San
Quentin kids had quite a lot of contact with the inmates of the
prison. We seldom went inside the walls as that was "Off
Limits" for youngsters, except on special occasions. There were
many jobs outside the prison walls that were performed by prisoners.
They worked in the homes of the officers as cooks, houseboys and
gardeners. The laundry and supplies were delivered to the employee's
homes by inmates, and garbage was collected. There was repairs and
maintenance to the houses and buildings, and there was road building.
The
business offices of the prison were all outside the walls where
clerks, stenographers, janitors and messengers worked. The barber
shop and fire department was also on the outside. We felt no fear of
the prisoners with whom we came in contact. I know we had locks on
our doors at home, but never recall every seeing a key for them. But
there was always the possibility of a prison break and we knew it. We
also knew that these men, determined to break from prison could be
very desperate men.
Author:
William J. Duffy, Jr.
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