THE ONLY WOMAN JAILER

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 293, 5 December 1908, Page 3

THE ONLY WOMAN JAILER

; There is only one woman jailer in the world. Her name is. Jenny Porcm'., .and she lives in Switzerland. She is' governor and warder of the prison of Aigle, in the Rhone Valley. It came about in this wav. Thirty years ago Mine. I'o'rchet mar-j ried the chief warder of the prison, and soon proved to be a helpmeet indeed, | for being a strongly-built woman, andi with proper notions of discipline, site made as good a jailer as her husband., and more than once did his wurk while lie was ill or away.

So when he died the authorities ask'Jil her lo take his place permanently, and she accepted. All the year round the Aigle prison contains from twelve to twenty male prisoners, sentenced to terms of imprisonment ranging from three months to three years, and although the woman jailer has no assistants she has never had any trouble with the prisoners—except, indeed, on one occasion many years ago, when a burly rullian attacked her. Mine. Porehet taught him a lesson in good behaviour that confined him to the hospital for several weeks. Strict disciplinarian though she is, the woman jailer has the kindliest of hearts, ami takes great interest in her "guests," as she calls them. Many a prisoner lias been set on tihe right path again by her wise and kmdly advice.