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344. When suck an incident as Fontaine's skirmish with Capone occurs, and one of the man ia apprehended with a weapon, it affecte the morale of the men, They seem all to be under a spell. . . as if some strange drug were sacinistered to them. Laughter becomes noticeably infrequent. Smiles do net came a6 often, nor linger as long. Fisecracks are forgotten, <A strange, gioany oppressiveness descends and prevails eerily. Cohen, one of the inmates confined in the Mut Nerd, takes it upon himself to relieve conditions. & “mt", beer in mind, ie not a maniac nor insane person. In no manner does he suffer the terrors of an asylum or institute for the dementod, He is, the convicta will assure yo, “damn! emart to get by with iti" Coher. writes a letter to the Director of Prisons, Washington, D.C. He sets forth the shocking conditions existing in the institution ~- part of which he, as an inmate in the Kut dard, has witmessad. (The ph therapy room is situated in the basement of the hospital, and incorporated in that section knowm as the Nut Ward. Capone's actions end conversations Having thoroughly and at great length set forth many af the "faults" he finds, Cohen deposits his letter in the “snitch-box" in the Dining Hali. From there it is coliected by a Government employe not connected with the institution, and conveyed to “ashiagton. The institution suffers a shocking surprise when the letter -~ like all others deposited in the “anitch-box" -~ boomerangs to tho warden'a desk, A photostat is made, af Washington directs, An investigation is de~- mandad. Yos, #ashinyton advises, we concede the man is a “mt", but it is apperent the man knows of what he is writing. These reports have filtered through from men NOT confined in the “Kut Ward", and there MUST BE SOME TRUTH IN THENI Cohen, unknowingly, has taken the move which results in his transfer to the U. S. Hospitel for Defective Delinjuents, at Springfield, Missouri. For Cohen, Cepons had thought, “hadn't sense enough to know he —- ‘4-tneot" apd for that reason did not fear discussing in his presence ee kp geen tees, ete aaa