than a dozen interviews with a modern penal psychiatrist would have been; for he forced men to stand on their own two feet as men and to face reality, which is always the kindest course in the long run.

On the other hand, the prisoner with a serious problem or constructive request was given every consideration.

The boy who placed before him a wife from the head of a Denver hospital stating that his mother could not live over forty-eight hours and who had no money in the office to pay the expenses of the trip did not state his case in vain.

“I am sure, Sir, that there is property enough to pay for the trip many times over. Then too, I own my own home in St. Joseph, Missouri, but there is simply no way of getting the money here in time.”

“Hmm! I shall check on the authenticity of this wire by long-distance telephone. Will you put up your right hand and swear by all that you hold most sacred that you will not try to escape?”

“Yes, Sir! I solemnly swear upon the memory of my dying mother that I will not try to escape.”

“Very well! That is good enough for me! If the wire proves to be authentic, you will be on the train tonight. I will send only one guard with you. He will be unarmed and he will

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