A NOVEL GAOLER.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2431, 3 January 1881, Page 4

A NOVEL GAOLER.

The Geneva correspondent of the “ Times ” tells an extraordinary story. It appears that in the Canton Schwytz, where manners are still simple and people unsuspecting, there is no prison. Instead of one an old farmhouse is used, the guardianship of which is nominally confided to a goaler and policeman, but really to a nun, who relies upon good treatment to detain the prisoners. As a rule she has not relied in vain, for though all kinds of criminals are detained here, and they are allowed to go abroad at pleasure, there have been no escapes. Last week however, a particularly bad murderer was allowed to fetch some water, and disappeared. The policeman immediately let all the prisoners loose, telling them to hunt for Maechler, the murderer in question, which they did, and though they were unsuccessful, and some of them drunk, they all came back again. Maechler was not caught, and it is probable that a true prison will be substituted for the nun’s reformatory ; but the history of her work must be worth knowing. She appears to have been moved by a real belief that criminals could be converted, to have converted a good many, and to have brought all under some sort of discipline. Otherwise the neighborhood would have protested.