8th Annual Report, 1852

EIGHTH, ANNUAL REPORT
(for 1952)

NEW-YORK PRISON ASSOCIATION

LEGISLATURE

STATE OF NEW-YORK,

OFFICERS AND- MEMBERS.

ALBANY:
CHARLES VAN BENTHUYSEN, PRINTER TO THE LEGISLATURE,
No. 407 Broadway.

State of New-=Vork,

No. 108.

IN ASSEMBLY, APR. 14, 1853,

EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT (For 1252)
OF the New-York Prison Assoctation,
Naw-Yonx, April, 1858.
To the Hon. Srraxza,
Of the House of Assembly of the State of New-York:

Sr—In compliance with the sixth section of the charter of
the New-York Prison Association, I herewith transmit the eighth _
annual report of its operations, and request that you will, in
behalf of the Association, submit the same to the Legislature.

Tam, very respectfally,
‘Your obedient servant,
JOHN D. RUSS,
Corresponding Secretary Prison Association.

[Assembly, No. 108.] -

OFFICERS

© orem

PRISON ASSOCIATION OF NEW-YORK FOR 1853;

President,
Hor, WILLIAM T. MoCOUN,
“Tustie Sopeeme Court
Vive Presidente,
ABRAHAM VAN NESS, Ese.,

Merch
Hon. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER,
Hox. JOIN W. EDMONDS,
Hox. JOHN DUER,
Jee of Sepevor Court.
Treasurer,
WILLTAM 0. GILMAN, Eso.,
Ateretan

Recording Secretary,
ISAAC LEWIS EET,
Potts Deaf and Dam fsitaton,
Corresponding Secretary,
JOHN D. RUSS, MD,

EXECUTIVE ‘COMMITTEE.

RENSSELAER N. HAVENS, Esa., Chairmen.
Finance Committer,
JAMES 8. GIEEONS, JAMES H. Ter
‘Da. B. PARMLEY, WILLIAM C. GILLMAN,
FREEMAN HUNT, CHARLES PARTRIDGE,
GEORGE WALKER,

6 [Assexany

Prison Discipline Committee.
JOHN STANTON GOULD,
JOHN COCHRANE,
THOMAS GALLAUDET,
PHILIP §, VAN RENSSELAER,
8. F. B, MORSE,

IBA B. DAVIS.

JOHN H. GRISCOM,
B. N, HAVENS,

Dn. . A. TELCAMPF,
JOHN D. RUSS,

. W. CHESTER,

Detention Comat
ISRAEL RUSSELL, JOHN 1 KEYSER,
. W. CAPRON, WILLIAM WALN DRINKER,
JOHN HOPPER, GEORGE E. BAKER,
JOSEPH MoKEEN, ‘WILLTAM ©, RUSSEL.

Discharged Convict Committec,
ISAAC LEWIS PET,
OLIVER H. WELLINGTON,
HENRY POOR,

MAEOUS MIFCHEL.

RICHARD REED,
WILLIAM C. ROGERS,
BB, ATTEXBURY,

JOUN W. C. LEVERIDGE,

HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE,

BY PAYMENT OF ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS OR UPWARDS
AT ONE TIME.

City of New. York
JAMES BOORMAN,

JAMES BROWN,

‘WILLIAM 8, CROSBY,

JAS, WARREN DELANO,

5. F. B. MORSE,

ROBERT B. MINTURN,
CHARLES PARKER,
JOSEPH WALKER,
‘WILLIAM WooD,
B. J. WOOLSEY.
Troy, BY.

REV. WM. ANDREWS, REY. DR. BEEMAN!

Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
REY. H. G, LUDLOW.

Hudson, W. ¥.
REY. MR. DARLING.

Moriden, Connecticut
REV. G. W. PERKINS.

HONORARY MEMBERS OF THE PRISON ASSOCIATION.

Osoan tor., King of Sweden and Norway.

CORRESPONDING MEMBERS.

A. DE TOCQUEVILLE,

G. DE BEAUONT,

M, CH. LUCAS,

‘ML DEMETZ, Membre da Conseil Gon'l du Departement du Siene-t-Oise, te, Pari

M. G, BLOUET, Architects da Gouverament

W. CRAWEORD, Esa.

‘ev. W. RUSSELL,

5. G. PERRY, 50,

MAJOR JEBB,

EDWIN CHADWICK, Eva., London,

©. J, A. MITTERNATER, Professor of Law at Holdelberg.

Dx. N. H, JULIUS, Berlin

— HITAAG, Chancellor of State of Prossia, Bertin,

Dr, VERDEIL, Momber of the Great Covnel, Vice President of the Council of
Health, at Lausaune, Switzerland.

COUNT PETIT! DI FORETO, Turin, aly.

De. GOSSE, Gonera, Switzerland.

JACOB POST, ¥iq., London

Rev. L, DWIGHT, Secretary of Prison Discipline Soctety.

Da. FRANOIS LIEBER, Profesor of History and Belles Lettres

WILLIAM P. FOULKE, Ese., Philadelphia.

M. MOREAU CHRISTOPHE, Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, France.

Dz. VARRENTRAP, Germany

8. G. HOWE, M. D., Boston

‘Mass D. L. DIX, Boston, Massicusetts,

Mas. E,W. PARNHAM, New-York,

JOHN GRISCOM, LL. D., New.Jers

Baornison NATHAN DAVID, Copenhagen, Denmark:

CHARLES SUMNER, Eso., Boston

{sed etn Pape, Par

X.B, The Physician and Warden or Keeper of each
Gorresponing Mombors of the Executive Committoo,

tontiary are, ex-offelo,

REPORT.

In complianee with the requirements of its charter, tho Prison
Association of New York, presents to the Legislature of the State,
this its

EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT.

A retrospect of the past—although not without its regrets—
afords numerous evidences of duty performed, and of good ac-
complished. In no former year, has the Astociation been more
active in the discharge of its dities ; in mo year have so many
esis upon its charity, from discharged prisoners, been present-
ed, and in no year so many situations provided for them—mneh
time, and attention, has also been devoted, both in this city and
Brooklyn, to those under arrest. ‘The whole number that has
received aid and advice from this Association, during the past
Jear, amounts to 708, viz :

Men,

‘Women,

Boys,.

Girls,.

‘Total,...

The receipts of the Institution, during the same period, as pre-
uted in the Treasurer's report, are $1,254.81, viz:

Cash on hand, Jan. Ist, 1852,..00..c0cceee. $58 25

Collections for prison Association, .... +...

Collections for F. department

Sale of Insurance stock, ..

Interest on Stock... +++

Sales of rogs and barrels, &e., ....

Proceeds of Work, ......seeeeveees

Total, 6... seers $4,254 81

10 [Assenmy

Of which has been expended, for support of “the home,” and fur
board,tools, clothing, and for discharged conviets,. $3,403 40
Financial agent,.. = 150 00
WW, Shepperd, for counsel fees, 100 00
‘Clerk hire, 261 61
Carried to Building fund, 260 00
Balance on hand, Jan. 13th, 1853, 79 80

$4,264 81

Total, DEES

‘This exposition of the pecuniary affairs of the Association, al-
thoogh more encouraging than that of Tast year, still indieates
either a lack ofeffort on the part of the Association, or of interest
in the community, in relation to the great object in which itis
engaged. ‘The importance of our labors, we fear, has not been
Drought home to the hearts of the people. We are persuaded,
they do not duly appreciate how much they are dependent for
the seeurity of their property, and even their lives, upon the

proper punishment of erime. Tieretofore, tho idea has been to

punish, without a sufficlent regard to the object of punishment.

Th detestation for criminals, has been too often substituted for a
Getestation of erime, and so it happens that a man, once convict-
ed heeomes the enbodyment ofall erime,  Bellevings as wey

t tho perpetration of one crime does not necessarily imply an
saat remesron in at Giection, wo would treat Its di
caso which, though dangerous, offers with a proper remedy a fair
prospect of ense, ‘This remedy is proper punishment, and to this
end the Association labor ; and though they incidently occupy
qhenaselves in restoring the convlet to society, after his discharge,
itis but a means to that grand end. The proper punishment of
‘crime asks not severity, prompts not lenity, demands no terms for
‘ice, but yields all to penitence. In this labor we have spent
jnuch time, money, and personal effort, without an adeqnate con-
Sidevation from the community. Our efforts have not been di-
Feoted to tho pleasing objects of philanthrophic exertion, but to
the degraded, vile, down-trodden outcast, to those with whom none
sympathise, upon whom fow bestow their alms. From the very
sature of the ease our effort mnst always be unpopular, and thus
{tis that our Association, for lack of adequate pecuniary support,

|, foundation.
{for discharged prisoners, and the importance of providing them

js compelled to leave important duties unperformed. A sub-
ccription of $5,000 per annum is absolutely necessary to carry on
the operations of the Association, successfully, upon its present
But the difficulty experienced in obtaining places

vith work, before the good habits they aequired while in confine~

nent have worn off, and they have sought out their old acquain-
tance—make it extremely desireble that a building should be
ewected,and placed under suitable surveillance, where labor should

be provided for all those that ask our aid. We would, also, sug-

gest that in connection with this, but distinet from it, the Legis- fs"
lature should authorise the Association to construct a prison for|'«-|
boys, between the ages of 16 and 20, to which all those who show
evident signs of contrition, and are imprisoned on their first] hs
cence, might be sent so as to avoid the contaminating influences
incdent to-a residence im the penitentiary, and being herded with |
veterans in erlme. ‘Tho establishment of such a prison seems to be.
demanded by a proper regard for that class, who, past the ordi-
aury age of pupilage, have been driven by stern necessity, or
‘ome untoward eireumstance, to the commission of a first offence.

To accomplish such a labor, we should not only require a large.
‘increase of voluntary aid, but permanent assistance from the city.
and Legislature,

DETENTIONS.

Our Jabors in this department have been confined. to repeated
examinations of the prisons in this county, King’s and Rich-
mond, seven in all, viz: The City prison, the first and
seeond District prisons, and the Elridge street prison, in
the city of New-York. The Penitentiary, on Blackwell's
Island ; the King’s County Prison, Brooklyn, and the Richmond
County Prison, at Richmond, Staten Island. We regret that a
flithfut discharge of our duties, will not allow us to spend
nany words of commendation on these establishments. ‘The:
Penitentiary, however, has visibly improved withia the last three

[years, in point of neatness, order, and systematie management.

The old shanty, formerly so famous a portion of the female
‘epartment of this establishment, has been destroyed, and the:
vorkshop it contained transferred to the old hospital, which has

12 [Assur

© been fitted up for this use, and a new and commodious hospital
= puilt, the grounds highly improved, and many: striking contrasts
with Its former condition are manifest—but notwithstanding
these evidences of improvement, the cost of the prison for support

* appears unnecessarily large, as will more fully appear from the

following comparison with tho other institutions, under the cate
“of the ten Governors, viz.

Annual cost of support per head in Alms House §27 00

‘Annual cost per head Bellvue Hospital.

City Prison .

Lunatic Asylum

‘Nursories, Randelt's Island.
+ Penitentiary

Making an expenditure of $1.74 cents per head, per week. The
enquiry naturally arises what mvkes this marked difference in
the cost of support in these different institutions, all under the
care of the ten Governors, and especially why docs this prison
stand thus in advance of all. It cannot be accounted for by
attributing it to our imereased expenditure, for salaries in the
Penitentiary is only 22 per cent. of the whole expense. But
while the expenditures of the prison appear unusually large, the
credits of the prison are astonishingly small. In looking over the
ast reports of the various institutions, under charge of the te
Governors, we find thiet with an average of 844 inmates, only
$8,757.26 credited as receipts from the Penitentiary, while the
work-house, with an average of 230 inmates, has $54,810.27
credited to that account. Can it be possible, that with so large
‘an average of inmates, the most of whom are able-bodied, the
‘earnings of the institution have been no greater. Such a suppo-
sition would be a refleetion upon the Board of Governors, as well
as the officers of the Penitentiary, alike unworthy their character
and position. ‘The difficulty arises probably from the very loose
mamner in which their accounts are Kept, as well as a want of
arrangement and distinetiveness in the manner they are pre-
sented, in fact, they are so much mixed up in their report, that it
is doubtful whether the Governors themselves could unravel
them, and give a distinct account of the receiptsand thelr souxees

Yo.108.] 18

and the disbursements of the several institutions separately. We
‘would exempt from this remark the accounts of the work-house,
which are presented with a clearness and acouracy which is truly
refreshing. From these statisties, we learn that the work-honse~
department has earned $93,268.05, or a daily average for each ‘*
inmate of 112 cents, but that we may do no injustice to the Peni-
tentlary, estimating the earnings only by what has been turned

into the store-houso, viz., $51,869.77, it is 47 cents per day, A

truly satisfactory statement, in which we have only to regret

that the salaries of the officers and servants are not presented.

The City Prison though less expensive than the Penitentiary,
lacks many of its redeeming features, Progress in this institution
has been less decided, improvements Jess marked, and instead of
neatness and order we have dirt and confusion. We would not
charge this state of things as reflections upon the government of
fic institution, as it is mostly mainly owing to the construction
of the prison, the character of its inmates, and the nature of its
uses. Although the grand receptacle for all the filth and viee of
fhls great city, this prison is mainly a house of detention,
where the inmates are constantly going and coming, and where ~~,
in most instances the prisoners are only Kept till trial. Under ~-
such cireumstances it becomes exceedingly difficult to establish
and maintain such discipline as shall keep the prison at all times
dlanly and in order. ‘There are, however, a few simple rules <\
hich, if rigidly enforced, would add very much to the appear- <>
‘ance of the institution, and the comfort and happiness of many of > |
‘is inmates ; these are—First, compelling every prisoner to clean “> _
bis cell before ten o'clock in the morning. Second, to refrain }—~ +
from smoking or chewing on the galleries or in the cells. ‘These
two simple rules, if enforced, would alter the entire character and
*ppearance of our City Prison, and do much to counteract its pre- >
ent demoralizing tendencies. The habit of using tobacco is here
60 freely indulged, that it becomes as it were contagious, and fre-
lqwently children who enter the prisons without any inelination to
ihe habit, have become confirmed smokers in a week. Several
cases of this character can be found in the diary of our agent.
[Aside from the filthiness of the habit, it has
hich should be at once arrested. Its exeessive use prod

a [Assim

degree of excitement entirely inconsistent with the calm reflec
tion which a first arrest for erlme so urgently requires, both as
preparation for trial and an opportunity for reformation. With
the inebriate it keeps alive his desire for drink, and with the tes
totaler it often lays the foundation of intemperance. We there
fore would particularly urge that tobacco in any and every shape
should be prohibited in our houses of detention. The Brooklya
county prison is mote redolent with the fumes of tobacco thit
even the Tombs. And these remarks will apply with almost
equal force to all the prisons inspected by ns.

Tuxzzasox Manet, on tue Szcoxo Disrgict Parsox.
‘This prison calls londly for interference from some quarter;
besides being badly ventilated, it has only 28 cells, 4 of which
are constantly occupied as store rooms, leaving only 19 for the
occupation of the prisoners. ‘The average monthly commitments
for the year is about 490, or 14 commitments daily. The average
tie each prisoner remains atthe prison isabont 23 days ; so that
the cells are necessarily over crowded at all times. Another
glaring defect in this prison is the putting men and women, boys
ani girlsall upon the same corridor. It thus happens thet young
girls and unoffending witnesses have thelr minds corrupted by
the foul Janguage and indecent exposure of those hardened ia
crime. ‘The keeper related to the inspectors several revolting i-
stances of this kind. ‘The prison should be increased at once to
treble its present dimensions, and the present prison appropriated
to females solely. ‘There is land enough belonging to the corpo
ration in the immediate vicinity.

Essex Marlet Prison is in good order and cleanly. The keeper,
however, Sotplains that it is too small, and that It fs rendered
foul and unwholesome by the manner in which the soll pipes are
constructed. He stys, that in the morning, before the prisones

that have been brought in during the night, are disposed of, the

prison is most loathsome. ‘That, to purify the air, it is necessary
to let on the croton water in large quantities, to carry off all
~atters accumulated in the soll pipes, and that, as these’ soll
‘empty into a reservoir that has no outlet, it is constantly

ving, and creating a nulsanee to the whole neighborhood.

15%

No. 108.] 18

‘The Kings County Jail, at Brooklyn, surpasses even the New-
York city prison in its distinguishing characteristics. Tt is
damper, dirtier and more noisy. ‘The cells are larger, but more
crowded; the ventilation less perfect, and greater opportunities
offered for corruption. Instead of two or three in a cell, we
sometimes find five or six. Instead of @ keeper on each corridor,
we find the prisoners all locked into cells, which communicate
with the gallery by a small door, and the gallery left without
an officer, so that communication can, at all times, be carried
on from one end of the prison to another, and such scenes
of blasphemy and obscenity as are sometimes wituessed there,
can better be imagined than described. ‘The female departments
in both prisons are cleaner, drier and warmer, but the King:
county needs a matron constantly In the corridor, to subdue that
boisterous mirth cr vociferous wrangling which makes this prison
occasionally a perfect bedlam. ‘The difference between the female
department of the eity prison and Kings county jall is, that in the
city prison It {s barely possible that a person might remain some
days without corruption, but in the Kings county it seems impos-
sible. The following account of the Richmond county jail, ex-
tracted from the diary of our agent, presents the present condition
of that prison:

Richmond County Prison was in a filthy condition at the time of
our examination. The prison is attached to the new court house,
and contains eight cells, four on each floor, with a hall between
them. The lower floor has never been finished, and, therefore,
remains unoccupied. A hall separates the cells, so that there
are two on each side, about 12 by 14 feet in area. They are venti-
lated and lighted by a still window near the top of each cell,
and heated by a stove in the hall, which renders the heat exceed-
ingly uncomfortable to visitors, but which cannot, by any possi-
bility, warm the cells, as their doors shut remarkably tight, and
the only opening in them is a small oriflee not a foot square, near
the top, through which the prisoners can converse with each
other. The soil pipes are so constructed that it is difficult for
what passes into them to be carried off, and the result is, that the
prison is filled with a most disagreeable and unhealthy odor.
‘The keeper told us that it was in contemplation to take down the

16 [Asses

present prison and construct ‘another on a better plan. This,
perhaps, is a wise decision, but we fear it will be a long time
before it is accomplished. In the meantime, a small expense for
providing night tubs, and putting in grated doors, would do much
towards rendering the prison habitable. Had our examinations
been extended to other parts of the State, we should, undoubted:
ly, have found a similar condition of things existing almost every
where. Formerly these prisons were occasionally inspeoted by
the county judges, but, by the act of 1847, it was made the duty
of the prison inspectors to examine them and report their cond-
tion annually to the Legislature. This service they once per
formed, but, on presenting their bills to the Legislature, they
were dishonored, and ever since these prisons have, we believe,
"_ been sulfered to take care of themselves. Previous to that period
this Association had commenced a series of examinations, both of
our county prisons and State penitentjaries, which had resulted
in the collection of a large amount of statistical and other infor
mation, and the results reported to the Legislature, which, had
they been cbntinued, might have resulted in important improve.
ments in the prison disefpline of our State and county. These
examinations, however, were arrested by the appointment of the
inspeetors, who have hitherto strenuously opposed the examina-
tions of our Association under its charter. Within the last year,
a better feeling has been manifest, and, we believe, that permis-
sion would now be freely accorded us by the inspectors tu ex
amine our county prisons, although they are not yet prepared to
admit us into the State prison. ‘The Association would very glad-
ly assume this responsibility, but the Legislature, in imposing the
uty upon us, forgot to designate tho fund by which it should be
accomplished. We should not, however, wait to be assisted by
the State, if voluntary contributions would enable us to effeet the
object, but our most strenuons exertions in this department ean
Uittle more than procure us the necessary means to take care of
the prisons in our own county and the conviets from time to time
discharged from our State’s prison. The duty of inspecting our
county prisons, however, is one which demands the immediate,
deliberate and earnest atterition of the Legislature. Can it be
that these persons are to be left to the management or misman-

\35h
No. 108.] Ww
agement of pensioned officers, without any one legally qualified,
or permitted even to investigate their condition? If there is any-
‘thing important in relation to our whole prison system it is, that
our houses of detention should be such as to preserve the inmates
from contamination and corruption. These are not prisons simply /
for hardened offenders, but oftentimes are tenanted by those whose >
characters are as spotless as our own, and must such be subjected
to the contaminating intiuence of veterans in erlme? We may |
wake our State prison as disciplinary, reformatory and produetive
as possible, without remedying the evil ; Lut if we would prevent |
contataination, or arrest the criminal In his first faltering steps to | =
crime, we must pay prompt and early attention to our county |
jails. | The gallows has just terminated, at the age of twenty-one,| <
the life of an interesting young man, who, six years ago, was first| ©
brought to our city prion for a slight misdemeanor, ad whose‘
education, while there, undoubtedly contributed, in no small/ ~-
degree, to the fatal denouement. He himself said, while stand-
ing on the brink of a felon’s grave, “only for the acquaintance T'
made here, I should never have come to this.” ‘The importance
of the subject seems to demand the finmediate attention of the
Legislature, and, in connection with it, we respectfully suggest “-
the propriety of making all our houses of. detention strictly sepa~
rate prisons. Who ean visit our county prison and not be forcibly ~
Impressed with the fact, that, as at present governed, they are
great seminaries of crime? Behold them mingling viee and vir. \
tue In one cauldron. The man who is to be hung for murder,
the incorrigible thief, the innocent witness, and the merely sus-
peoted, are all thrown into one heap, and left to seethe and fer~ ~
ment together. And this must always be the ease, to a greater
or less extent, while our houses of detention are on the congregate
system. Nothing but separate confinement seems at all suited
for persons of this character. Nothing else promises adequately
to prevent further contamination of the guilty and protect the
innocent. ‘This, we are persuaded, must be the policy of the
State so soon as if shall examine closely into the results of our
present system. ‘The rapid inerease of commitments to our city
prison during the last five years, so disproportioned to the inerease
of population in onr eity, may undoubtedly be accounted for in

[Assembly, No. 108.]

18 [Assman

other ways, but we cannot bnt regard as among the prominent
‘causes, the demoralization which has been the result of imprison-
ment in this prison. Hardly @ session of the court passes in
which one or more eases of those who were, on former occasions»
arrested for disorderly conduet, assault and battery, or some mis-
demeanor, are not returned for larceny, many of whom attribute
their ruin to associations formed in prison. ‘The following is a
‘comparative view of the statistics of the city prison, for the last
five years :

COMPARATIVE VIEW

Of the Statistics of the New-York City Prison for the last five
years:

YEARS,
Tea, —1650, Tash, BE

Intoxication,.... +20. 6,505 7,246 7,69) 8,694
“Petit Iarceny,...... =.2,029 1,955 2,970 2,806 2,977
Vagrancy, .....ees 2,172 8,352 3,530 5,193
Assault and battery, 1,745 2,400 2,043 2,401
Disorderly conduct, 1,283 2,793 2,214 2,660
Grand larceny, 660 578631
Burglary,..... 49 245 199 221
Misdemeanor, 352
621

116

53

60

Witness... .20ee0
Riot, or veeeneer ene
Disorderly house,..--
Desertion,.

Receiving stolen goods,
Bigamy,...++

‘Arson attempt,..

Forgery...

attend Vy with Intent to Ri,
Attempt burglary,

No. 108.]

Attempt petit Jareeny, .
Disorderly apprentice, .
Murder,.+.+

Embezzlement,

Megal voting,.

Rape attempt,

Ineestyasecsece seen

Felony and accessory,
Manslaughter,
Perjury... eee
Conspiracy,..e.

Fraud... +6
Indecent‘exposure of person,
Offences against nature,...
Attempt to break prison,
Assault, .eeseee eee

Cerrying slung shot,......
Aiding prisoner to eseape,..
Malicions mischlef,......+.
Mayhem, .

Selling obscene books,.

Selling lottery policies,
Abduetion;.... esse
Soliciting emigrant passengers,
Cruelty to animals,

Selling without license,...
Seduetion,....

Violating corpor’n ordinances,

Counterfeit, passing,
Shooting,...+.
Clipping coin,

U.S. prisoners,...+.
Sodomy and attempt,.

eee ee wEEonankars ada

Attempt lareeny,..
Polson attempt,

Prostitution, .

Driving over,

Interfering with officers,
Marrying girl under 14 years,
ASS. 19 MUN; -e eee sees
Sending torpedo box,.-..
Pickpockets,.. sexes
Libel,

Abortion,

“Assault with slang shot,

Create revolt,

‘Attempt robbery,..

Obtain’g letters false pretences,
Mutiny,

Cruelty to children,

Subornation perjury,.
Attempt infanticide,........

Detaining emigrant baggage,.

Body snatehing,

Defrauding commissioners of emigration,......
Personating an officer,

Destitution,

Gross indecency,

Alms house,....

Discharged on examination.

Offences not specified,.....+..

Misdemeanor,

Sickness,

Concealment... «

Suspicious person, .

Malicious trespass,......++
Marrying a girl under 14 years of age,.

RET

pry

|

(gd
No. 108.] a

Selling unwholesome meat;.... .
Peddling without license,
Opening letters,....

Fagitive from service,

Bribery,

Foreign convicts,

Fugitive from justice,.

Escaped convicts, ..

Gambling, .... s+.

Deserting seamen,

Deserting soldiers,..

Rescuing prisoners and resisting officers, .

‘These statisties present many interesting facts in relation to |
the progress of crime. The first we shall notice is that in the
city of New-York, since 1848, disorderly conduct in almost every
Instance, the result of rum, has notwithstanding the eflurts of
temperance and philanthropy, increased from 703 to 2,660 or 278
per cent., that intoxication has inereased about 75 per cent., and
the two together from 5,579 to 11,280. It appears, further, that
crimes against property have increased only about 50 per cent. 5
while erimes against the person have Increased 129 per cent., oF
from 1,300 in 1848, to 2,920 in 1852. An alarming feature of this,
truly appalling fact is, that the increase seems to bé regular year,
by year.

Another cause of alarm may be found in the fact that the in-
crease has been greatest in the highest crimes. ‘Thus we find
under the head assault to kill, 25 in 1848, 13 in 1849, 58 in 1850,
61 in 1851, and 76 in 185%, or an inerease of over 200 per cent,
in five years. In 1843, there were nine murders only, in 1819
8, in 1850, 15, in 1951, 21, end in 1852, 56, or an increase of
more than five hundred per cen:. in five years. This rapid and
fearful inerease in the most heinous crimes, demends the serious
‘consideration of the statesman, the philanthr: p’st, and the Chris-
tian. To what can it be attributed ; will the fuet that 90 per
cent. of the whole number committed to the prison during the
past year were intemperate, satisfactorily explain it ?

22 [Assneonr

The following table represents the progress of those crimes,
which are almost entirely the result of rum selling, viz. Intox-
ation, disorderly conduct, and vagraney :

reds. 1849. 1850. 1881. 1858.
Intoxication, ..... 4,893 6,509 7,246 7,601 8,024
Disorderly conduct 702 1,283 2,723 «2214 2,660
Vagrancy...---++ T8595 2172 3,852 8,530 51S

Total .....-- 450 9,960 13,921 18,435 10,477
PRISON DISCIPLINE.

‘The embarrassments growing out of our recent contest with the
State Prison Inspectors, and the fact already alluded to, that
the Legislature in imposing upon {us the duty of examination
and inspection, appropriated no funds for its accomplishment,
thas prevented the Committee on Prison Discipline, from render
ing those active services to the cause in which it is engaged
which, under other elroumstanees, it would have felt it a privi-
Tege and a duty to have performed; nor are our relations withthe
Inspeotors such at present, that we should be permitted to exer-
cise the full power conferred upon us by the 6th section of the
eleventh article of our charter, which is in the following words:
‘The said Executive Committee, as they shall from time to time
appoint, shall have power, and it shall be their duty to visit
Yjnspeot, and examine all the prisons in the State, and annually
report to: the Legislatore their state and condition, and all suck
other things in regard to them, as may enable the Legislature to
perfect their government and discipline; and to enable them to
‘execute the powers, and perform the duties hereby granted, they
shall possess all the powers and anthority that by the 24th section
of title 1st, chapter 3, part fourth, of the Revised Statutes, are
vested in the Inspectors of county prisons ; and the duties of the
Keepers of each prison, that they may examine, shall. be the
same in relation to them, as in the section aforesaid, are imposed
on the keepers of such prisons, in relation to the inspectors
thereof; which section is in words as follows, viz. 24. Te shal!
be thé duty of the Keepers of each of the said prisons, to admit
the said Inspectors, or any one of them into every part of such

\$5R
No. 108.] 23

prison, to exhibit to them on demand all the books, papers, docu
ments, and accounts pertaining to the prison, or to the persons
confined therein, and to render them every facility in their power
to enable them to discharge the duties above preseribed ; and for the
purpose of obtaining the necessary information, to enable them to
make such reports as is above required, the said; inspectors shall
have power to examine on oath, to be administered by either of
said Inspectors, any of the officers of the said prisons, and to con-
verse with any of the prisoners confined therein, without the pre-
sence of the keepersthereof,or anyone of them. ‘The Legislature,
aware of the importance and the difficulty in the way of the exer-
cise of the power conferred upon the Association, granted almost
unlimited powers of inspection, not only of our State, but our
‘county prisons. ‘These powers the Association exercised for
nearly two years, without other injury to the prisons, than the
exposition of several cases of ‘undue severity on the part of the
officers; the frequent supply of unsound food,a gross negligence
in regard to articles purchased for the use of the Institutions.
‘These examinations, had they been eontinued, must have led to a
more careful and honest discharge of the duties imposed, and
would have undoubtedly tended materially to a higher discipline,
and a more consctentious discharge of duties.

‘The Douche and the Yoke as, instruments of Punishment.
Douche es =e

The cat was, formerly, almost the only instrament of terror,
and tortnre, used in our prisons to insure order and subdue the
refractory. It was indaily requisition; and, ten years ago, twelve
hundred lashes a month was no uncommon ocenrrence. Sin
1817, its use has been prohibited, but hoping to evade the law,
and still gratify the same evil propensities, those monster instra-}
ments of torture, the douche and the yoke, have been introduced.)
‘These, we are happy to say, are alike prohibited by law; and it)
Js some consolation to kuow that every prison keeper, who indicts|
elther punishment on a convict, may be prosecuted when that|
convict regains his liberty ; and it is fortunate for prison keepers
that when convicts are liberated they generally feel too grateful
for their liberty, to harbor feelings of resentment, or are too des-
tituto of friends or means to prosecute. Even if they do prosecute,

4 [Assenur

their oaths will not be taken in a court of justice, and, perhaps,
‘every witness, but the parties themselves, is in a like position ; s0
that they have but little hope of redress. But allowing some of
tiem not only the opportunity, but the enjoyment of redress,
what becomes of that long eatalogue of insanity and death, which
is produced direotly by this treatment? Hear what the physician
at Auburn says of the douche:—*I am an advocate for cold
water, if properly applied, but to eonfine a conviet in the stocks
tight and firm, with his head thrown back, and then douche the
water upon him, is deeided!y more dangerous and evil than the
eat. ‘The museles, involuntarily, shrink upon the application of
cold. But here they must bear the shock, in all its severity.
‘The first effect 1s strangulation, to a most painful degree. ‘The
next {5 aberration of mind, convulsions, congestion of the brain,
liver and bowels. The blood, receding from the surface, is thrown
suddenly and violently upon the organs, and, the above result is
inevitable.” Dr. Fosgate bears testimony, in hls examination by

the legislative committee, to the same facts in still stronger Ian-

guage: “To convey a just idea of the shower bath asa means of
punishment, as well as to.disabuse the community In regard toit,
it will be necessary to doseribe as well as may be, the instrument
itself, so that it can be compared with the bath in common use as
a means of luxury. The form of the machine Is that of the com-
mon stocks, with a reservoir of water above it, having a head fit:

ty-four inches, measuring from the surface of the water to the
perforated plate at the end of the discharging tube. ‘The offen-
der, being stripped of his clothing, 1s placed ina sitting posture
in the stocks, with feet and hands securely fastened, and his head
contained iu a sort of hopper, the bottom of which encircles his
neek so closely that the water will not run off as fast as it ean be
let on, the water being under the control of the keeper by means
of a chotd attached to a valve in the bottom of the reservoir.
From the perforated plate the water falls about eighteen inches,
when it strikes the head of the eonviet, immovably fixed, thenee
passing over the whole surface of the body. When the reservoir
is full, the force of the blow upon the head is nearly equal to a
This foree is

column of water seventy-two inches in height.
somewhat reduced by the intervention of the perforated plate, a
late modification in the instrument. To the mechanic, who eal-

108.) 25

culates the influence of mere matter upon matter, the power of
‘this column of water must possess considerable importance, But
to the physiologist, who can alone judge with any degree of cor-
reotness of the influence of a stream, generally at 92 Fahrenheit,
falling upon the head and thence covering the whole body, the
‘suffering induced, and danger incurred must appear momentous
in the extreme}is the following examples illustrate. Convict
namber 5066, agod abont thirty years, of sanguine nervous tem-
perament, was brought to the hospital in a perfeetly unconscious
state, and with convulsive (witehings of the museles. His mouth
filled with frothy saliva, no perceptible pulsations in the radical
artery, but little external heat, and very imperfect respiration.
‘He had been showered, as I was credibly informed, with about
two pails of cold water. His body was rubbed with stimulants
and warmly covered with blankets.” In about two hours degli
tition was partially restored, when brandy, and other stimulants,
wore administered. In four hours, after entering the hospital, «
his consciousness returned. This iridividual was so nearly des-
troyed that he had passed into that calm, quiet, mental state that >
immediately precedes death by drowning. He sald that at last.
he had the delightful sensation of sailing, and then it was all
over. He suifered from cramps, in his lower extremities, for
about three months after.

“Conviet number 4959, was showered previous to my eonnec-
tion with the prison, He told me that, while in the stocks, “his
head ached as though it wonld certainly split open, when, all at
once, it suddenly stopped, and he felt no more pain.” He came”.
out of the stocks an insane man, hopelessly incurable, though, at _
times, he converses understandingly about the punishment.

convict number 5669, was showered with six pails of water,
discharged on his head, in a half inch stream. Shortly after he
fell into convulsions, fom which he emerged with a mind totally, “=
destroyed. He was pardoned in about three months afterwards, =
and a report subsequently reached the prison, that he did not 2
Jong survive.

The kind of pnnighment next in frequency, inflicted in this
prison, is yoking. The yoke is formed of a flet bar of iron, four XS"
26 [Asmar

or five inches wide, and from five to six feet in length, with a
moveable staple in the centre to encircle the neck, and a smaller
one at each end to surround the wrists. All these staples are so
arranged that by turning serews on their protruding ends, on the
back of the iron bar, they can be tightened to any degree deemed
expedient. Tho weight of the lightest yoke is thirty four pounds
avoirdupois, and some of them, I believe, weigh forty. ‘The pri
cipal objection to this punishinent is, that the yoke bears too heay-
ily on the cervical vertebra. Most persons are aware of the un-
pleasant, and in fact unsupportable sensation produced even by
the weight of the unbuttoned coat and vest pressing upon the
back of the neck. Under the weight of this instrument, the eon-
viet cannot retain the erect posture for even a few minutes conse-
cutively, but is forced to bend forward in his continual writhing,
which brings the entire weight of the bar upon the lower cervical
vertebra, The arms are generally stretched to their full length,
and from steady tension of the nerves, are benumbed while the
hands turn purple, and at times-become much swollen. In sev-
eral instances I have placed my fingers beneath the yoke, and
sure so great that it was actually painful to me**

strument of torture and of death, it is, confessedly,
more dangerous in the hands of uneducated men, than the lash.
Unlike those beasts of prey, whose appetites are whetted by the
smell of blood, man generally recoils from its sight, So that, as
the lacerated backs of the convicts begin to drip with gore, his
hheated passions begin to subside, and farther cruelty be thus ar-
rested.

The douche and the yoke possess not even such doubtful ad-
) vantago, and should at once be forbid by law. ‘The Exeeutive of
the State has already, officially, declared that thero is no Taw for
their use, but, notwithstanding this, the yoke and the douche are
ever ready instruments of punishment and torture, in all our State
Prisons. We might tolerate, perhaps excuse such violations of the
law if they subserved any good purpose, but experience daily
teaches us that if not entirely useless, they are, at lesst, of doubt-
fal efficacy. ‘The experience of the State Prison of Maine, is to
the point. ‘That institution was governed, for twenty months,
without any other punishment than solitary confinement, with an

\g5h

No. 108.] a

average loss of two and a half days to'each conviet, and during
the past year, the Warden states that the punishments. have not
averaged the loss of one day to each piisoner, and still it is con
sidered by all that the diseipline never was better. Under these
circumstances we invite particular attention to this subject, and
ask the passege of a law restraining the use of the yoke, the
douche, or any other punishment except solitary confinement on
bread and water, and thus the number of punishments and the
duration of each shall be published, annually, under oath of the
‘Warden, in his annual report.

‘WITNESSES.

“We have. so often called the attention of the Legislature to the
‘consideration of this subject, that we doit on the present occasion
even at the risk of being considered tmportanate. We should
not, however, consider ourselves as faithful stewards of the trust ~
confided to us by our eharter did we not struggle earnestly, con-
stantly and fearlessly, to obtain those meliorations in our prison
system which an enlightened benevolence and a just sense of du~
ty seem to require. In onr fourth annual report we directed the
attention of the Legislature to the subject of imprisoning wit-
nesses in the following language: The moral right to imprison
witnesses is very questionable. Thetr testimony may be required,
and it is thelr duty to give it when called on; but until they re-!
fase to give it they are entitled to their liberty. The law pro-
vides that witnesses not residing in the city may be examined de
bene esse and discharged. ‘Thequestion arises, therefore, only in
relation to our own citizens, and as to them the statute gives the
magistrate the power, if he fs satisfied by the proof, that there is
reason to beliove that they will not appear at the trial, to require!
‘thelr recognizances, with such sureties as he shall deem meet,
‘or to commit them.’ But the law has no right to presume that a,
man will not do his duty before he has refused to do it.The true, =
presumption is the other way, and it is unjust to make aman suf)
fer npon a'belief that otherwise he will not do what he ought,
But no such consideration is necessary... It is as easy to examine, \—)
one of our own citizens de bene esse as any other person; andi) .;
there is reason to suppose that he will not be fortheoming at the

=
zB
oq

28 [Asstance

trial, this course ought to be adopted, and a legislative enactment
should make it obligatory upon the District Attorney. ‘The at-
tention of our agent has been, within a few days, particularly
called to this subject by a case that occurred at the city prison.
A woman had been induced to purchase what is called a lottery

under which she was cheated. Smarting under her losses
Da applied to the police. A warrant was issned, the polizy deal-
er arrested and brought to the eity prison, examined, and held to
hail, which he procured, and wes set at liberty. ‘The injured wit.
ness who came for redress, was also held to bail for her appear-
ance to prosecute, but not having amassed wealth by erime, she
‘was not as fortunate as the accused in finding a friend to bail her,
‘and she was cast Into prison and made to explate the crime of
daring to enforce a law of the State by an imprisonment of 57
days. At the end of this time the trial of the policy dealer eame
on. He confessed his guilt, was fined $10, which he Lomediately
paid, and was discharged. ‘The Jaw having no further use for
the poor woman, she also was discharged, but without one cent
compensation for her loss of time and the derangement of her af-
fairs, and probably taught by her sufferings never agnin to seek
redress from the law on a similar occasion.”

Is there no remedy for this perversion of legislation? Must the
accuser thus suffor for the eriminal? Shall the unwholesome
operations of the law be thus converted into instruments of tor-
ture to those whom they were intended to protect? This is by no
means a solitary example. The evil is so common that it has
passed into a proverb, that a rich policy dealer or gambler can-
not be eonvieted.

FINES,

The subject of fines as a part of criminal sentences, was also
Presented in our fourth report in the following language: We
feel it a duty, at this time more particularly, to urge legislative
attention to the subject of fines as a part of, eriminal sentences.
‘The law as it now stands, operates most oppressively and injuri-
ously upon the poor man, subjecting him to protracted periods of
imprisonment, and perhaps a family to want and suffering, while

\B5R
No. 108.] 29

the rich man, who has no claims upon his daily exertions, may
buy his liberty at once. It would seem, therefore, to-be the die
tate hoth of justice and humanity to provide for the poor some
means of escape from the severity of this sentence other than the
aiseretionary power of judges who are liable to the same frailties,
and are influenced by the passions aid feelings with other men.
No plan, perhaps, en be suggested which will more effectually
and more satisfactorily answer this object than affixing to every
day’s imprisonment determinate value, and makiug it an equiva-
lent for a part of the fine, and thus presetibing the term of im-
prisonment in ease of inability to pay, and, at the same time, af-
fording an opportunity to those more fortunate to regain their
Jiberty at once. ‘The attention of our agent is frequently called
to cases of protracted imprisonment on account of fines of @ very,
trifling character, which, had the individual been rich or had
wealthy friends, would have been settled at once, but on account
of the limited means of the individual are continued until the
time spent i prison becomes a-very serious loss, Instances are
reported of eight or ten weeks imprisonment for the paltry sum
of five dollars; and almost constantly eases occur in which fines
of ten or fifteen dollars only are satisfied by an imprisonment of
five and six weeks.

DISTRICT PRISONS.

—_—
In our third report we urged the establishment of distriot
prisons in the following language:

“Tf we may ever hope to reform criminals, It certainly must\

be at that period when, with trembling footsteps, they first entér’
the paths of transgression. ‘Then it is that advice, reproof, ad
monition, and reflection may produce their intended results.
‘Then, and for such, it is that our prisons should have a perfect |
organization. ‘The general principles of such an organization
may be easily pointed out; but in the details and management
there are greater difficulties. One thing appears to us evident’
that our county prisons never can be what society demands until
they afford opportonities of instruction, reflection, the inculeation
of religious prinelples and the formation of habits of industry.|

ts

30 [Assprone

(The small number of convicts, however, in most-of our county
Jails precludes the possibility of introducing successfully into
these prisons any of those necessary requisitions ; it has, there-
fore, suggested itself to us whether the laws in relation to county
prisons tnight not be so modified as to divide the State into seve-
ral penal distriets, according to its population, in a central position
in each of which a prison should be erected after the most
approved plan, in which labor, instruction, and all the appliances
for health and reformation should be introduced. This, we
believe, might be effected withont (when the labor of the conviet
is taken into consideration) any considerable increase of expense,
and even should the expense be Increased, reformation is of too
much importance to be sacrificed to a paltry.consideration of
dollars and cents’

/” Every day’s experience has confirmed the opinion thus express
) ed, and though at that period the idea had never been practically
{ iMustrated, we are now happy to learn that Albany and the
adjoining counties have thus united, and that the Albany Peniten-
tiary has been conducted on this plan for the Lair or
years with the most eminent suecess; not only is it one of the
best ordered prisons in the United States, but it is also one of
the most productive, when the character of its population and the
tormsof sentence are taken into consideration, From the last
report of that institution, we learn that during the preceding
year it not’ only paid its expences, but earned, over and above
) expenses, the handsome sum of $1,013.07. ‘The inspectors, after
announcing this fact, remark, “that it challenges admiration, and
more than this, a competitor.” If the Legislature would adopt
» this policy for the State, and divide it into ten or more districts,
in whicl’ e central prison should be erected after the most ap-
proved models, and order that all prisoners sentenced to more
than ten days imprisonment should be there sent, we have no
doubt but the several counties of the State would be entirely
_Telieved from the support of adjudged crime, and the number of
crimes be materially diminished. ‘The experience of Albany coun-
ty in this particular is so satisfuetory and encouraging that it be-
‘comes a duty for this Association to urge its consideration upon the

\Q5R
No. 108.] a1

Legislature in the strongest manner, not merely as an important
suggestion, but as an aecomplished fact. ‘The establishment of
district prisons, as thus recommended, would afford ample oppor-
tunities for making our houses of detention completely separate
prisons, where no two individuals under arrest could ever sce ot
converse together. Is it not time that so important a feature in
prison discipline should be not only recommended on our statute
book, but absolutely enforced in practice. A vast responsibility
ests with our law makers, and they should see to ft thet the
undreds of youths that are every year incarcerated are no longer
exposed to the corrupting influences of congregate imprisonment.
DETENTION FOR TRIAL. ,
ee

‘The good order and well being of the community may require
that individuals under suspicious circumstances, shall be arrested
and detained until an investigation as to their guilt or innocence
can be had, and in ease of proved guilt, this preliminary confine-
ment becomes very justly a part of the punishment, but when the
individual is proved innocent, it seems an extremely hard ease
that he should have his character lojured by groundless suspi
clons, be thrown’ out of his business, subjected to personal ex-
penses, and shut ap in prison, leaving his family to provide for
itself, or to suffer the pangs or miseries of starvation, and then
after six or perhaps eight weeks of confinement, turned a beggar
upon the world, not from any fault of his perhaps, but some for-
taitous eireumstances over which he had no control. We have
cn former occasions directed attention to this subject, but it has
heen more fgreibly brought home to our attention, by the appli-
cation of a poor colored man, whose family had been turned
into the street, and the savings of years exhausted, in the attempt
to provide counsel for him and his son, while ‘n prison, and to
support the family, while those on whom they depended for sup-
port, were locked up forthe benefit of the State. ‘This man and
his son had been detained five weeks when, afteran investigation
of thelr charge, they were honorably discharged. ‘Who pays fore
their loss of character—their loss of time, and of money? One
would suppose it to be a sufficient sacrifice for the good of society,
for an innocent man to be incarcerated for so long a time, even if

|

32 [Assenncy

he was pai the ordinary price of @ day’s labor, but to compel
‘him to sffer the loss of liberty, and the loss of money at the same
time, is a sacrifice too greatto be borne patiently. ‘This detention
falls almost exclusively, whereit is the Jeast able to be borne. It
is the poor man suffers. He it is that is made to pay the tax for
the security of the rich man’s property. ‘The rieh can at any

\ time provide bail, and are therefore never the sufferers. Shall
not some provision be male, which shall protect the imocent
poor man while under arrest. ‘

Agee
‘We ask attention to the following extract, from the appendix
to our fifth report, as presenting important suggestions for the
improvement of prison architecture, aud especially for the con-
struction of prisons, with a view to classification. We propose
that our prisons should in future be constructed on the radiating
plan, so that each wing shall diverge from and open into a eom-
mon centre, which, if kept in view in regulating the internal con-
struction of the building, becomes a point of observation, com-
manding a view of the whole, and from which access in all diree-
tions is afforded. The wings may vary in number, from two to
“six—four, perhaps, wonld be a better limit, and may be con:
structed from two to four stories high. ‘These wings shall in part
be adapted to separate, and In part to congregate government,
excepting in houses of detention, where entire separations in our
opinion, alone admissible. The centre building, besides sérving
a8 a point of access and observatory, should provide accommoda-
tions underneath for a kitchen, and overhead fora hospital. ‘The
ground undemeath the central building should be de€ply exeava-
ted, and such excavation should exiend to a considerable distance
over the adjoining grounds, and adjacent to each wing, to give
air and light to the basement; better perhaps to have the base-
ment entirely above ground. ‘The arrangements forthe basement
of the prison should be sueh as to provide bath rooms, cleansing
stooms, store-rooms, &o.s as well as the most ample accommoda-
tions for cooking, and the easiest method of distributing the food
to the different portions of the prison in whieh it is required.
‘Tho kitchen should be immediately connected with the store-

PRISON ARCHITECTURE.

igs
No. 108.] 33

rooms, bathing, and reception cells, wash room, clothes rodmy
drying rooms, coal bins, heating apparatus, &e., &e., so a8 10
eoonomise the labor and fuel of the establishment. The wings
are to be constructed, so as to permit, a general inspection and
supervision of the whole building from one point, embracing not
only the cells, but the dining hall, workshops, and perhaps
chapel ; for this purpose, on each sido of each corridor near the
central observatory, tables and seats are to be provided for feed-
ing the prisoners; beyond these are the cells opening inwards to-
watds a central hall, and in the congregate pottion of the prison
beyond the cells, the workshops are placed. The cells are to be
made sufficiontly large to admit of separate confinement, if it
should be deemed advisable, to introduce it now or to fall baek:
on it at some future period, and bya division when it becomes
nocessary, effected by the means of corrugated iron plates, a$ ii
Portland prison, England, or by a temporary briek wall, they ean
each be divided at triflingexpense into twocells of ample capacity
for congregate imprisonment,

These are each supplied with water and all necessary appli-
ances; to be lighted by two windows, and heated by warm air
thrown in at the top of the room and drawn off at the bottom.
It fs proposed to introduce the Pentonville method of wayming
and ventilating, with such improvements as experience has sug-
gested. The part of the wing beyond the cells in which the work
shops ate to be placed, is to be completely floored over, and
divided in the centre by a board partition, about five feet high,
running from the point nearest the cells back towards the wall,
leaving between it and the wall sufficient space for the desk and
seat and keeper in charge, and the whole to be enclosed from the
other parts of the wing by glass doors, whieh ean be opened ot
closed at pleasure, thus shutting off the noise, but allowing a
central inspection. The windows in the work shops must be
large, admitting both light and air, but protected by gratings, and
in front of the work shops there must bea tackle and fall, by,
which the raw material or manuféctured goods can be Faised from
or Jowered to the store-rooms in the basement, as may be required.
At the hours for eating, the prisoners, at a given signal in each
work shop, quit their employment and march along the corridor
[Assembly, No. 108.] 3

os [Assman

in single filo to the dumb waiter on their gallery, where they find
server, with their plates, knives and forks, spoons, pepper, salt,
|] vinegar, &c., which they carry to their seats, eat what they
choose, and, after suflicient time, another signal is given, when
the prisoners rise, and, in reversed order, carry thelr servers, eon-
taining their plates, &e., and re-deposit them on the waiter, then
wheel and pass along the gallery, back again to the work shops.
In this manner no time is lost, either in setting or clearing away
the table, aud no persons engaged especially for that business. In
the wings, which are devoted to separate confinement, the hall
‘and galleries run the whole length of the wing, as will be seen in
‘the diagram, aud the whole of it will be occupied by cells, and
the prisoners, instead of feeding together, will be supplied from
the dumb waiter with their servers by a person or persons ¢1
pressly provided for the purpose, and they will, in a similar man-
ner, be supplied with raw material for their work, &e. In the
central observatory there will be an elevated platform, of greater
or less height, according to the height of the wing, in which will
be a stand point of observation, at which all the prisoners can be
seen by simply turning the head. ‘This may also be used as a
position from which the prisoners may he addressed while at
their meals. ‘The hospital of the prison is placed in an additional
story, directly over this part of the building, and is intended to
‘occupy the entire floor of the upper part. It will have two en-
trances from nearly opposite wings, and will be so arranged as to
have cach bed separated, by a partition, from every other, 60 a8
to offer a distinct room for each patient, looking into the centre
of the building through # grated door, controlled by the attend-
ants. The centre room is provided with a light in the dome, and
each bed-room is to have a small window for ventilation. A
chapel, for those in separate confinement, may be constructed by
a prolongation of the hospital over one of the wings, and so
arranged as to prevent prisoners even becoming personally known
toeach other. This may be done by adopting the plans and pre-
cautions used at Pentonville, England, and if it is desired to
assemble all the population of the prison in the chapel’ at the
same time, it may be done by providing separate and distinct
departments for cach class. The plan, which we herewith pre-
sent, has not been artistically drawn, and will, therefore, but

gee
No. 108.] 35

imperfeetly present our idea. It can only be considered as the
great outline of a plan which must be filled up hereafter.

‘Tho plan thus proposed possesses the advantage, first, of pro-
viding @ prison equally well calculated for either separate or
‘congregate imprisonment It places the two systems in juxtapo-
sition, and enables us to form an accurate comparison of their
merits. . It enables us to adopt or discard either, as the one or, _
the other shall be decided to be superior, thus holding ourselves,
in a constant stato of progress. In proposing separate confine-
ment for first sentences, it offers the most undoubted advantages
of the separate system, while, in retaining congregate imprison
ment for a large portion of the inmates, and superadding a minute,
and attainable classification, it presents the congregate system in
an improved shape. By the means it affords for dispensing with,
a crowd of hall boys and waiters, who are at present unprodue-
tive, for increasing and equalizing the hours of labor during the
hours of labor during the whole year, and for allowing the pro-
ductive advantages of congregation, it admits of the greatest:
economy in its management. It enables the prisoners to be oot
stantly engaged, either in work, study, instruction, sleeping, feed-:
ing, or other necessary oceupations, and thus preventing the
ennul aid the diseases created by idleness. In its introduction
of more order and system—in its facility for supervision—in op-
portunities for a complete and constant separation of classes—in
its preventing the exposure of the prisoners to the changes of the
weather, thereby promoting health—in its increased facilities for’
carrying on the operations of the prisoners, &e , &e., it seems to
exec] all other known plans. This is a brief summary of the
advantages wo expect to derive from prisons fashioned after the
manner here sketched. If we have sueceeded in presenting an
intelligible view of our own conception, we hope to have im->
pressed those who may have examined our plan with the idea’
that it is, at least, worthy of an experiment, especially as the:
experiment will cost bnt little, and the prison, afterwards, will
be of the first order, and, by a trifling expense, may be converted:
into either a congregate prison of the largest capacity, or into
separate prison, unsurpassed in its appliances for health and
‘the ordinary operations of the prison. ‘This advantage alone, we

36 [Assmmer

trust, will be sufficient to recommend the general features of our
plan to the authorities of those new States where they are about
to construct prisons and introduce systems of prison government,
‘and to those where prisons are already established, which may be
found insufficient in size, of so dilapidated by age as to make &
new eteotion desirable. Prisons erected on this plan will possess.
the important advantage of having the convict in congregate im-
prisonment under the constant watch and guardianship of the
Keeper. His whole prison life will be so adjusted as to be equi-
tably distributed between labor, study, religious instruction, out
door exercise, feeding and sleeping. By the use of the fut and
the other oleaginotis materials, which accumulate from the meats
‘ised by the prisoners, the prison may be lighted at a trifling ex-
pense, with gas, and as the prisoners never need, and, indeed, ae
Hever expected to go off their galleries, except for yard exercise,
they can be mustered at the samo hour during all seasons of the
year, and work the same number of hours. Their hours of study,
' great desideratum, impossible to be attained under ordinary
systems, can also be equally well arranged, so that the eon-
Viets need not, as at present, be left, in the winter season, more
than half their time unemployed, shut up in a dark cell, with n6
‘oné to control them and nothing to employ theri.

STATISTICS.

‘We have in former reports directed attention to the matiner of
reporting prison statisties, and although some improvement has
been made in our own State in this particular, nevertheless even
here we are deficient in that systematie arrangement and minute
detail which gives such value to European statisties on this sub-
Jeet. ‘The sections of the law making it obligatory on the several
‘officers of the State prisons to report annually the statistics of
their several departments was drawn by this Association, and it
> was supposed at the time, provided for a.complete uniformity in
‘the manner of reports, and was sufficiently explicit to leave no
reasonable doubt in the minds of intelligent men of its meaning ;
nevertheless we find that almost every year different fucts are
resented, or the same facts in such different shapes as to render
them utterly worthless for the purpore of comparison. Som-

15%
No. i08.] 87

imes little regard is paid to the requirements of the law but guch
facts es fancy or caprice dictates supply the place of those which
aremade incumbent by thestatute. If such difficulty exists in
‘our own State where we have a law in relation to this matter, it
is not to be expected that in States where no legal requirement
‘exists we should find any improvement; nevertheless we are
‘compelled to admit that Pennsylvania, New-Jersey, and perhaps
two or three other States have set an example in this direction
worthy of our warmest approbation. What we would ask is the
object in presenting year ‘after year a mass of statistics differing
from each other and afl others? When indeed they embrace, ag
is sometimes the case, a series of years, they become valuables
but a simple report that such a number were imprisoned during
the year for such a crime, or that such a diseaso prevailed, unless
‘coupled with preceding or sueceeding reports of the same charae-
ter may indeed be an astonishing announcement, but possesses n0
intrinsic worth exeopt to excite the wonder or admiration of the
reader. If we would give any value to such statistics they must
be continuous, and yearly present the same fuets. In previous
reports we have presented a form for reporting ies.of our
State prisons which we would particularly urge the wardens and
Keepers of such prisons to adopt, not because it possesses any pe
culiar merit, but that if adopted by all it will make the statistics
‘ofall valuable. Wo take the liberty to again present it with:a
modification which, although it detracts materially from the
of the original design, preserves its prineipal features, and at the

same time diminishes tho labor of its preparation nearly
half. ae

1gS%
No. 108}

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STATE PRISONS.

No. 108%]

NOTES EXPLANATORY OF THE FOREGOING TABLE.

Of all others—1 for ineest, 1 for polygamy.

12 for horse stealing.

Notorious thief, 18; incest, 2; receiving stolen goods, 105
‘poisoning, 1; sonding threatning letters, 3; breaking ves-
sel, 25 polygamy, 1; sodomy, 1; plokpocket, 1 receiv-
ing stolen money, 1; destroying property, 1; gross lewd-
ness, 2.

Embezzlement, 1; escaping from prison, I; ineendiaries, 55
rescuing prisoners, 1.

Incest, 1; breaking jail, 1; burning jail, 12; opening grave,
15 burning, 1.

Yor poisoning, 4; mayhem, 35 maiming, I; mutiny, 95
assault with and carrying slung shot, 5; incest, 2; sodomy,
1; seduction, 1; abduction, 2; receiving stolen goods, 95
breaking Jail, 1

Seduction, 2; as'It end battery with intent to rob, 2; crime

‘agalust nature, 1; assault and battery with slung shot, 1.
Breaking jail, 1; aiding prisoners to escape, 1; attempt to
ravish, 35 attempt to reseue from a publio officer, 4.
For misdemeanor, 17; riot,2; sodomy, 15 keeping, disor-
derly house, 2; atrocious assault and battery, 65 assault
and battery and rape, 1. :

For conspiracy, 3; receiving stolen goods, 2; horse stealing,
13; felony, 13 kidnapping, 2; mayhem, 2; revolt at

sea, 1.
Conspiracy, 15 mayhem, 1; misdemeanor, 1 riot, 15 keep-
{ing a bawdy and tippling house, 1.

“a [Assemr

For felony, 65; stealing, 68, enticing slaves to run away, 6;
horse stealing, 6; receiving stolen goods, 65 stealing «
wateh and assisting a slave to run away, 1; stealing hore
‘buggy, 15 shooting with intent to kill, 1

For carrying off slaves, 6; aiding slaves to abscond, 8; for
slave stealing, 3; for horse stealing, 21 ; for giving register
to slaves, 15 for malicious cutting and maiming, 45 for
extorting money by threats, 1; for embezzlement, 1;
receiving stolen horse, 15 receiving stolen goods, 15 felo-
ny, 1.

For concealing thief, 1; horse stealing, 19; receiving stolen
goods, 25 incest, 3 E

For‘ineest, 1; retaken, 1.
For receiving stolen goods, 1.

Kidnapping, 3; receiving stolen goods, 1; violating and
robbing the mail, 8; cutting telegraph polls, 1.

By the foregoing table it will be perceived, that in twenty-one
States from which we have returns, there isa grand total of
5,600 prisoners for the year 1851; and on looking over the sta-
tistics for these several prisons, the only remarkable facts that
present themselves are, that in the State of New-York alone, there
are a greater number of cases of bigamy and perjury, than in all
the other twenty-one States; there being twenty-one cases of
bigamy in New-York, aud only thirteen in the other States, and
seventeen cases of perjary to there in all the other States. The
average poriod of confinement in the sevoral States has dimin-
ished within a few years. At present, Connecticut seems to ad-
minister the longest period of imprisonment, ‘The average period
being six years, eight months, one day, and the eastern peniten-
tlary of Pennsylvania, the shortest, it being only two years, six
months, uino days. There are in all these prisons 151 females;
afid 604 colored persons.

Mlustrative of the reformatory influences of our prisons, we
have prepared the following table of recommitments for a series

a

of years. It Is to be regrétted, that 8 few prisons have thought
it Important to make a record of these matters; and to present
them to their legislature. If we are ever to understand the ad-
yantages of our prison system, it must be we should suppose
through such means.

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48 [Associ

DISCHARGED CONVICTS.

‘The committee, in giving an account of their labors for the past
‘year, have to regret the loss of their late egent and associate, the
venerable Tsaae T. Hopper, foll of years and fall of usefulness,
He has been called to another and, wo trust, higher state of hap-
piness and being. ‘Thise who knew him best deplore him most,
‘With a heart ever ready to sympathize with distress, he was not
only the friend of the widow and the futherless, but especially of
the slave and the discharged convict. His philenthropy was as
boundless as distress. For seven years he discharged the duties
of agent of this Association, and, although, on assuming them, he
was long passed the period ordinatily allotted to man, he still
performed the task with an energy and a discrimination worthy
of all praise. To us, who were his immediate associates, to the
beneficiaries of this committee, who were guided by his counsel,
and were the recipients of his favor, to those for whom he espe-
cially Inbored, his loss is more particularly felt. But the influence
of a good man {is not confined to the narrow circle of his
diate acquaintance, but is like a light placed upon a hill and sheds
its Instre all around. In our last report, we proposed that our
several State prisons should farnish us quarterly with the names,
ages, sentences, duration of imprisonment, occupations in and out
of prison, capacity as workmen, manifest tempers or disposition,
previous habits, number of times punished in prison, number of
times convicted, and date of discharge, of all those whose sentences
will expire during the quarter, and to facilitate this object, the
Association had tabular forms prepared, and submitted to the
wardens of the several prisons, with a request that they should
fill them up and return them to the Association. The object of
this request was to afford, in advance, such information in regard
toa prisofier, about to be discharged, as would enable the Asso-
ciation to find him a place. if possible, even before he should
Jeave the walls of the prison. This request was very kindly met
by the warden of Sing Sing prison, who furnished and has con:
tinued to furnish, regular quarterly returns, which have been of
great use in enabling us to procure places, and many of our bene-
ficiavies, with thetr prison characters in their hands and a letter
of recommendation from our agent, have been enabled, without

has
No. 108.] 49
othor reference, to obtain places of trust and emolument. It is
to be regretted that the wardens of Auburn and Clinton have not
heen willing to oblige us in this particular, as,at certain seasons
of the year, we might easily provide, in advanee, for almost every
mechanic that would be discharged, at remunerating wages. ‘The
whole number of applicants for aid from the committee chargéd
with this department of our labors, has been

+196
95

1-291

Of these, as nearly as can be ascertained, 140 are doing well,
71 doubtful and 10 have been returned to pfison. The average
expense of providing for these, all told, has fallen short of $5
each. In this we include board, tools, passage money, clothing,
rent of office, clerk hire, and other incidental expenses. ‘The
males have generally been provided with places, established in
business, or sent to their friends. About 40 females have been
sent to the Home, and the remainder aided in various ways. The
female department, as more fully appears in the annexed report,
have received, within the year, 136 beneficiaries, which, added
to those who have applied to this committee, make a grand total
of 815 discharged prisoners, which have come under the super-
vision of the Association during the past year. As an evidence
of the success which has attended the past efforts of this eommit=
tee, we beg attention to: the following cases, which have been
extracted fiom the diary of our agent, from among many others,
as showing, in a very striking light, the benefits resulting from
our Association : :

CASE NO. 290.

Jan, 28th, 1847.—No. 290, twenty-nine years of age, a nétiveof
this city, was convicted of grand larceny at the eafly age of 16

years, and sent to Sing Sing for five years; served out his time .

‘and was at liberty about eight months, when he, qvas again con-

‘vieted of a similar crime, and again sent to Sing Sing for five

years. "At the expiration of his second sentence he went to Phil-

Adelphia, where he engaged in selling stolen goods, and continued
[Assembly, No. 108.] 4

“et

80 [asta

in that business about one month when he ‘was again arrested and
sent to Moyamensing prison for two years, from which (his time
having fully expired) he was discharged on the 13th inst., having
shient twelve out of the last thirteen yeais in prison. He now re-
sides with bis mother, in Water-st., who appears to be aif indus-
trious woman, and has been engaged for the last thirty years in
selling fruit, candies, &e., in the streets, He is, by trade, & shoe-
maker anid possesses a determination to reform, and says; if we
will give him a start in the world, he will strive to keep his poor
aged mother from breaking the Sabbath by following her calling,
Thave given him an order for tools, to an amount not to exceed
six dollats, and advaiced him fifty cents to help pay his board.

larch 1210, 1847,—-No. 200 has procured a situation with a
shoemaker where he is employed as a cutter, and as he has no
immediate use for the tools we gave him, has deposited them ia
our office until he shall have occasion to use them, and I lent
him a dollar and a half to purchase articles betier suited to his
present occupation. =

April 29a, 1847,—No. 290 ealled—says hé has Toft bis place
With the shoemaker, and is now engeged of board a Ginisl boat
Hétonging to Wadsworth & Fyanklin.

June 4th, 1847.—I have this day received a letter from No.
290, dated Oswego June Ist, enclosing seven dollars for his moth-
er, which I handed to her. ‘The poor old woman was much pleas-
‘ed that her son remembered her, and expressed hope that he
‘was going to do well.

June 18th, 1847.—No. 290 called at the office; his Appéitanbo
Despeaks cobriety and industry; within the last two months, he
thas contributed twenty-three dollars towards the support of his
aged mother.

‘Sept. Dthi, 1847,—Recelved 4 letter froin No. 290, enélosing ten
déllars for his.inother, which 1 gave her.

Gé2. 10th, 1849,—No. 290, called; says He, is employed in driv
{ing an omnibus in the Bowery line, and that he abstains entirely

EER

No, 108.] 6i

from intoxivating diiniks ; he’ was veilf wall diéssed'and looks
respectable.

August 30th, 1850,—T iésétved a letter ftom 990, enclosing’
five dollars for the use of his mother, which was immediately for-
warded to her.

June 26th, 1851,—Received the following letter, beating date
on board boat New Era:

Albany, June 23rd, 1851.
Friend Hoprrr,—Please exouse this ill note, but I ealled on
the Governor Washington Hunt to-day, at his house, and he said
he could not recollect as to my application being forwarded to
him, concerning 290, and the Governor directed his secretary to
examine the papers, and, if the application was found,
he would attend to it next week, but if not then, the Governor
ssid, if Mr. Hopper would send him a letter in my favor, that
would be satisfactory to him, he would grant mo a frée and fill
pardon immediately, for which I thanked him sinceteély, and if it
4s God’s will, T shall prove my sincerity fo all men, did ever
remain in debt to those who saved me, as if were froiti drdwing
ny last breath withitt the walls of a prisoii, Sir, I trust your’
trouble in my behalf is not, nor shan’t be in vain—my thanks to
all who have taken ai interest in this concer. Oh! Teanniot
express my émotion, but I feel like a new shan, with a prospect
of success,
‘Yours trily,
No. 396°

Agtesdbly to'this request I wiote to tle Goveftior; and the next
day received a letter from his secretary; asking for the informa
tion my letter written the day before contained. It appéars that
some weeks ago he made applieation to the Governor to be re-
‘stored to citizenship, and referred his Exeelleney to me for his
character, and this was the cause of his privite secretary's note
tome. In reply I gave him No. 290’s character in full as here-
‘ofore set forth, neither conecaling or extenuating anything, and
ina fow days received a full pardon for him, restoring him to thé
tights of citizenship. It is now about four years and a half since
he frst claimed my advice and assistance ; from that time he has

82 [Asseseny

conducted himself well. He has supported himself respectably
and paid his mother’s rent for the last four years. About forty
dollars have passed through my hands contributed by him for
hher relief. He has experienced a wonderful change fpr the bet-
ter since he first called upon ts, and says that he shall always re-
member the kindness that has been extended to him, and hoped
that he should never do anything that would eause us to regret
that we had befriended him.

April 28, 1852.—No. 290 called ; says he is doing well ; is mar
ried and has had four children, only two of which are now living.
Ho keeps.a grocery store in the upper part of the city in which
he sells from ten to twenty-five dollars worth daily, atan average
profit of twenty per cent, giving him about seven hundred dollars
ayear income. Made adonation of one dollar to the Associa.
tion.

June, 1852:—No. 290, one of our former benoficiaries, but who
has refunded all the money loaned to him, called to say that he
hhas a horse and cart that he will Jet to a good mau and will give
him ten dollars to start a business with on condition that the
‘man will keep the horse and divide the profits of his earnings
with him. He proposes to sell fruit and vegetables. Madea do-
nation of one dollar and twenty-five cents to the Association. As
no suitable subject presented himself, Tdelayed taking advantage
of the above offer until the 4th of July, 1852, when T sent to him
No. 908, with a note stating that as no suitable person had pre-
viously offered, I had deferred taking advantage of his offer until
then, and recommended the bearer as, in my opinion, in all re-
speots worthy of his confidence. No. 290, however, had prévious:
ly got tired waiting for my slow movements and had sold his
horse, but sent me the following note:

‘Dr. Russ—Dear Sir:—As you did not send me @ man till now,
Y thought you had not any, so Isold my horse at a bargain. Not
‘withstanding, I have a good employment for the bearer, W!
gives me much pleasure from my heutt that I can do something
{good for him that wishes to do well; so leave the bearer to me
‘and You will; I trust, be satisfied to know the end of charity from

a reformed convict.
Signed No. 290.

\g 52
No. 108.] 83

No. 908 says that 290 got him a place on board a canal boat
and paid his board for one week, or until the boat should arrive.

CASE NO. 179,

Aprit 28, 1846.—No. 179, a native of this city, about 22 years
old, was convicted of grand larceny, and sentenced to Sing Sing
for two yeais; served his time out and was discharged on the
19th inst. Has some knowledge of butehering ; has two brothels
in the city, one of whom is a stage driver ; theother is in no busi
ness. No, 179 wants employment, and is well recommended by
the Chaplain for his good conduet while in prison. May 8.—No.
179 called and says he has found employment, June 19; 1847.—
Called yesterday afternoon in Eighteenth-streét to make a visit to
No. 179. Found him living in the upper part of a brick house,
nearly new ; his wife is a most likely looking young woman ; they
have a good carpet on the floor, and good plain substantial furni-
‘tures everything about the premises bespeaks neatuess, economy
and comfurt. Before their door is a grass plot, and the margin
of the fence is lined with a variety of flowers in bloom, No. 179
and his wife and mother expressed much gratification with my
visit, ;

Sept. 18, 1848.—No. 179 called, as he frequently does; looks
well, and says that he is now doing business on his own account 5
he deals in poultry, fish and vegetables; has a stand in Spring-
street, and his prospects are favorable. Sept. 20.—No. 179 call-
ed at my house and spent an hour with me; I really believe he
Isa reformed man. July 11, 1849 —No. 179 ealled ; looks re-
spectable 5 says that he follows butchering ard makes a comférta-
ble living. He is a member of the society of Methodists. Noo.
20, 1850.—Met No. 179 in the street; he looks respectable, and
says ho is getting a good living ; I have visited him; his wife ap-
pears to be a most tidy housekeeper; the appearance of their pre-
mises seems to indicate care and frugality, aud they mauifest sin-
core gratitude for the attention they have received. It is now
nearly five years since he was released, and his conduct ever since
has been unexeeptionable.

a [Assramey

Moy 17, 1852.—No. 17 called; is doing well; keeps a meat
shop in this vicinity. A day or two after his visit I'received the
following letter :

To the Agent of the Prison Association :

Dear Sir—After having read the account of the venerable
Ariend Isaac T. Hopper’s death, I could not help weeping. It
touched « tender chord in the fountain of my heart when coming
to the account of his-being a prisoner’s friend. Yes, for I have
felt it.

About six years ago, T was one of those who got good advice
from the old man. I have carried it out and met with great sue-
“cess, although I was fatherless, motherless and friendless, with no
‘home, nobody to care for me, I felt as the poet has it~

A ptgrim stranger here Tove,
From place to place Pim driven,

(My feecds are gone aad T'm ia gloom,
‘This earth i all Jovely tomb,

hare aa bome bot Heaven.

FEMALE DEPARTMENT.

Finally I got work, then married, and have three boys, and am
doing business in -— street. Go on in the work of huuanity
and love until the Good Master shall say it is enough, come up
higher. I would be happy to have any of the friends of prisoners
come and see me.

T remain respectfully yours,

No, 179.

_ Tho Executive Committee, after elght years of toil in this unin-
iting field of labor, have the pleasure of assuring the public that
they have the utmost confidence in the belief that the greatest
portion of their beneficiaries are saved from future imprisonment,
and they hope from crime.

By order of the Executive Committee.
R. N. HAVENS, Chairman.

Toun D. Russ, Cor. Sec.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Of the Female: Department, for the Year 1853.

OFFICERS.

ie OATHARINE M, SEDGWICK, 1st Directres, 54 Eas-16th stieet,
1s. THOMAS C. DOREMUS, 24 Direotrest, 62 East-2st street.
ANNA J. H. FITCH, Treasurer, 42 Bas-16th streot,
‘CAROLINE M. KIRKLAND, Corresponding Seoretary, 45 Irving Pace
Miss ANNA CURTIS, Recording Secretary, 47 Lexington Avenue,

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

Mrs. MAHLON DAY, 120 Bast-16:h street,
JAMS 8. GIBBONS, 19 Lomartine Place,
ABRAHAM MEAD, Weet Ste strct,

EDGAR HICKS, Court and Schermerhora steels, Brooklyn,
RICHARD MAURBY, Pacitc street, Brooklyn,
WM. C. BRYANT. 68 Lexington Avenue,
ADDISON F. BOND, Montague Place, Brosklyn,
JAMES BEATTY, 869 Greonwich srest,
‘ALFRED HALL, Wiliamsbargh,

JAMES EMERY, 263 Pear stoet,

BENJ. ELLIS, Willanosburgh,

JAMES M. HALSTED, 18 West-t7th street,
HENRY B. SMITH, 11 Lamartine Place,
(CHARLES TRACBY, 82 Lexington Avenue,

©. W. MILBANK, 215 Madison street,

HENRY W. SMITH, 115 Amos street,

FAMES H. DILL, 274 Sixth Avenue,

JOHN BEAM, 101 State stoot, Brooklyn,
LUDLOW PATTEN, West-12h streot,
SARANT, MARTYN,

HENRY V. POOR, 12 College Place,

Miss HANNAH UNDERHILL, 199 Heory street,

AMY HAWXHURST, 52 Madison street,
ELIZABETH MANNING, Pacte street, Brooklyn,
SUSAN B. DAY, 189 East. 16th street,

JANE SEDGWICK.

58

ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

Hon. J. W. EDMONDS, Hon. JAMES H. TITUS,
JOHN DUER, SOHN D. RUSS, M.D.,
RICHARD REED.

MATRONS.
Mrs, JOANNA MORRIS,
Mis WARD, Teacher,
RECEIVING COMMITTEE.
Mrs, JAMES GIBBONS nd Mrs, ABRATAA MEAD.

PRISON COMMITTEE.

‘Miss ANNA.CURTIS,
rs. JAMES GIBBONS,
CHARLES TRACEY,

Mig M TITUS,

Mrs. JAMES BEATTY,
JAMES EMERY,
Ms AMY HAWXHURST.

REPORT :

Of the Female Department of the Prison <Asspctation, for the
year 1852.

‘The managers of he home, have no signal erent. to ‘record for
the year 1852. Nothing has occurred to’ tempt them to exulta-
tion, and certainly nothing to discourage their hopes,if they eould
be discouraged, who ere humble fellow-workers with him “ who
came to seek and to save the lost.” ‘The institution has been
sustained partly by the product of the labor of the inmates, and
parlly by generous donations, and xegular contributions. The

| alarming rise In theprice of the necessaries of life, has been met

by the faithful oversight of the managers, and the vigilant
economy of a most satisfactory matron, so that the year closes
without the dishonour of unpaid debts, or the pain of anxious
responsibilities.

‘When it is remembered that ours are voluntary inmates, that,
while with us they surrender freedom for protection, and that
being mere children in the stature of their minds, they might be
exptcted to fret under restraint, and to let their imaginationsran
riot upon the full glass of the “ dance-room ;” and the occasional
plenty and indulgence of their social haunts, their satisfuction
with their very frugal provision, and their patient subordination
to the rules of the house, are hopefal circumstances.

At the beginning of 1852, there were thirty inmates in “the
Home.” During the year one hundred and thirty-six have been
recelved—of these, eight have heen returned to their friends—
five have been sent to the Magdalen Asylum, two have gone to
housekeeping, one to the Alms-honse, one to Randall's Island,
twelve have found places for themselves, thirty-two have loft
‘without permission, twenty-one have been discharged for impro-

60 [Assmamuy

per conduct, thirty are still in the honse, and fifty-four have been
placed, some in factories, under kind superintendence, and the
rest at domestic service, More than half, it will be seen, are thus
hopefully disposed of. OF most of those sent to mannfactori
we have satisfactory testimonials from their employers. There
have been girls, who have been sent from our protection to the
fuctories, who are now In theit third year of constant labor,
and good conduct. Of one reseued, after years at Blackwell’
Island, we have, in the words of the respectable principal of the
manufactory, the high commendation, that she is quite a matron
among them!” We have equally satisfactory reports from mis-
tresses of families, who speak of girls sent from the Home as
trustworthy” as “very capable,” as “the best help they have
ever had,” &e., &e.

‘Small sums from their earnings have been transmitted to our

managers by the girls, both at the manufuctories, and in domestic
service, to be invested for them, ‘This is incontestable evidenes
of their moral progress. We would notice as a means of evident
improvement to our inmates, the school maintained at the Home

for their benefit. ‘They are regularly taught reading, writing,
‘and urithmetic, and to their lessons, there is added an effective
religious, and moral teaching. ‘The hearts of the inmates are
reached by thelr indefatigable, skilfal,and most kind instractress.

During the last year, there has been a marked improvement,
But one individual, says the teacher, in her annual report, has
been complained of to the Committee. Several of these ignorant
creatures who came to us, not even knowing their letters, have
taken into their barren minds, « commitied to memory,” whole
chapters of the most sublime language, Into which letters oan be
compounded. One had committed the whole gospel of Matthew."

Ts it notsomothing thus to bring these outeasts within the circle
of Christian charities? We call them outcasts, but. when we call
them so, do we think of the fearful import of the word? ‘To ba
an outcast, is to have lost that which is every human beings
“birthright, a father’s protection, and a mother’s unfailing compas
slon -it is to have no brother, no sister, no ome. It is by tbeir
‘own sin, folly, or misfortune stobody knows which, nor perhaps

ea
No, 108.]

cares to know—to have tumed all the world into priests and
Lovites, who “pass them by on the other side”

61 Z

‘These outeasts are the objects of our institution. ‘They come
to us, from the prisons, with the brand of commitment upon them,
often diseased In body, morally sick,and sick at heart! They are
patients—they need the great physician, who can restore the dead.
to life.

We have known the elass of which we speak, from the most
{Intimate acquaintance of year after year. ‘Their misfortunes are
to be traced chiefly to their ignorance, and helplessness. Many
are the victims of transmitted social evils. ‘The tower of Siloam
4s fallen upon them, but are they more sinners than others?

‘We assert that they ate notall irreclaimable. Many have been
reclaimed—the sick have been healed,—but we would not mis-
state or over-state} many relapse, and relapse in spite of teach-
ing, and expestulation and help, and they find their way back
again, and again to the prison, and the hospital ; and again they
appeal to us; but when we would turn away from them, we
remember who it was that said, « if he trespass against thee seven
‘imes in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, say-
ing (I repent” thou shalt forgive him.”

Ifany are disposed to meet our disappointed hopes with the.
derisive “I told you so!” we ask them if they find it easy to.re-
claim a wandering child? If their own efforts at self-reform are
always crowned with success?

And, finally, if we are reduced to the minimum of success, is
it not soinething to efface the word despair from the vocabulary
of the wretohed ?—is it not more to be the humble instruments of
that joy which there is, in the presence of the augels of God, over
one sinner that repenteth ?

We have « complaint to lay before our charitable fellow citi-
zens. We would state it modestly. We have not had our fair
share of help from the public. We do not complain that otiiers
have had more, but only that we have had less. Ours does not
seem to be a popular charity, We do not know why—for to-us

és [Asseitony

it seems to be in striet, and literal obedience to Christ’s injume-
tions. We have appealed to the public, and unhappily hitherto
appealed in vain, to build usa house. We are cramped, and
shackled, by the want of room. We repeat, emphatically, what
was said in our last year’s report—A building is necessary, such
a8 shall be adapted to the wants of our Institution, with facilities
not only for the shelter, treatment, and instruction of a larger
number of inmates than we are now able to receive, but for the
érformance of vatious kinds of business in so advantageous a
Way, as may condues largely to the support of the establish-
ment.”

Shall we, in our prosperous city, appeal in vain? Has not an
Institution, that addresses its charities both to the body and the
mitid, a double claim upon public patronage? Oh ye who are
fenced about by the securities of life, who have parents, relatives,
tibops of friends, respect, hopo, expectation, —on whom the means
of education have béen lavished, to whom the avenues of employ-
ment, and acquisition, ate open—are there not among you many,
Who; like the good Samaritan, will take money from your purses,
saying—take thon care of them 1?

We have already husbanded a small sum towards the erection
ofa building. ‘This has accumulated from bequests, and from
donations from the “Female Association” of the society of Friends
given for that specific purpose.

We cannot close our report, without acknowledging an anony-
mous donation of two hundred dollars, that comes to us year af-
ter year. It is mot with deep gratitude; though lite Heaven’s
fils, it Gomes silently.

We have fotborne to amplify our report, preferring to refer
such as may-be interested in our Institutfon, to a book which will
shortly appear entitled “The Helping Hand,” in which the wants,
atid claims of our Institution will, we know, be eloquently, and
we trust effectively sef forth by one of our board,

The following statement présents the result of our Jabots for
the past year: =

STATISTICS OF THE “HOME” FOR 1852.
Jan, Ist, 1852.

Received at the “home,”
Ketuined to friends,

Gone to housekedping,. .......
Loft to find situations for themselves,
Left without permission, as
To“Magdalen,? s+...
Alms house,.....
Randall’s Island,.
Discharged for improper conduct, .

Tm the “home,?. . 480

By order éf the Exeeuttié Committee of Female Department,
CATHARINE SEDGWICK,
First Directress,

TREASURER'S REPORT.

EXPENDITURES.
+ $2,288 28
1,638 01
Appropriation for house by F. Dept.;. . 260 00
In Treasury, Jan. 1, 1853,.. 4967
© & of F. Dept., Jan. 1, 1803,...0.0000ee0- 28:90

94,254 81

RECEIPTS.

In Treasury, Jan. 1, 1852, a
© ciel Tan. 1, 1882,.
By Treasurer,..

“ « Peniale Dept. (donations)

« eS (Galeofstocks and dividend), 86 00

$4,254 81

In addition to the above, $25, received by the Treasurer from
Wm. Sturgis, Esq., were passed over to the Female Department,
being specially appropriated for that purpose by the donor.

THE TREASURER’S REPORT

Of the Female Department of the N.Y. Prison Association.

RECEIPES.

Balance of cash on hand, Jan. 1, 1851,.....
Subscriptions,

Donations,....

With )rsisecsessniesenrvenc

Interest on Merchants? Insura

‘Money returned dy an inmate,...

Beles of old rags and barrels,

Sale of $500 Tasurance stock, and premium $10,

‘Total of receipts,..... $1,921 91
EXPENDITURES.

Provisions and fuel,..... +.

Printing report,.
Dry goods,...+
Working materials, : 497
Carpenter’sbill,.-. 9 26
Appropriation for a house. _ 260 00
Medicin a ec + 965
Stationery, postage, &e., 35 92
Commissions, .. 8 00

——— $1,898 o1

Balance on hand, Jan. 1, 1853,. an

‘The names of all the doxcrs will appear in the printed report.
A. J. H, FITCH,

Treasurer.
[Assembly No. 108.1 ie

LIST OF DONATIONS
To the Prison Association, for the Year 1852.

John P. Palmer,
Joseph Walker,
John Gihon, .
Paton & Stewart,
ALB. Ward,.....

J, Corning,

Naylor & Co.

Hasket, Merrick & Bull,..
Cash, .

Cyrus W. Fleld & Co.,
B.W. Howe, .

Yohn Bard, «..

William C, Rhinelander,

8. Burkhalter, ......

©. Burkhalter,

Robert Browne, «

F. 8. Schlesinger,
William Van Seht & Co., .
Augustine Wetmore,

Yes

[Assen No. 108.]

Born Sleiper Haarhows, roe Benjamin F. Butler,.
F. Hoose, ... nein 7B: R. H. Winslow,
Theodore W. Rieley, ? 5 Jacob Badger,

ALN. Low,.. i John Jay, ee eeeeee
Frederick A. Delano, .... Doubleday & Beach,

R. Haydooky....0.005 5
D.H. Nevins,

E.K, Collins,..

Obs, os. ssie ses

Spies, Crist & Co.

A. Belmont,. .
Oelricks & Co.,.

William D, Mangum,.
John Warren... ss.
John Smith,

Frederick 6, Gebhard,
EY... .
Stanford, Mont & Co.,...
Long & Davenport, .....
Gorden & Talbot...

©. U. Shipman, ......

James Brown,.....++-
Tames Lenox,......5
Stowart Brown, ..
IJ. Aston...
Goodhue & Co., ..

Mr. Foster,.

Mr. Olyphant, .

G. W. Schrimner,. ..
Cish, ..
5: Van Rensselaer,

S8rmaaaa

8

RoaaaSwanna

George Bruce,
N. Lowe...
James G. Bennet,..

H, Baker & Co.

B. Whitlock,
George Roberts, ...

John Caswell,

Lattimer, Large & Co., ..
Charles Ely,

Coleman and Stetson...
J.8, Sibbey.....

George P. Putnam,

D. Appleton & Co.,

pe L Seets John Milhan, .

re : Thomas Barrow,...
Folin! iGo 1 Open.”
Diets Brothers, : "

iBSWaanasaSSeaana

&

Widow Francis Hendricks,
J. H. Bartholomew, .... ++
8. Cambreling,..

Elder & Painter,

E. Beck & Kimbert,.....

T. W. Talmadge, ....
James Emott,...+ +.
W. A. Davies,......
Cash,eeee ee

©. Bartlett,
Adams & Co...
Cash,..

Anthony Barclay,
Ball, Black & Co.,..
T. B. Stillman,...
Jacob A. Westervelt,
Cashy.se+ 000

John Van Buren,..

Alderman Shaw,.
8. D. Hankins,...

8. A. Cowperthwaite,.
John A. Cowperthwaite,
F. Haynes,....++
‘Thomas Bristol,
Samuel Willets,..

wan

wrnoeSasSakaarShaaa

GSB
No. 108.]

Sterling, Cushing & Co.,,.
H. E. Dibblee & Co.,
Cash,

R. H. Nevins,...
Haight, Halsey & Oo.,
Relrs Brothers & Co.,,
G. G. Spencer,

‘Thomas Messenger,

Rev. L. Covell,

Robert Colgate,.....c0+ +
Cash,. é

Rankin, Duryea & Co.
Isler & Otto,..

8. W. & Oo.,

8. 0. Herring,.

John H. Grinnell,

0. B. Tweedy,..
Cameron & Brand,....
J. Sturges, fe

L. Atterbury & Co.,.
Borecau & Busch,.

E. D. Morgan,

W.H. Aspinwall,
William Walker,
Robert Dillon,.

H.W. Johnson,
Camman & Whitehouse, .
Cash,....
J. Allen,.
George Bridge,
R. Goodman, .
Cash,.

Cash,.