FORTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT
PRISON ASSOCIATION:
NEW YORK.
For THE YEAR 1888.
TRANSMITTED TO THE LEGISLATURE MAY 7, 1889,
ALBANY:
‘THE TROY PRESS COMPANY, PRINTERS,
1889.
Stare or New York
IN SENATE,
Mar 7, 1889.
FORTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT
PRISON ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK, FOR THE YEAR 1888.
Prison Association or New Yors, i
No. 185 Easz Fiereenra Stazet, New Yonx Orry.
Hon. Eowanp F. Jones, Lieutenant-Governor :
Sm.—In accordance with chapter 163 of the Lawa of
1846, we have the honor to present herewith, the Ferty-
fourth Annual Report of the Prison Association of New
York, and to respectfully request that you will lay the
same before the Legislature.
Respectfully yours.
THEODORE W. DWIGHT,
President,
Cuantton T. Lewis,
Chairman of Executive Committee,
‘Wa, M. F, Rouxp,
Corresponding Secretary,
OFFICERS FOR 1889,
Papsoese.
THEODORE W. DWIGHT, LL.D.
Vice-Prestomns
Re. Rev. FD. HUNTINGTON. WM. P. LETCHWORTH.
WALTER HOWE.
Commssroxono Ssonreanr
W.MF. ROUND, - - = ~ 135 Hauer Fievenn Smaer
Reconoixa Spoxrrany.
EUGENE SMITE,
Treason,
CORNELIUS B.GOLD, - - - = 18 Wane Seamer
Exacontve Connertes,
CHARLTON 7, LEWIS, Chairman.
JAMES MoKEEN, HENRY K. McHARG.
JOHN D. CRIMMINS. Rr. Rev. HENRY C. POTTER,
HENRY W. DzFORREST.
GEORGE 8. FRASER.
CHARLES #. KITCHEL
DEAN SAGE. EDWARD B, MERRILT
RICHARD A. MoCURDY, cD. Woon.
CHARLES WATROUS. J. HAMPDEN ROBB,
JOHN WM. HUTCHINSON. WALTER P. PHILLIPS.
FREDERICK P, BELLAMY. CHURCHILL ¥. CUTTING.
JAMES FENIMORE COQPER.
CORRESPONDING MEMBERS.
‘ME. Charles Lucas, member of the Institute of France, Chateaa
4 Rongire pris le Bourges, France.
‘The Rt. Hon. the Harl of Carnarvon, Bngland,
‘M. Fernand Desportes, LL. D., Seorotary of the Socidt® Generale
dos Prisons de Franco.
Hon, Fr. Stuckenberg, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Hon. Froderie Hill, 27 Thurlow Road, Hampstoad, London,
England.
Rt. Hon. Sir Waltor Crofton, ©. B., Oxford, England.
W. L. Sargent, Birmingham, England.
Alfred Apsland, F. RO. 8, Duckenfield, Ashton-under-Lyne,
England.
Goo. W. Hastings, Psq., LI. B., (M. P.) Worcester, England.
F. B. Sanborn, Concord, Mass.
ZR, Brockway, New York.
Rey. Fred. H. Wines, Springfold, I
Baron Franz Von Holzendorf, Professor of Law in the Royal
University, Munich, Bavaria
‘Mons. Bonneville de Marsangy, Counselor of the Imperial Court
of Paris, No. T Rue Penthievre, Paris, France,
Signor Martino BeltraniSealia, Rome, Ttaly.
J.T. Henley, Esq., Local Goveramont Board Inspector, New
Government Offices, Westminiator, London, England.
Sir E. F, Da Cane, Chairman of Directors of Convict Prisons,
44 Parliament stroct, London, England.
‘Mons. Robia (pastour), 21 Rue Piatt, Belleville, Paris, France.
Dr. Prosper Despine, 12 Rue du Loisir, Marseilles, Franco.
Dr. Guillaume, Director of Ponitentiary, Noufchatel, Switzar-
Jand.
Richard Peterson, Director of Penitentiary, Chriatina, Norway.
Herman Adami, LL. D., Bromen
8 [Smarz, No. 61]
led Fil, Prosidont Chante of Commerce, Dimingba,
glen
irony Dareoport Hil Barc eres, Hampetod, London
Joanne Marguct Hil, imngham Bogan
Pr Bevan Dslr of Prone, Donnas,
Fron Nightingale South src, Landon, Boland
vin Hil Bnet St Mar nya, Repeat Park, Londo,
ngla
“Ears Cr, Pag, Roshan, Kogan
Wilins lek Secretry Howard Asosaon, § Pishopgste
stot itoet Lowten, Hogan
Tov J. Worley, Wai and Stage” Soity, London.
Arthas Madan, Secrtry lormeiry amt Belage Union,
Lenton
LOCAL COMMITTEES
FOR COOPERATION AND CORRESPONDENCE.
Acsasr Coun.
Residence, Albany.— Rt, Rev. W. C. Doane, Rev. Dr. W. W. Bate
fershall, John B, Van Antworp, Dudley Olcott, Abrabam
Lansing, Honry B. Pierson, Rov. Somes H. Beob, J. H. Hul-
sapple, Robert 0. Prayn, Matthew Hale, Dean Sage, J. Townsend
Lansing, Dr. Albert Vandor Veer, C. P. Williams, James TT.
‘Tracey and James Fenimore Cooper. Bishop Doane, chairman
Doan Sago, treasurer; Jamos Fenimore Cooper, seretary.
Rosidence, Cohoos ~ Earl Z. Stinson.
Committe on Jails and Station-Howses.— Wobert ©. Prayn, chaie-
rman; Rev. James H. Boob, Dr. Vander Veer, J. FL. Hulsapple,
H.R. Piorson, Abraham Tansing, Matthew Hale, Townsend
Lansing. :
Committee on Penitentiary—C, P. Williaa, chairman; Doan
Sage, James T. Tracey, Dudléy Olcott
Executive Commitee —Bishop Dosne, Dean Sago, James Feni-
more Cooper, C. P. Williams, Robert ©. Prayn.
Auueaaxr Covrrr,
‘To be appointed under the new rules.
Brows Oovnrr.
Residence, Binghamton—Dr. Jobn G. Orton, B. N. Loomis, B.
M. Noyes, E, K. Clark, D. H. Carver, J. W. Manior, Charloa
‘Wilkinson, Avery Cromse, Julius Rogers, Dr. F.W. Patuam,
Dr. J. H. Chittenden, H. M. Beocher, ©. B. Williams, I. K.
‘Thompson, F. C. Tichener.
Carranavavs Coury.
Residencs, Little Valley.— Arthur H. Howe, Dr. L. Twombly.
[Sonato, No. 61.] 2
10 [Sexare,
Caraga Courrs.
Rosidonce, Aubarn—H. V. Howland, Rev. ©. 0. Homenway, W.
O. Magee, Rev. J. K. Dixon, Charles E. Thorne, Frank W.
Richardson, Dr. W. 8. Chasman, Mrs. Charlotte C. Batos, Mrs.
Ailes Porry, Mra, John W. Haight.
Rosidoneo, Union Springs — Mrs. Mary H. Thomas,
Residence, Weedsport.— Homer Rheubotiom,
Rosidoneo, Aurora,—Lansing Zabriskie.
Residence, Willowbrook — Mra. E.'T. Throop Martin.
Onacranava Couxry.
Residence, Mayville — Rey. J. H. Miller, William Chase.
Residence, Fredonia —M. 8. Moore.
Residence, Wostficld — Alfred Patterson,
Residence, Jamestown,—Hon. Jerome C. Preston,
Cunacoxe Couwrs.
Residencs, Elmira—Dr. W. C. Woy, % R. Brockway, J.D. F.
Sloo, Rev. G. H. MeKuight, Dr. T. H. Squire, Dr. Ira T. Hart,
D. Atwater, Frederick Hall, M.S. Converse, Major E. O. Beers.
(Cuexaxco Coury.
‘Residence, Norwich — Dr. H. H. Boecher, B. Gaga Berry, Daniel
‘M. Homes, Oyrus B, Martin,
Cinvrox Couey,
Residence, Plattsburgh — Hon. William P. Moores, Henry Orvis,
RF. B. Hall,
Residence, Keesoville—Hon. Henry Kingsland, 2a.
. Couunnia Coury.
Hosidenco, Hudson.—A. B. Seott, C. W. Gebhard, John Smi
D., LF, Longley, Charles C. Terry.
Conrtaxn Comer.
Residence, Cortlandvill—Towia Bonton, Frank Place, Dz. Pred-
erick Hyde.
Residence, Homer.—-Dr. Calc Greon, Thomas 8. Ranney.
No. 61] n
Datawane Couxry.
Residence, Delhi—'T. W. Brown, Mra W. H. Griswold, Mrs. F.
‘Jacobs, Je. Mrs. W. Youmans, Dr. H. A. Gates, Mra H. A.
Gates, Mra. C. A. Froat, Rov. P. H. Seeley, Rav. J. S. Robinson,
James Penfield, Mrs. James Penfield, Adam Scott; Mrs. Adam
Soott.
Dorousss Couxry.
Rosidence, Poughkoopsie.— H. Loomis, Jr., Dr. Edward H. Parker,
Edmund Platt, Robert F. Wilkinson, Warren G. Cowle, Mrs
Mary G. Underhill,
En Coury.
Residence, Buflalo.— James Lyons, P. J. Ferris, Dr. John D. Hill,
David P. Page, Mrs. A. McPherson.
Essex Counry,
Residence, Wlizabethtown—Dr. SB. Hale, Francis A. Smith,
‘Richard L. Hand, Abijah Perry, Robert W. Livingston.
Fraxstin County.
Residence, Malone.—Dr. S. P. Bates, F. T. Heath, Hon. John L
Gilbert, J, P. Badger, Newoomb H. Munsill, Julius ©. Soundors,
Martin E. MeClary, Charles Perry, Frodorick G. Paddock, Charles
L. Hubbard, Henry A. Miller, Rev. J. W. Ashworth, Rev.
Charles 8. Richardaon, Rev. W.G. W. Lewis, Rev. LD. Peasles.
Foutox Coury
Residence, Johnstown. —Jacob Burton
Rensidence, Gloversville. John Ferguson, Dr. Eugene Beach.
Grxusee Coo.
Residence, Batavia— Prof, G. Fuller, Hon-J. R. Holmes
Gnemen Cow.
‘To be appointod.
Hhamtox Cours,
Residence, Wella —G B. Morrison,
Residence, Sagovitle— William H. Fry.
a
‘Henancn Covsry.
‘To be appointed.
‘Juprenson Coury,
Residence, Watertown — Rev. Richard G. Keyes, Jesse M, Adame.
Kivas Cousry.
Residence, Brocklyn.— William H, Male, Lester W. Bensley,
Honry R. Jonos, Dr. A. Matthewson, Geonge H. Fisher, Honry
Battorman, Isaac H. Cary, Alexander Forman, Dr.'T.J. Backus,
George 0. Brackett, John B. Woodward, Dean Sage, Charles A.
Schioren, Abbot L. Dow, C.D, Wood, B. H. Kidder, Albert C.
Porkins, Willis L. Ogden, Thomas S. Moore, Franklin Allen,
‘Ohwrchill H. Cutting, F. R. Bellamy.
Laws Counsy.
Residence, Lowville— Rev. Joseph H. France, Amos Rice, Carroll
‘House, Royal P. Wilbur.
Residence, Groghan.— Hon. William W. Rice.
Livmasrox Coury,
Rosidonco, Goneseo— Dr. W. E, Lauderdale, Rev. . D. W. Ward,
Professor W. J. Milne.
Maptsox Coury,
Rosidenco, Morrisville—D. D. Chase, H. P, Meade, Lucius P.
Clark,
Residence, Oneida — W. R. Williams.
‘Monraoxent Cousry.
1m N. Johnson, Rev. W. Frothingham,
Rosidence, Fonda — Wi
‘Mosnoz Couxry.
Residence, Rochester — Dr. E, V. Stoddard, Quincey Van Voorhis,
‘Theodore Bacon, Col J. 8. Graham, Rev. Mr. Landsberg, Rev.
Myron Adams, Hon. Oscar Oraig, Hon. W.S, Hubbell, B. O.
Sage, Gilman H. Perkins, George 1B. Munford, Colonel Ohaslos
Fite.
New Yous Courry.
sand discharged prisoners,
‘Tho association's committee on detonti
No. 61} 1B
‘Niagara Covwry,
Residence, Lockport — Gaylord B. Hubboll, M. H. Wobbor, Dr. J.
B. Hartwell, Dr. A. W. Tyron, Mrs. Robert Norton, Myron
Tarbor, Mrs. M. McGlashan, J, 8. Helmer, Rev. Dr. Cushing,
Roy. M. D. Baboook, Rev. P. Cannon, Mra, Burt Van Horn, Mra,
A. L, Dietrick, Mrs. Montgomery, care of Mrs. Robert Norton,
William Il, O'Keefe, Moses Brady.
i Ovzma Covvrs.
Residence, Utica. Colonel Theodore P. Cook, Jobn F. Seymour,
‘Dr. Edwin Hutchinson, Charles H. Warren, Edwin Hunt, Hon.
P. J. Bridges, Rey. LS Hartley, Rev. C. E, Gardner, Rev.
Father Lynch, Rey. Charles F. Bachman,
Residence, Rome.— Simon G. Visscher, Mz. Converse, Dr, Dutton,
‘Mra Jay Hildreth, Hon. Henry A. Foster,
Oxoxpsaa Covxey.
Residence, Syracuse. — Hon. P. Burns, A. O. Williams, Dr. HB.
‘Wilbur, Rev. M. Baird, Dr. R. W. Pease, Hon. W. H. H. Gere,
‘Fimothy Hough, M. W. Hanchett, Timothy R. Porter, J. C.
Williams, Dr. H. E. Van Do Walker, James 8. Skinner, GL.
Ponta, A. L. Merrick, Major, HT. W. Clarke, secretary.
‘Oxranio Couwrs,
Residonce, Canandsigua—Dr. Harvey Jewott, Cyrus W. Dixon,
‘Mrs Collins Hart, Professor Edward Tyler, Hon. Jamos C.
Smith, Levi B. Gaylord,
Rosidonce, Genova. — TC. Maxwoll, Arthur P. Rose.
Onaxcn Covrry,
Residence, Newburgh—Rev. John Forsyth, D. D., H. A. Jones,
Rey. H. 'V. 8, Myors, John L. Sloat, Charles Estabrook, Colonel
©. H. Woygant, Major E. C. Boynton, M. . Bolknap, Joseph
‘Van Cleft, Dr. RV. K. Montfort, Grant Edgar, William MoCroa,
Tobn Caldwell, Uriah Traphagen, Le F. Corwin.
Residence, Goshen.— Dr. J. H. Thompson, Rev. Floyd A. Crane,
George H. Milla.
Residence, Middletown. —Hon. J. D. Friend, Hon. J. G. Wilkin.
“
[Sear
Onceass Coowry.
Residence, Albion. Fawin R. Reynolds, Daniel W. Frye, U. ©
‘Rogers.
Osweco Couxrr.
Residence, Oswego.— Hon, 0. J. Harmon, G. 0. McWhorter, Hon.
J.A Place, Dr. A. S, Coe, G. Bollison, Mrs. George Goodier,
Miss Florence Pettibone, Mrs. C. B. Randell, Edward Lee, Hon.
George B. Sloane, Mr. P. 0. M. Tribe, Mr. P. O. Wright, Rev.
David Tully, D. D., Edward Monen, Rev. H. H. Stebbins, Rev.
‘W.S Parker.
Residence, Pulaski —N. B, Smith.
Residence, Fulton—D. W. Gardner.
Orseao Cour.
Residence, Cooperstown. —Elihu Phinney, Dr. H. Lathrop, 8. M.
Shaw, G. F. Keaso, Miss Susan Cooper, Dr. W. 'T. Bassott,
Pons Cours.
Residence, Carmel— Hon. W. 8. Clapp, J. D. Little, Jamos R.
‘Wooks, Addison Ely, M. D., Rev. A. W. Colver.
Queens Cooxry.
Residence, Manbassot—— John Keose, W. H: Onderdonk.
Residence, Hempstead — Rev. William H. Moore, D. D., Ebenezer
Kellum, Valentine Clowes.
Residence, Westbury. Benjamin D. Hicks, Mrs. James Willetts.
Residence, Glen Cove.—Bawin A. Hopkins,
Residence, Astoria.—Rev. Washington Rodman, Miss E. Hl. Rod-
man, Dr. J. D. Trask,
Reswersaue Covwrr.
‘To be appointed under the new rules,
Ruczwoxn Counry.
Residence, Richmond, C. H.— Dx. Ephraim Clark, Dr. LL. Mils~
pangh, Stephen Stophens, Miss H. Moore, Miss Mundy.
No. 6L] 15
Rocktaxn Courrt.
Residonce, Stony Poink—Dr. William Govan.
Residence, Haverstraw — Alonzo Wheeler.
Residence, Nyack.—Seth B. Cole,
‘Residence, Tomkins Cove.— Walter T. Searing, Mrs, Laura Wood.
to be appointea, SATOOK Covxere
maa ‘Sexzca Courze.
Rosidonco, Watorloo.—Hon. 8. G. Hadley, Dr. 8. R. Wells, Rev.
8. HL. Gridloy, Solomon Carman.
Rosidenes, Ovia—Hon. George Franklin, Dr. John B. Chapin.
Residenoo, Seneca Falla —Charlos A. Hawley.
Scuouana Cours.
‘Residence, Schohario—‘Thomas W. Zeh, Jr.
Sournrorapr Covwry.
Residence, Schenectady.—Dr. B. A. Mynders, Hon. W. T. I.
Sanders, SB. Howe, Professor C. B. Kingsbury, Rev. Dr.
‘Alozander.
Scuvrien Couxry.
Residence, Watkins— Frederick Davia, Dr. J. W. Thompeon,
Rov. George Knapp, B. W. Woodward.
Sr, Lawaexce Covey.
Residence, Canton.— Geo. Robinson, Rov. James Gardner, H. H.
Judd, Dr. J. C. Proston, @. B. Manley, Rov. E. E. Brown, Rev.
Goo. E. Forhi
Residenca, Ogdensburgh— Dr. B. F. Sherman, Profassor RG
Pettibone, Daniel Magone, Rov. L. Merrill Miller, Rey. 3.
Bastow, W. L. Proctor, J. W. Wilson, Gates Cui
Residencs, Potsdam.—E. W. Foster, L. E. Wadleigh, Rev. Geo.
Harkness, Rev. O. E. Bascom, 0. E. Bonney, John A. Vance,
Sravnex Counrs.
Residence, Bath— Guy H. McMastor, Z. Is Parkor, Rey. 0. K.
‘Howard, Rov. James M. Platt, Dr. A. H. Crattondon.
‘Residence, Corning—Dr. H. O. May, F. A. Williams
16 (Snare,
Sovrors Coury.
Residenoa, Rivorhosd.— N. W. Foster, Dr. R. H. Benjami
Cooks, G. O. Wells.
Souuvas Cours.
Residence, Montioallo.— Dr. Kaward Quinlan, James Strong.
Residence, Graharaville—Dr. J. Mf. La Mores.
‘Tioga Counrs.
Bosidenco, Owogo— Hon. Win. Stayth, Rev. J. A. Ostrander, A.
Abol, V. N. Russell, Hon. T. I. Chatfield, GB. Goodrich, A.
Cobar, H. D. Pinney.
‘Tourmnss Coury.
Residence, Ithaea.—Professor Ziba H. Potter, Professor James
‘Law, Professor Wm. D. Wilson, Marcus Lyon, Orange P. Hyde.
Ureren Comy,
Rosidonce, Kingston — Hon. James G. Lindsley, Mrs. Mary J. W.
Reynolds, F. W. Westbrook, 8. D. Hood, Rev. L. 'T. Watson,
‘Anguatus W. Reynolds,
Residence, New Platz.—Dr. 0. W. Doyo.
Residence, Saugerties — W. R. Shofiiold.
Residence, Rosendale Rev. John Gleason.
‘Wanemx Covsry.
Residence, Lake George.—Samuel R. Archibald, Francis G. Crosby,
‘lias &, Harris, Dr. W. R. Adamson.
‘Wasursaros Covsrr.
Residence, Salom— James Blashford, O. R. Hawley.
Waswe Comers.
Hosidenes, Lyona—John U Cole, Wm. Van Master, Charles
Ennis
Residence, Palmyra —Iaaac C. Bronson, Dr. Samuel Tngrahasn,
‘AS. Niles, Mrs, Horsco Eaton, George G. Jessup,
Residence, Arcadia.— Rev. Park Burgess.
Residence, Wolworth.—Hon. Locien T, Youmans,
No. 61] a
‘Westounsran Coury. P
Rosidence, White Plains.—Dr. H. E. Schmid, Mrs. J. 0. Dyek-
map, M. Prudhomme, Rev. P, V, Van Klecek.
Residence, Sing Sing—Dr. G. J. Fisher, Mrs. Catharine EB. Van
Cortland, L. G. Bostwick, 8, G. Hows, Miss E. Roe, Rev. N.'P.
Everts,
Wroume Coury.
Rosidence, Warsaw.—Hon. Augnstus Frank, Rev, TE. Nassau,
‘Yates Couwrr.
Residence, Penn Yan—Myron Hamlin, Josoph F. Crosby, Wm,
F. Van Tuyl, D. A. Ogdes
[ Senate, No. 61.) 3
TREASURERS
FROM DECEMBER $1, 1887, T0 DECEMBER 31, 1888,
ACCOUNT
Ds.
Cash on hand Decesmber 81, 1887, . $460 97
Donations. + 4,262 25
Eatato of Samuel Witleta, ina? payment on beaut. 1,000 00
Board of ostimate and apportionment. fi 41,000 00
Elnira reformetory, for eare of paroled men 51 00
Rents of No. 135 Hast Fifteenth strect..... TL oo
7,001 98
cn
Expense of agener in New York city for discharged con.
vets and persons under arrest. $2,810 20
Expense of State organization, prison and jail inepeotion
‘and general county work..... 8,215 28
‘Taxes and water rents on No. 185 East Fifteenth atroet
(1887 snd 1888).......-.. 42 95,
Gtena Palla Torurance Co, insurance on ferniture to 1891, 7 20
Intorest on $6,500 mortgage on No. 185 Hast Fifteenth St, 825 00
Burahaia farm collection of All Saints cathedral, Albany, 40 17
Cash balance in Mechanics! National Bank. 650 42
$7,601 22
CORNELIUS B. GOLD,
Treasurer.
‘Wo hereby cortify that we havo enrefully examiiied the aocounts
‘and vouchors of Cornelius B. Gold, Fsq., treasurer, and find them
correct.
WALTER HOWE,
LISPENARD STEWART,
Auditing Committee.
Dona Sage «+++.
Murray fond
Anonymous (by Dr. Elmendorf) .
Bishop Huntington
‘Anson Phelpa Stokes
Charles A. Sebieren
Mars, Edwin Parsons
Henry Battormann
Robert V. McKim
ZR Brockway
Central Presbtorian ehureh
Reber Living.
Alexander Miller
‘Thomas Denny...
Cornelius B. Gold
Cathedral of Al Saints, ia, te Burnham farm .
Tsave H. Cary.
EA. Dibbell :
First Congregational church, Atbany-
Dr. J, MoE. Wetmore...
Charles W. Ogden
Samuel Booth
George Walton Greene...
EV. Stoddard, M. D,, Rochester
Wun. Tod Helmuth, M.D... ... Se
Sohn B. Whiting....... bens on
Sohn B. Trelund
BLK. Metlarg,
Dudley Jardine...
Wendeli Prime, D. D
FT, Astor...
Charles Butler
W.8. Webb.
‘Warren C, Bench
FR Condert.
Boston:
Henry Villard.
Lyman Cobb, Je
3.4. Trombridge
George W. Debevoise
John Lockman
Henry Talmadge
Mrs, Joseph Bi. White
John C. Henderson
“A friend;” Bloomfield, N.J
Lispenard Stowart....-..
Miss Julia Rbinclonder
B,” Amsterdam,
Elliot F. Shepsrd
LM. Schieffelin
‘Miss Serona Rhinelander .
Mas, Julia Merritt
G. Seidenborg & Co..
J. Hooker Hamersley.
ease Seligmann......
‘Trinity church, Blmira.
Mra, 0. M. Goodrige.
Charles ME Da Costa
Tokn H. Earle.
Mrx Anna MI. Cox
Josephine ME. Porter
George MeKibbin
Holon E. Desa ;
Mara, P. Caroline Lawrence
Oscar Craig.
‘Mra. @. Winthrop
Morria K. Jesup.
J. Hampden Robb
W. F. Spaulding, returned by ‘tscharged Prisoners from
Mex: Catharine B Oumpbel...
sessenesssess
238
No, 61.1 a1
Anonymous —“Station D," N. ¥.
BW. do Forest..........
‘Mrs. A.M. Swords
LM Bates
MHL Arnot
‘Tomple Berth Kodesh, Rochester. .
Henry ©. Swords.
W. G. T. Shoda. D. D
“4 Friend.”
R. Stuyvesant
“In His name.
3. Davenport...
RH. L. Townsend.
David Stewart.
Mrs. F. Spencer ‘Witherbeo
ED, Adams ..
@ P. Williams
Frank Woath
ah
HE Hudvoo Bly
S. Belle Pratt, New Milford, Goma.
Jokn C. Henderson
St Agnes school, Albany
A. G. Kingsland
Mrs, A. C. Kingsland HPs
James ‘T. Raymond. savin pare sksnangn
William Cauldwell.
James M. Constable.
“A discharged prisoner.
‘Miss Susan E. White
Cash for documenta...»
Mira, Win. Astor
Mri. Sylvanus Reed to make Latham G. Reed a life member.
Warren ©. Be
A.C, Bernheim.
“Discharged prisoner.”
Mrw. James Auchincloes. .
Lowia Hallock...
ohn M. Fraser.
‘Thomas M. F, Randolph
‘Mins Serah J. Grey
Mr. GL. G. Shedd ----. eset 10 00
Miss Mary Boorman, Plainteld, N.J...-. : 500
‘Amma G. Alden... teeceess “40:00
George De Forest Lord s..2-eeeeree : 25 00
5. Gordon eee 5 00
3.5.0. In memoriam... . 1
8. Eslee.
‘Alice Kateltas S a
Oliver G. Barton ————— ro
Mira, ALE. Brice 0. ..c0ceesesseeseeeseeeeeeeee 00
CRS AH EGUA GEES 0
Berean Baptist Church... 1 55
arch ofthe Goren pitn Suny collection, including
Mrs. Skidmore S $25 00
Mrs, Seribuer ..-.0.2++- 25-00
Mira, Goodrich. sess vesscseeeeeteseeceeseee 5.00
Dr.D.B, St. John Roosa . 5 00
Charles Butler peueetsese 10°00
Mra. TB. Denny ...---- 10 00
Church of the Covenant, 90 01
‘HM. Schieffelin cxtensneneeae 25 00
WG. Dorin...) 2.0 aon 10 00
‘The Minsos Denny «.... ae : 10 00
Dr. J.Y, Landerdale 2. .020000cccs seston 20 00
James J. Goodwin ....-. 20 00
‘Rev, D. Stuart Dodge ...--+++ : 10 00
Mra. Adolph Sehallke...-.2.. saetennsas 500
John W. Hammersley 10 00
‘W.P. Prontice 10 00
Fe Donaldean,ccsessoesecassessenesesese seen 5 00
Cleveland H. Dodge... renenon 10 00
LG. Marquand....+. et : 10 00
Mire M. Le weno -eseccecseceeesees LI 100 00
Henry Day - .
W.R Stewart
No. 6L)
Jokn Taylor Johnston. «2...
William Colgate
John 8. Kennedy
Sarah E. Lester .
‘Walter Howe
EC. Halliday
B Van Wagenon
John D. Slayhack
Methodist Episcopal Chureb, Hanson place, Brooklyn .-
Firat Congregational Church, Amberst, Maca .
Haney Holt cesaeisssecvsicsseuteconcdas
Woolkey R, Hopkins
3.B Roberts...
N. Amermen
St. Potor's Chureh, Albany...
St. Margaret's Church, Staatsbargh
Fitzhugh Whitehouse
Fordham Congregational Chure
W. J. Haddock... ceseseeessee
Mos. Edwin Parsons
Anonymous
OTHER DONATIONS,
Rer. J, Elmendorf and members of hie
hare Clothing.
Anonymous fone Clothing.
James W. Tappin....
Clothing
Daniel D. Wright cessssess Reading matter.
C8.Pinne. Clothing.
Wm. B Holmes. + Clothing.
Mr. §. B. Johnson
‘Mrs. Randolph. + Clothing.
Fennk R Lawrence Clothing.
A friend. + Clothing.
Robert Huson 7 Reading matter.
Mra A. A. Readfetd | Clothing.
F.K. Pendleton ‘ Clothing
John M. Shodd.....2....2. Clothing.
. C. Wotmore + Clothing.
‘Dr. D.C. Comstock «. Reading matter.
“Anonymous Gothing.
4,162 25
Reading matter,
sesnasses
3s
‘Dorman B. Eaton.
John B. Whiting
Mra. J. ©. O'Connor.
Mra C.J. Gillis
‘Mrs, John R. Suydam
Mrs ME. Neil.
ML. Leith
Mrs. E. F. Hyde
‘Mise Hf. D. Rogers.
Mrs. Josephine M. Hecker.
Mra JH. Aldrich. .....000c ss sessee
Mos. H. Julien
Lispenard Stowart
©. W. Loomis
Dr. J. F. Terioborry.
Afriond .....
Dr. AH. Smith.
Bugene Smith
Dr. W. B. Bullard
Mra. Mary Genin.
Grant Squires......
Mies ¥. Cochran,
Mra. Henry Hermann
Robert G. Cook
‘Thomas M. F, Randolph.
Mrs. GC. Concklin.
D. HE Wickham ....0... a
‘Mra. FN. Offa...
‘Anonymous
Anourmows, by Chasity Organi ian
Society
ME. Harris
Minn 8. White
FB Eliott...
+ Clothing.
Clotking.
Clothing.
* Clothing.
Clothing.
Clothing.
Tak and macilage.
Clothing.
Clothing.
Clothing.
Reading matter.
Clothing.
Giothing.
Clothing.
Clothing.
Clothing.
Reading matter.
Clothing.
Clothing.
Clothing.
Clothing.
Clothing.
Clothing.
Gothing.
Clothing.
‘Clothing.
Clothing.
Clothing.
Clotbing.
Clothing and reading matter.
Clothing (two donations)
Clothing.
Clothing,
Clothing.
Clothing.
Clothing.
Clothing.
Clothing.
Glothing and reading mattor.
Ronding matter.
Clothing.
No. 6L
Henry Lindenmeyr...
Mra B.C. Taylor,
John B, Whiting.
Mra. BK, de Groot
Anonymous
Robert Huson...
Tatham G. Reed
Anonymous
Samuel P. Avery
Dra, J. A Edgar,
Mr. Van Dazen.
Bay Stato Shoe aud Leather Company,
‘Mins Brooks
EL Tiemann,
Mrs. Dillon
Mire, B.D. Cady.
W. Harman Brown.
Miss Pondir..
‘Mra T. 1 Clark.
Anonymous.
Mire. T.8. Burr,
John W. Slater ..-.-
Mrs, Robinson
Anonymous
‘Mra, E. Van Nest
‘Walston HE Brown,
Mise E. M. Dawe,
Anonymous
“The Forain”
Annie H. Barnett.
Prof. H. ©, Bolton
‘Mra, Clavk Bell
Mrs, W. C. Hubbard...
Mes, W. B. Granbery.
(Senate, No. 61]
‘Wrapping paper.
Clothing.
Clothing.
Reading matter.
Clothing.
Reading matter.
Clothing.
Clothing.
Clothing.
Clothing,
Rending matter.
hoes.
Clothing.
Ronding matter end clothing.
Reading matter and clothing.
Reading matter and clothing.
Reading matter and clothing.
Reading matter and clothing.
Bonding matter.
Reading matter
Clothing.
Reading matter.
Clothing.
Clothing.
Tending matter and clothing
* Clothing.
Reading matter
Reading matter.
‘Yon magazines.
Clothing.
Clothing.
Clothing.
Reading matter
Clothing.
By Cosrmmvtion oF $500 on Mont ar Oxe Trt,
Mra, Wiliam R, Dodge, Roswell Smith
Cornelius B. Gola. Willtam H. Scott
Mis, Comelive B. Gold, Lisponard Stewart
Walter Howe, } Dean Sage.
Adrian Yeelit, | Mus. AT. Stowaxt.*
| Cornelius Vandersi,
William Ky Vanderbit,
Soho Davia Walte.*
Cathorige L. Wolfe."
| Mrs. Anna Woerishoner
By Cowrnmuzion ov $100 ar Ox ‘Tee,
oe ies [tn co.
Has ane
Mis. Caroline W. Astor | Altea iretane
Samuel P, Aver
Rov. N.8.5. Beman,* Troy, N.Y.
Wa. B
Rov. Philips Brooks, D. D.
Aldxander Hargraves Brown, M.P.,
| Goorae D. Phetpa.*
James Brow. Wendel Prime, D. D,
| Jona a. Patten.
| ©.¥.8. Roosevelt
| macs. Roosevelt
| Horse Raooell
| Seorae 1 Sener
1058. Seymour, Auburn, N. Y.
‘Wm. B, Groby.
No. 61) ca
‘Erastus Corning, Albeny, N. ¥.+
Joka b. Gammisa
Alfred Sal
3.W. Guru | Zosepin Sampecn.
Rev. Dr Dering Albany,N.Y, | ¥. ReSheaters
‘Wm. E. Dodi ive, Mary Shoate,
Win, Butler Dinos
Dr.J. G, Holland | Eugene Smith
owepi Howiand, Mattoawan, N.Y,
Mrx. Josoph Howland, Matteawan, | HS. Terbel
WY. 2 homes,
Dr, Flisha Harris” Sinclair To
B.0. Homans, ‘Rev. Henry J. Van Dyk, D. D.
Wo Van Aral, Philadephia, Pa
Ales. Van Hens
|
|
Moved Howland. | Henig vied
|
28 (Suxarz, No.
LIFE MEMBERS.
By Covramunioss or Frerr Dottans ar Oxe Trae,
ohn H. Aboel
August Belmont,
Booth,
RJ. Livingston,
4.8, Lowery.
William P. Mott
David Olyphant
P. Parmly.
Oriande Potter
‘George A. Robbins
Samet Sioan,
will
John Stewart
‘Samos B. Sutton
‘Austin Sherman.
2: Sherman
‘Comelius nit,
Mmm. BL. Start
James 0, Sheldon,
Abram Vao Nest,
| Bleecker Van Wageuen,
| a. Ward,
| Charies Watrous
Mire. Laura Wile,
| W. 1.8. Wood.
| Samuel Wetmore
61)
Charter of the Prison Association of New York.
AN Acr 70 Isconronare THe Tisoy Assootrion or New York.
Pavsan May %, 188, by wtwo-thirds vote,
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and
Assembly, do enact as follows
Skomon 1. All such persons as are now or hereafter shall
become mombers to the said assovintion, pursuant to the consti-
tution thereof, shall and aro hereby constitnted a body corporate,
by the name of “Phe Prison Association of New York,” and by
that name have the powers that, by the third title of the eighteenth
chaptor of the frat part of the Revised Statutes, are declared to
belong to every corporation; and shall be capable of purchasing,
holding and conveying any eatate, real or personal, for the use of
said corporation ; provided that such real estate shall never exceed
the yearly value of $10,000, nor be applied to any other purpose:
than those for which the corporation is formed,
$2. Tho estate and conearns of said corporation sliall be man-
aged and conducted by its executive committee, in conformity to
the constitution of the said corporation, and the following articles
that now form the constitation of the association shall continue to
‘be the fandamental laws and constitution theroof, subject to altor-
ations in the mode therein prescribed,
Arrow 1.
‘The objects of the association shell be.
1. The amelioration of the condition of prisoners, whether
detained for trial, or inally convicted, or as witnesses.
2% ‘The improvement of prison discipline, and the government of
prisons, whether for eities, counties or Staten.
3. The support and encouragoment of reformed convicts after
their discharge, by affording them the means of obtaining an
honest livelihood, and sustaining them’ in their efforts at reform.
30 [Senate
Aunioxs I.
‘Tho officers of the society shall be a president, vice-prosidents,
a corresponding secretary, a recording socrotary, a twasurar and
fan executive committes. ‘There shall be the following standing
‘committees, viz.: A finance committee, a committee on detention,
a committee on prison discipline, anil a committee on discharged
convicts. Tho number of the exeenfive committoc shall consist of
not more than thirty-five, of wlom not more than ten shall be
officers of the society, and not more than twenty-five shall be
persons other than officers.
Axcicu TIL
The officors named in the precoding article shall be ex oficio
mombers of the exoentive committee, whi shall choose one of their
tiumber chairman thereof.
Annioue TV
‘The executive committes shall meet onco im each month, and
keep regular minutes of their proceedings ‘They shall have a
general superintondonee and direction of the affairs of the society,
fand shall annually report to the society all their proceodings, and
‘uch other matters as shall be likely to advance the ends of the
Anncie V
‘The socioty shall mect annually in the city of New York, at
such time and place as the executive committee shall appoint, and
‘at auch other times as the president, or, in his abseneo, one of the
vice-presidents, shall designate.
Anni VL
Any person contributing annually to the funds of the association
not less than five dollars shall, owing to such contribution, be a
member thereof, A contribution of five hundred dollars shall
constitute life patron; a contribution of one hundred dollars
shall constitute nn honorary member of the association for life;
and a contribation of fifty dollara shall constitute a member of
the association for life. Honovary and corresponding members
may, from time to time, be,appointed by the exeentiva committer
No. 6L] aL
Axmioun VIL
A female department shall be formed, consisting of such females
1s shall be salocted by the executive committee, who shall have
charge of the interest and wolfare of prisoners of thoir sex, under
such regulations as the executive committee shall adopt.
Avncus VITE
‘The officers of the association shall be chosen annually, at the
annual meoting, at which time such persons may be electod honor-
ary members as shall have rendered essential service to the cause
of prison diseipline,
Anmioun IX.
Auy society having the same object in view may become auxili-
hating to its fands and cobperating,
ary to this association by cont
with it
Aumco.n X.
‘Tho oxecutive committee shall have power to add to any of the
standing committees such persons as, in their opinion, may be
likely to promote the objects of the society, and shall have power
to fill any vacancy which may occur in auy of the offices of the
association, intermediate the annual mestings.
Avnom XL
‘This constitution may be amended by a vote of the majority of
the society, at any meeting thereof, provided notice of the amend-
mont has boen given at the next preceding mecting.
‘The officers selected for the current year, under the constitution,
shall continue to be the officers thereof until others shall be duly
choson in their places.
‘And it is hereby further enactad that no manager of said society
shall receive compensation for his servives.
§ 8. The said exocutive committee ahall have power to establish
4 work-houso in the county of New York, and, in their discretion,
to receive and take into the asid work-house all such persons as,
shall bo takon up and committed as vagrants or disorderly persons
in said city, as the Court of General Sessions of the Peace, or the
Court of Special Sessions, or the Court of Oyer and Terminer, in
2
(Sram,
said county, or any police magistrate, or the commissioner of the
almschouse, may deem proper objects; and the said executive
committee shall have the same power to keep, detain, employ and
ggororn the said persons as are now by law couforrod om the
Koopers of the bridewall or ponitentiary in said city
$4 The said executive committee may, from time to time, make
by-laws, ordinances and regulations relative to the management
and disposition of the estato and concoras of said association, and
the management, government, instruction, diseipline and employ-
‘ment of the persons 60 as aforesaid committed to the said work-
house, not contrary to law, as they may deem proper; and may
sppoint such officers, agents and servants as they may deem neces-
sary to transact the busioess of the said association, and may
Aosiguate their duties, And the said executive committee sball
make an anpual report to the Logislature and to the corporation
‘of the city of Now York, of the number of perions received by
them into the said work-house, the digposition which shall be mada
of thom by instructing or exnploying thom therein, the receipts
and expenditures of ssid executive committee, and generally all
such facts and particulars as may cxbibit the operations of the
snid association
§5. The said executive committee shall have power, during the
minority of any of the persons so committed to the anid work=
house, to bind oat the aaid persons so heing minors, as aforesaid,
‘as apprentices or sorvants, with their onsent, daring their minority,
to auch persons and st such places, to learn such propor trade and
comployment as, in their judgment, will be most conducive to the
reformation and amendment and future benefit and advantage of
such persons
$6. The said exocutive committer, by such committees as they
shall from time to time appoint, shall have power, and it shall be
thoir daty to visit, inspect and examine all the prisous in the Stato,
fand annually report to the Taegislature their stato and condition,
and all such other things in zegerd to them as may enable the
Legislature to perfact their goverament and discipline. And to
‘enable them to execute the powers and perform the duties hereby
gemutod and imposed, they shall possess all the powers and
No. 61) 88
authority that, by the twonty-fourth asction of title ficet, chapter
third, port fourth of the Revised Statutes, are invested in inapec-
tors of county prisons * and the duties of the keepers of each
prison that they may examine shall be the same in relation to them.
‘ss in the section aforesaid are imposed on the keopers of such
prisons in relation to the inspoctora thereof. Frovided, That no
such examination or inspection of any prison shall be mado until
an order for that purpose, to bo granted by the chancellor of the
State, or one of the judges of the Supreme Court, or by a vice
chancellor or circuit judge, or by the firat judge of the county in
which the prison to be examined shall he situate, shall first have
been had and obtainod, which order shall specify the name of the
prison to be examined, the names of the persons, members of the
‘said association, by whom tho examination is to be made, and the
time within which the same must be concluded.
STATE OF NEW YORI
Is Soxars, May 8, 1846,
‘Tho bill having beon read tho third time, two-thirds of all tho
members slected to the Senate voting in favor thereof,
Resolved, That the bill do pass.
‘By order of the Senate,
A. GARDYER,
gales
STATE OF NEW YORK:
In Assennty, April 24, 1848,
‘This bill having boon road the third time, and two-thirds of all
the members lected to the Assembly voting in favor thereof,
Resolved, That the bill do pas.
By order of the Assembly.
‘A. ©. ORAIN,
Speaker.
Approved this 9th day of May, 1846,
Stas Waren,
ee section 24,
6
[Sonato, No, 61)
[Suxary, No. 61.)
STATE OF NEW YORK, |
Sronetany's OFrI08.
T hays compared the precoding with sn original Iaw on ile in
this office, and do cortify that the samo is a correct transript
therefrom, and the whole of said original
Tn testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of this
office, nt the city of Albany, tho fiftoonth day of May, in the year
of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-six.
ARCHD CAMPBELL,
Deputy Secretary of State.
(Movisea Statutes, part TV, chap. title 1)
§ 24 "It shall be the daty of the Keepers of oach of the sald
prisons to admit the said inspectors, or any ono of them, into
every part of such prisons; to exhibit to them, on demand, all
the books, papers, doeumonts and accounts pertaining to the
prison or to tho detention of the persons confined therein, and to
onder them every facility in their power to enable them to dis-
charge the dutios above described. And for the purpose of
‘obtaining the necessary information to enablo them to mako auch
report an is aboro roquired, tho said inspectors shall have power
to examine, on oath, to be administered by either of tho said
inspectors, any of the officers of the said prisons, and to converse
vith any of the prisoners confined therein, withont the presance
of the Hoopes thereof or nay of tho
"*e0 section 29 last revision,
By-Laws of the Prison Association of New York.
1. There shall bo a stated meeting of the exscutive committe
on the fourth Thursday of each month, and special meatings shall
be held on the requisition of the chairman or sny throo members
of the erecative committee. ‘The call for a spocial meeting eball,
in all casos, stato tho business to be transacted at said meeting,
IL At every meoting of the exocutive committee, five members
shall be necessary to constitute a queram.
TIL The ordor of business at overy stated mecting sball be as
follows
1. Tho reading and approval of the minutes of the last preood-
ing meoting.
Report of the treasurer.
Reports from standing committoss,
Report from the corresponding secretary.
Reports from special committces.
Report from the general agent.
Miscellaneous business,
At a special mecting no other business shall be transacted than
that for which the said mecting was called.
TV. The chairman shall appoint all special committees ; and no
person nominated by him shall be excused, unless upon reasons
‘satisfactory to the meeting.
'Y. The chairman shall decide all questions of order, subject to
an appeal; and the rules of order shall be those embodied in
‘Cushing's Manual, so far as they are applicable.
VL There shall be four standing committoos, namely: A com-
mittee on finance, a committee on detention, a committee on dis-
charged convicts, and committee on prison discipline,
‘VIL Jt shall be the duty of the finance committee:
1. To devise ways and moans for obtaining the funds neoossary
to carry on the work of the association; and they may, at thoir
discretion, employ an agent to collect the requisite funda
86 [Sexare,
2 ‘o wait lila aginst th aocation and no bills shal
be pall by tho treamarerunleee approved bythe commilles and
cocutarsigned by th chairman
BS Leet ood Spas ape Was rrorre’ ampoule sly
To lover and contol te aeplan moneys of the evocation
dor tho tathoriy ofthe oxecutivocommiticn
"VIL I lal be the day of tho commitioe on detention
1s tiga Gs ta aa aya peolinonooamy Jak
Peep errermy epee igregiengarmatiory
Aetntion in tho ln of Now York tad Brooklyn and to adopt
oper mores for procuring the dachange ox providing forthe
Scan of euch na sall appear to be etied thereto
2 To vii froqeonly Hho petoun under thelr sheng, and to
secdoayer ts hapetva oll Sue piel al mort etn a in
eis bs salable cad precio warm
TX Ts ahall be tho duty of tho somite on dlucharged
ccarion
Te coreapond with piso agate or mupariatendeata relative
io a unite A Gain ope cal ela, roa
1G is Range of buck graneae, wa fetigs here ead sp
tin wills Vet of tnkicg tho bar sereoprayas foe us fakes
pany
2 fe kecp a record of all persons who will employ discharged
prisonern, and of Bale aoveal ceupations; lo" procure, such
Thployment for prisonom and appiziog Uoralor an poems bot
Matpiod w the capeciy of cash to Hold comopondonco with
Sahay) i sary Shoot tt Souda ok freemen of
Wie lar Vs Blais hors Veal ohana et Gay cay
testsined aod encouraged with th tu thats ontinul intandly
Intron i fl for hime
3 oscuro suitable Dourding places for discharged prisoners,
srhae tng willbe ecyeed ts coerepting sn lemon, aking ore
Beh uate is had os 8 flee pba Waa Ds ore
‘To ace thatthe pncaes ee provid with elle ltliog,
af» Hind hat will not alot porcntaesHontion
2 Teatal bs hn Guty of the committee on prison Gialplion
Togs ailocton tothe atonal orgatsaon aod roanagemert
gece Gaveclag feito ae tad 16s
No. 61] 37
oxerted on the prisoners during their confinement. This duty
shall be comprised under the following heads: Health reforma-
tion, eonviet labor, administration and internal police, comparison
of difforent prison systems, visitation of prisons and housea of
reformation, and the whole eubject of criminal law and penal
justice,
XI One or more agents may be appointed by the exeouti
committee to assist the standing committees in the performance
of their duty.
XIL The rocording secrotary of the association shall be the
secratary of the exeontive committee; and it shall be his duty to
keop tho minutes of the proceedings of said committee, to record
thom in a book provided for that purpose, and to give due notice
of all mectings of the committee.
XIE The corresponding seerotary shall conduct the cor
rospondence of the exeoutive committoo and of each of the stand-
ing committeos; when roquired shall act as the general financial
agent of the association, and shall report at each stated meeting
of the committee,
XIV. Tho treasurer shall receive and safely keep all moneys
belonging to the association ; ahall pay over the same as directed
by tho finance committoo ; shall report at each stated mooting of
tho executive committees, and shall give such security for the
faithful discharge of his duty as that committee shall require.
XV. The president, chairman of the executive committeo and
corresponding seorotary.shall be members, ez-offeio, of all the
standing committoos,
XVE. No alteration shall bo made in theso by-laws, excopt upon
notice of the proposed amendment givon at @ provious mecting
‘of tho executive committoa,
FORTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT
PRISON ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK.
‘The Prison Association has beon established for forty-five
‘years. . Tis charter gots forth very clearly the objeots for which it
‘was organized. In submitting its annual report the association
may properly enumerate these objects, and ask attontion to the
dificalties, the failures and the succossas that havo marked the
efforts for their attainment.
‘The constitution of the Prison Association says in it
article
‘Tho objects of the asaooiation shall bo:
1. The amolioration of the condition of prisoners, whether
dotained for trial, or finally convioted, or as witnossos.
2 ‘The improvement of prison diacipline and the government of
prisons, whether for citios, counties or States.
3, ‘The support and encouragement of reformed convicta after
their discharge, by affording them the means of obtaining an
honest livelihood and sustaining thom in their offorta at roforma.
Let us consider the first of these objects
Sirat
‘Tax Aumuonarion o¥ tax Coxprmox or Parsoxees DeruiNen ror
Twa
‘The city prisons in Now York and of other large cities, the vari-
ons county jails of the State contain at all timen several hundreda of
prisoners waiting for trial. Whereas thoro ia generally a reasonable
presumption of guilt, these people are constructively inno-
cent, not baving been convicted; many of them aro innocent
in fact ‘Tho gratification of polty grudge, » chain of
extraordinary circumstances, the working of a carefully laid
acheme of conspiracy, may send an honest man, woman or
[Suxars, No.6}
child to prison to await trial, Poverty, the nature of the sur-
roundings, the persistent and frequently unfounded charges of
police officers who wish to vindicate the errest they have made,
will often paralyze all offorts that auch persons should make for
thoir own defense, eo that when the trial comes it is simply to
wind them moro firmly in the meshes of the law they have uot
violated, and to send them for « long term of imprisonment, undor
sentonco~-to brand thora as belonging to the criminal class, into
which they hao simply strayed unwittingly, or been forced by
circumstances beyond their own control. ‘To the succor of such
people tho Prison Assoviation gives much attention. In the
‘Tombs prison, and in some of the jails, there ia a hox where com.
munications can bo placed for the association, aud stationery is
farnished to such prisoners as may ask for it, Officials in the
city prisons and jails frequently commanieate with our office as
to spocial casos, recommending thom for assistance or counsel,
and a represontative of the asociation, Mr. D. H. Kimball, visite
‘the courts and the prisons daily, taking ap scores of casos every
month,
39
Our Acker 1 9p Puisoxs axp tax Covers,
In this eonneotion we can not do better, perhaps, than to give a
sketch of Mr. Kimball's work, as farnished by somo of the cases
snbmitted hy him to the association's committee on detentions
‘A.D,, a poor and aged German woman, was found in the Tombs,
charged with having stolen some small artioles from a dry goods
store (petit larceny) ; her knowledge of English was small, and
when she was arraigned in the Potica Court, a lawyer frightened.
her greatly by magnifying the crime, telling her it was a grave
offense, punished with great soverity by the courts, and that if she
paid him $200 for his service he would got her out of her trouble.
‘Phe poor woman had $550 in the bank; she gave him the bank-
book and an order for the $200, which he drew ont. ‘The woman
‘was sent to the Tombs, and there the representative of this asso-
ciation found her and heard her story. An effort was made to
stop payment of the order for $200, but it had been cashed. ‘The
cease was called for trial, and adjourned by request of tho lawyer.
‘Thinking it strange that an adjonmnment was wanted, an inquiry
‘was made, which resulted in the discovery of the following : When
40
(Smxare,
‘the woman was put inthe fomale prison, a very fascinating woman,
‘fellow prisoner, after hearing her story, told her that the lawyer
‘was an unreliable man, that he would desert her—if sho wanted a
really good lawyer she had better send for her's, who was smart,
fand would set her free, ete. ‘The woman was foolish enough to
send for the other lawyer and to give him an order for $850 on the
bank. On hearing of this, the representativo of this association
called on the prisoner, tolaher that onelawyor wassufficiont, secured
from her an affidavit to the effoct that, as she believed, a scheme
hhad been concocted by the two Inwyers to obtain her money and that
she wanted payment of the order for $850 stopped by the bank.
‘This affidavit was placed in the hands of the oflicors’of the bank and
the circumstances explained to thom. Whon the last mentioned
Jawyor called for his money, payment was rofused; he threatened to
Dring suit, but the bank people entronchod themselves bohind the
afidavit and a clanso in their by-laws, reserving the right to take
sixty days notice before paying money on an order. Seeing that
his gamo was blocked, the worthy counselor assumed am air of
injured innoconce, insisting that he had no intention of keeping
the money; that his object in gotting the cash was to deposit it
in the city chamberlain's office aa bail, thus giving the prisoner
hor liberty. When the ease was ealled for trial im Special Sessions
Inwyor number ono, who had obtained the $200, was not at hand,
0 lawyer number two began to plead for the prisoner when the
representative of the association gave the court a full aeoount of
tho transaction—tho oxplanation was made from the bar aud all
in the court room heard it. ‘The case was then adjourned. Believ-
ing that the woman had suffered enough, the: judges om finding
her guilty, sentenced her to serve one day in the city prison
‘Ono of these logal gentlemen has been indicted recently by the
‘grand jury for grand Iaroeny-
For the single month of November, Mr. Kimball reports thirty
now cases to have,been taken up. Tho prison was visited four-
teen times during the month. ‘This month's work in this dopart-
‘ment is, in the number and character of the cases, a fair average.
‘Some of the casos follows.
‘James Brown, aged sixteen, was found in the new prison, whore
he had beon committed by Judge for four months, in
No. 61.) a
dofault of $300 bonds to keep the peace. ‘The offense that this
sixteen-year old boy pleaded guilty to, was making a bonfire in
tho stroot. He had no home and was out of work. We called on
the judge and asked him the reason for his apparent severity.
‘He had no recollection of tho case whatever, thanked us for eall-
ing his attention to it, and gave us a discharge for the boy.
‘Temporary work was furnished him about the Prison Association
building.
‘ohn Doe, aged fifty-two, was found on the third tier of the
Tombs. ‘The charge against him was assault. Ho had a diapate
with a man in = boarding-houso, and was badly beaten in the
fight which ensued. ‘The next day ho was arrosted on 9 warrant
sworn out by tho man who had abused him and held for the grand
jury. He had no money to pay a lawyer, so wo investigated his
aso. His employers gavo him an excollent character, and nine
‘witmossos testifiod that he was not the aggressor. He was thero-
‘upon discharged, and the complainant was so disgusted that ho
‘wont on ® spreo that ended with his being sent to the Island for
‘9 month.
John Smith, ago thirty-eight, was charged with grand larceny.
‘He asked us to intercede for him, claiming to be innocent. Wo
know hiin to be an ex-conviet. He was accused of stealing & coat
which was found in his possession. He claimed to have par-
chased a pawn ticket for it from a strange man whom he met in
the stroct. We loarned that tho coat was stolen from a trunk in
which there was $300 in money and a gold watch, neither watch
nor money being taken. We put the court in possession of that
information, and on trial, when the facts were brought out, he waa
acquitted.
‘Charlie D——,, age thirteon, was charged with burglary. Ho
donied his guilt, but on investigation, we found thet although he
was young in years he was old in wickedness. Ho broke into a
cellar with an axe, and whon caught was trying to carry of @
quantity of cigars and whiskey. He had been engaged in many
petty thieving operations in the neighborhood, but had never
‘boon arrestod. His father, a most respectable hard-working msn,
having good references, begged us to have sentence suspended on
the boy, but we declined to ask for such action. On recommend-
[Senate, No. 61] 8
2 [Smarz,
ation of this association, the recorder committed young D-——
to tho Catholic Protoctory.
‘Daniel and Richard Boone arvived in this country from England
on Tuosday, the eighth instant, and to celebrate their arrival in
what they deemed the proper style went on a spree, and wound
ap in the station-house When the policemen searched them the
next morning before starting for court, ho found a very large
ypocketlnife on the person of each of the men, and changed the
change from intoxication to that of carrying coucesled weapons.
Justice O'Reilly held both men for the grand jury who indicted
them three days later. ‘The Knives wo found were brought over
‘by them at the request of the man who was to give them employ-
ment, and on presenting the facts to Judge Glildersleeve, and
having the employer in court to corroborate their story, he
discharged them, ‘The knives wero for cutting oil cloth and were
tools of trade.
Bridget Mo— was charged with having, during » tenemont-
house quarrel, assaulted a man with an sx, severely wounding
him. She had no money to pay a lawyer and asked us to procure
‘one for her. On going to the house where the fight took place we
found that Bridget was sick in bed at the time the assaalt was
‘committed. When she pleaded not guilty to the indictment the
court assigned a lawyer to defend her. ‘The next day Bridgot’s
husband came to our office saying that the lawyer refused to
subpeens ony witnesses until he was paid ten dollars. Wo then
‘went to the office of chief clork of the district attorney who very
Kindly served all the witnesses for us, and Bridget was acquitted.
‘Tho woman who really committed the act for which Bridget was
on trial was 4 witness for the defonso, but that fact did not come
to light.
FG was found by the association's representative in a
coll at the Tombs charged with assault in the second degree.
‘The prisoner, a fine looking young man, said he had committed
the act in self-defense, and as ho had a wile and four children
depending on him for support he wanted » speedy trial, being
‘confident of a verdict of acquittal. Inquiry showed him to be an
Honest, hard-working fellow, who took good caro of his family,
‘and had been with his present employer for ten years. Testi-
No. 61]
monials as to his character were secured by us and put in the
Jhands of the judge. His trial was hurried on, and, as wo sup-
posed he would be, he was acquitted. ‘The real circumstances
‘wore that the man who made the complaint was drunk ; he foreed
hia way into G—'s rooms, and G—, who was at work with
saw, hit him in the hoad with it and put him out, G— lost
three weeks work by tho affair.
Bridget —, a very muscular young Irishwoman, asked the
association to intercede for her in the Court of Special Sessions,
aa che was without means to employ counsel, and was not guilty
of the offonso with which sho was charged. She was scrubbing
some empty rooms in a tenementhouse in Mulberry street,
having been hired to do the work by tho janitor. While she was
on her knees cleaning the floor, an Halian came in and took
unwarrantable liberties with her. In a very few minutes he hed
to be carried away by his friends, and Bridget was put under arrest
for assault. The man declared that she had hit him with a beer
glass and cnt his faco with it This was not true, as the room
whoro the assault was committed was ompty- On inquiring in
the neighborhood where she lived, we ascertained tat Bridget
bore an excollent charactor, and had always worked hard at
Inundry-work and house-cleaning. She was promptly discharged
on the facts being made known,
Michael Moses, ago twenty-nine, a very respeotable-looking
Hebrew, was found in the Tombs, charged with Inroeny. He
professed to be very penitent, and claimed to have been driven to
crime by starvation. Ho had been bat a short time in the city,
and was without money. We wrote to a railroad company in Phil-
adelphia by which he claimed to have boon employed, and learned
that he had been with them as a brakeman, and had been a faith-
fal man. Wo brought about the return of the property he had
stolen, and as he professed a desire to reform, we asked the judge
to sentence him to the Elmira Reformatory, which he did.
H—— I, ago thirty, by occupation a sailor, was arrested
and charged with having stolen $275 and a quantity of jewelry
from the dwelling apartment of a neighbor. He had no money 3
had a wife and two children dependent on him for support. A boy
testified that he saw him coming out of his neighbor's honso just
43
“
dolore tho theft was committed, Although I. could prove
that ho was at work two miles away from the house ut the time,
he had no means of sonding for his omployer or fellow workmen,
‘The judgo adjourned the examination for a week, and we brought
about the presence of cight witnesses when he was arraignod
again, and a1 their evidence flatly contradicted that of the boy,
I was discharged. None of the stolen property was found,
about him or in his rooms.’ Hen the police believed him inno
cent; but he would probably have gone to prison but for the
timoly assistance afforded by this association.
In the department of detentions is ulso involved the inspec-
tion of the county jails of tho State. ‘This has boon effected as
‘usual. Tho jails of the Stato have been generally improved
during the past few years; but there still remains the fact of
entire idleness and in many cases of inadequate separation of
young and old offenders, of prisoners awaiting trial and those
convicted; while in one jail ut least, that of Niagara comnty, the
‘men and womon prisoners are kept apart merely by an open
grating, and communication is possible and is constantly earried on.
‘Tho most interesting example of recent jail construction in the
Blato, is tha. of Oswogo county; where & jail of the new rotary
pattern has boen built. It is the first jail of tho kind erooted in
the State, It had been finished and ovcupied a year at the time
oar correspondents report was written. ‘The report is as follows:
“Mosers. Harmon, Mollison, McWhorter and seoretary of the
Oswogo county committee of the New York Prison Association
visited the jail in the ity of Oswego on the 23d day of March, 1899,
and mado an inspection of the promises and prisoners. ‘They.
found twenty-three persons, one of whom was a womsn; all of
whom, except three or four, wore immured for drunkenness and
violation of the public peacs. Onc was a clergyman, who, it is
ssad to say, awaits trial for horse stealing. ‘the prisoners seemed.
in & good state, adequately clothed and fod. The number of
‘thom now is less than it was during the winter when it reached
thirty-three. ‘The juil is clean, well ventilated and in good order.
Bat it is not thoroughly secure. Unless prisoners are kept in
‘tho cells they may escape. Somo have oseaped in the course of
‘the current yoar. Further, it is possible for friends outside to
[Seuare,
No. 61)
communicate with the persons confined even in the rotary colle,
Probably those locked up in the other cells could not be
approached excopt by prisoners at large in the gullories. When
prisoners are out in the galleries, which they are only allowea to be
‘half hour in the afternoon, they must be carefully guarded and
watehed. ‘The insecurity of the jail has beon reported by the
sheriff in charge, but nothing has been done by tho supervisors
to improve matters. No work is furnished the prisoners. They.
have plenty of beoks and some of them spend their timo in
reading. Continuous idleness, however, doos not benefit them,
sather mokes them worse. We need only add that though the
jail is imperfect, it is vast improvement on the old building.
‘Thore is uothing to be aid in reference to the jail at Pulaski and
the lock-up in the city hall beyond what has been heretofore
reported.
6
“Respectfully submitted.
“0. J, HARMON,
“ Chairman.”
Oswaao, March 26, 1889.
To show the thoroughnoss with which the work of inspection is
carried on in the counties where the request is made to our
county committee there is appended the report of the committee
of Albany eounly.
“Pursuant to a request received from the corresponding secretary
the Albany county committee respectfully submits tho following
report as to the condition of tho penal institution of the county
“The institution consists of the Albany penitentiary, the county’
jail at Albany and portions of the station houses at Gohoes, West
Troy and Green Island usod as jails
“The penitentiary was carefully examined March twenty-third
On that day the number of prisoners was 860 males and sixty-
fonr females, of whom twelve males were in the hospital, ‘The
women were all employed in the kitchen, laundry and sowing-
rooms and in cleaning work. Of the men about 140 were working on a
brush contract which will expire in May, and 115 on. shoe contract
expiring about the same time. These men work about nine and one-
half hours duily, ‘The other convicts were oxercised by walking
about the corridors and yards and in military drill, the latter
46 [Smurs,
form of exorciso was tskon by about 115 mon. ‘There is a school
in the penitentiary which is kept going sbout six hours daily, and
has pupils varying from ninety to 240 in namber. ‘Two rooms
sre ocsupied for thia purpove, ono of them boing used by the
advanced scholars. ‘Who progress made appeared vory favorsble
‘and the result will doubtless bo benoficial
“Pho only punishment said to be used was the dark coll. Of
‘these cells the penitentiary has four, of which throo wore found
oeonpied by refractory convicts. ‘The kasper who showed the
prison slated that threo days of this confinement suid to subdue
the worst casos of insubordination; gonorally » much shorter
Aime is enough.
“Tho sanitary condition of the prison waa apparently very sat
factory, and the general cleanliness an improvement on that
provailing at Inst visitation of the committee
“the wardon was absent, and the only intelligent expression of
‘opinion 8 to the effect of idleness on the convicts was from Mr.
Bowers, theofficial in charge. Ho was found to avocato hoartily
‘the employment of prisoners at regular work, as being much better
from a sanitary point of view, and also as conducing greatly to the
cease in managing and controlling thera. ‘The contract ayatem was
favored by him as the bost meani of utilizing prison labor. Dr.
Starkweather, the physician of the prison, in his roport of Novem-
ber, 1888, speaks of the great advantage to the prisoner of oocupa-
tion which “shall be at the samo time exercise for both muscle and
brain.” ‘The substitution of the bodily oxezeiso alluded to abore,
while it has prevented the increase of the sick list threatened
by the stoppage of work, will not, in the opinion of the prison
ollcials, nor that of your committee, compensate for the stoady
‘employment of the convicts at some useful labor.
“Tho partial cessation of convict labor io Uhis penitentiary la
‘been productive of one good rosull, the institution of the schools
abore spoken of Until a few months ago tho prisoners hed no
ayatematic education.
“The county jail at Albany was examined on March 28, 1889
‘The building is an old one, consiating of a main building, eon-
taining offices and nine large cells or zooms, each eapablo of
‘accommodating from three to six prisoners, and an extension used
No. 61.) a
as tho general jail. ‘Tho rooms in the main building were found
tobe large, clean and well Tightod and ventilated. Ono of them
only was cecupied at the time of the examination by yoar oom-
mittee by five women. ‘These rooms sre used for women, boys
tnd criminala of the worst class, ‘Two of them the county is
bout to hao fitted up with padded walls for the confinement
Of prisoners suforiug from delirinm tremens and for the temporary
‘confinement of the insane
“Ta tho addition, which consists of one larg room, are forty
call, atch capable of holding two prisoners. While thin po
of the jail wa3 not as cloan an the main part, yet it was perhaps in
* good condition as.possible, your commities finding nothing to
criticise except tho floor of the corridor and the floors of fow
of the occupied calle. ‘The cells are cach swept ont day, and tho
fioors washed exorf other day. They are whitemashed about every
theo weeks; and As the prisoners are permitted to whitewash the
‘walls as often as they please, some of them are in fact whitewashed
orory fow days. Tho floor of the main corridor ie washed every
morning and swept again at noon, but as tho prisonors are allowed
the froe use of the corridor during tha day, iti impossible to
ceop tho floor wall times perfectly cloan. ‘The mumber of prisoners
in this part of tho jail was, on March twenty-third, thirty-four.
“Your committve examined the food given the prisoners and
found it excellent in quality and ample in quantity. Thoy are
given ment (corned or fresh beet) onco a day, except on Friday,
thon cold fish is substituted, togethor with coffe and potatoes,
Onions or some similar vogotable, with as mach broad as thoy wank
‘Tho feeding ofthe prisoners in the jail is done under a special law
which bas, in addition to saving the county a great deal of monoy,
procured n much batter quality of food for tho prisoners. The
provisions necessary aro purchased by the eounty troasurer upon
the requisition of tho jailor, who is provided with a cook, paid by
the county, to prepare them. The old system of paying the shorift
s0 much a week for the board of each prisoner, which still exinis
in many countios, is thus abolished. Under the old plan it was to
the profit of the sheriff to havo in jail as many prisoners as pos-
Io for as long a time as possible, and to feed them upon as ita
fand as poor and cheap food aa he could.
48 [Secare,
“Thore is practically no library at the jail; the fow books which
aro there, tho jailor aays are novor used. ‘The books of the Prison
Association formerly at the jail were removod to the penitentiary
this spring, where they wore neoded and are us0d.
“Your committee feel that the jail is in as good condition, and the
‘comfort and health of the prisoners as carefully attended to as is
‘possible in the prosont building, All the evila exist which must
‘exist while from thirty to eighty men, young and old, apend their
ays in idleness in a common room,
“Tt should perhaps bo added that as many of the prisoners as
possible are employed in cleaning and whitewashing.
"Pho common jail contains waah-stand, bath-tab and water-
‘closets, while each of tho large calls contain a large wash-atand and
a water-closet. ‘Tho sanitary condition of the drains and plumb-
ing was good.
‘So mauch of tho Cohocs police station-honse as constitutes the
Cohoos jail” was examined on March twenty-fifth and fom to
bo in an unsatisfactory and improper condition in reapsct to
cloanlinioss and sanitary arrangements and condition. ‘The
impression received ia that the ells and corridors have not been
loaned recently.
“'The cells for male prisoners aro on the frst floor, in the third
or rear room of the station house, in two rows, of five colls oach,
standing back to back. Each of thoée calls haa © dump-pan
‘wator-closot which is oithor dofectively or not at all supplied with,
water and emptied into & sowor that is seldom or nover fushed.
“‘The cells for fomsle prisoners are also ton in number, in two
rows of five cach, and are in a room directly shove thoae for
males; and tho single wator-closot for this ward is in the main
room which the stairway leads up to, and it standa ont from the
wall unourtained, unaoreened aud conspicuous, like a chair or
other seat, a prominent object.
“The jail is built directly over # sewer which ia nothing but the
bed of & divertod stream of water, which formerly ran through
‘2 ragged channol worn and out through Hudson river shale rock;
this ehannel has been covered over by arching in places and by
Doarding and bridging over in other places, which facts, together
‘with its great area, make it unsnited to be flushed ; and as it is
No, 611
used as a sewer for the property for some distanoe each side, it
haus become very offensive and is dangerous to health. ‘The
slonch from it in the jail and throughout the entire station-house
is at times woll nigh ingupportable, and fhe health of many
members of the police force has been seriously impaired by the
noxious gases.
“To this jail tho reoorder of Cohoes may and does commit,
prisoners when the sentence is for a period not exceeding thirty
Anya
“AIL of the windows of the female ward were wide open for
ventilation at the time of the inspection thoreof, and the solitary
fomale prisoner was shivering from cold, wrapped in hor cloak;
and saying that she would rather spend six months in tho Albany
ponitentiary than another day in that jai. Her record, which is
of frequent sentences for intoxication, seoma to qualify her to
Ihave an opinion on the subject
"Te can not be but that even a short imprisonment in such
quarters must injure, both morally snd physically, any criminal,
whothor he be young or old and hardened
49 :
Wesr Troy axp Gung Intaxp Jans,
“Those jaila wore both examined in the lather part of Mareh and
found to be in good condition in all respects. Both were in good
repair and cleanly, and bore thio appearance of being kept in good
‘condition,
“Due allowance must be mado for the class of persons confined
‘at those places, many of them being of the lowest class; and, as
the term of confinement is ofton for a day or night only, the per-
sonal condition of the prisonert can not be improved to any
extent.
“Tho arrangements in both jeila as to tho separation of the
sexes and of youthful criminals are propor.
“Submitted by Albany County Committee of the Prison Asso-
ciation of New York.”
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER,
Seoretary.
Annas, March 29, 1889,
{Sanate; No, 61.)
50 [Senare,
Disouancan Pursoyens,
‘here is no phase of tho work undertaken by the Prison
Association that has yrown more rapidly during the last fow
‘years than the work for discharged convicts, Every unreformed
‘criminal at lange is at once a burden and a menace to society.
Ho must live, and is singularly handicapped in his efforts to make
allivelibood. Ho rarely is mastor of a trade, and evon if he has a
trade the labor organizations are unfavorable to his plying it
Having completed his senteues he is quits with the State, and it
in in the interest of society that he be as rapidly as possible
‘merged into the ordinary currents of industry, ‘To seok employ
‘ment for such men, to properly elothe them for going to work, to
protect them from their old companions, and to help them to resist
the unsparing though seasonable prejadiees of society —all these
things are done by the association, with what results the following
typical eases, letters and tabulations will show
Henry Shea came to the association for assistance on October
thirteonth, after having served a term of one year in the peniten-
tiary for burglary in the third degree. in December, 1887,
Mayor Hewitt wrote to the association, inclosing « letter which
Le had received from Shea's mother, who lives in Chicago, asking
the mayor to intercede for her,boy und save him from State
prison, ag he had never been in trouble before, was the first of his
family to fall into criminal ways, etc., ete. The unayor asked the
association to do all it could for the boy, but unfortunately the
cease bad been disposed of in court the day before our inquiry was
‘commenced. Some correspondence has been had with Shea's
mother during the year. When he came out wo gavo him some
clothing and temporary work at one dollar per day, keeping back
part of the money to pay for hia ticket to Chicago, where he was
finally sont We have evidence from Shea's mother and his
‘employer that the boy is doing well
John Woller, an honest {ooking Englishman, eame to us with»
letter of recommendation from Mz. Stocking, superintendent of
tho Blackwoll’s Island work-house, All the elothing John had
on was a pair of overalls, cont and a cap, all of them dirty and
ragged in the extrome; his shoes nothing but uppers
Although he presented a most woe-begone appearance, as far as
No. 61] a
clothing was concerned, his face showed him to be a clean and
soapoctable mun rather than a drunkard. Ho said he had worked
for five yoam for a man in Maryland, and during the past bwolve
‘mouths had saved nearly $150, intending to spond tho holiday
with his parents in England. He came to this city to tako the
steamer and while seoing the sights dropped into s saloon to have
a glass of ale, He drank but one glass, he said, and the noxt he
lunew was in a polico court-room without a cent and clothed in the
nisorable rags he came to us in. Some one had drugged him,
stolen his money, elothes and overcoat and thrown him into the
streot, Ho was picked up by a policeman, and being unable to
explain who he was or where he catho from, was sent to tho island
for ton days, Wo wrote to his employer and ascertained that he
did have good clothing and an overcoat when he left home for
agland via New York. Wo gave him food and lodging for a few
days, then clothed him and put him aboard tho ours for the place
where he belonged. Ble has since writlen us to say that he
reached home safely and had gone to work again.
X. % applied for help after having served six months in the
Blackwell's Island ponitontiary for petit larceny. But ono year
ago he was, he said, a prosperous business man in a southwestam
city, and worth $20,000. While he was in San Francisco, on bus
ness, his partner sold owt the establishment and ran away with
the ‘proceeds. Z. camo hore in search of the man who had
‘wronged hina, got to drinking, and when his monoy was gono, fel,
{nto criminal company and committed the crime for which he was
sont to priton. He was given tomporary work, addressing and
delivering circulars, which ho did in a very thorough and satis-
factory manner for about two weeks. Thon we made up tho
amount necessary to take him to bis family in the South. Ho
professo deep gratitude, and promised to write Wo us as soon ae
hao reached home.
8. appliod for assistance aftor having served sentence of
tree years in Stato prison for burglary.” His unclo was very
woslthy, but would have nothing to do with him. His fathor is
one of the most notorious bank burglars in the world. Boing a
painter by trade, and being propared to show that he could got
work if he had a otart to buy overalls; brushes, oto, and pay
52 (Suvarm,
board, we gave him work at painting and Kalsomining, at
two dollars per day, for about ten days. He did all that was
required of him ino workmanlike manner, and left to take
permanent employment
William Leach, » young man who had been in the Elmira
reformatory, came to us lnngry, cold apd ragged, asking to be
sent back to the institution. He bad broken his parole, hed no
work and no home. In answer toa telegram which we sent, the
superintendent said that Leach’s maximum torm of service had
expired, and that the reformatory could not receive him. He was
greatly discouraged, but we put him at work ground the building,
clothed him, and in a short time, instead of going back to prison,
he secured a situation in a printing-honse at fair wages, and has
since called to thank the association for putting him on his feet
again.
A. 8B, came hore after having beon in Sing Sing prison « year
for bigamy. He had tramped all over the city in search of work,
but could not obtain it, When his money was gone ho called ou
the association for assistanoe, but refused positively to accept any=
thing in the way of, charity. Wo gave him somo temporary work
a8 a test of his willingness, and found him most faithful and wi
ing in every way. The money he oarned thus was sufficient to
support him for a ow days, and he aecared work as a eanvasser for
sewing machines. He proved to be a good salesman and made a
vory frirliving for a short time, but the company he worked for tol
him he must either furnish $200 security or resign his place. Of
course he eould not procure bonds and had to give up his situa-
lion. He came to the association again utterly discouraged,
Dut resolved to live honostly or not at all. He was given
a letter of introduction to the foreman of & large factory in
W-— street, where there are a great many men employed
and he secured a steady place at paying wages, without being
‘compelled to conceal tho factof his having been in prison. When
hho was in confinement he was converted through the efforts of
lady missionary, and he believed that his fal suocess was due to
hie faith in Obrist, His wife hus forgiven him, and together they
will be received into full membership in a prominent Baptist
‘church in this city in a few days,
No. 61) 53
Richard Roe, aged thirty-eight, was sent to us by the Brooklyn
¥ M. GA. for assistance in the way of board, clothing and
employment He had just heen discharged from State prison,
aller having served a sentence of fifteen yours for felonious assault,
He was sent to prison iz May, 1878, and released in January,
1889, having earned the full allowance for good behavior. Being
8 blacksmith by trade, he thought lie could easily get employ
meat, but found that, as he did not understand the horseshosing
branch of his business, finding work was far from easy. While
ho was looking around the association provided him with tem-
porary work sufficient to pay for lodging, but he conld not get a
steady job, He was finally sent to a contractor in this city, who
hhas very generously employed men aenthim by the association on.
many oecasions. This gentleman happoned to neod a toolmaker—
just the business Roe understood —and he was put to work
immediately.
J— C—,, seventoon yours of age, came to us from the peni-
tontiary, whore he haa boen sent for ono year for an attempt to
‘commit grand laroeny. He said he was a printer, but could get
no work at that trade because he had no city references. His
seemed an almost hopeless case for the reason that he had only
fone leg and went about with the help of a cratch. We provided
him with board and lodging for over # month and sent him to
several printing-housos where we were acquainted, all to no
purpose, He then told us ho was a Hebrew and gave to us hie
real name. We furnished him with a letter to the United Hebrow
Charities who sent him with onr letter to a printing -house whore
he got a steady situation,
H—~ V_— came to ts April fourteenth, after having served a
sentonce of six months for patit larcony. Ho was sont to us by
the Charity Ongenization Socioty. He had a wifo and five chil-
Gren destitute and could find no work, in order to provide for
them. We employed him at doing odd jobs about our building
giving him sufficient to provide for his family's necessary needs,
Allowing him three hours oach day to soarch for omployment
‘which he soon found. While he was in the ponitontiary his wife
‘managed to support the children by working in a factory.
ot
(Sera,
CW. C— came to us in November, after having sorved
torm of woven montha in the Albany penitentiary for asswult. He
confessed to having boen ten times in prison and expressed an
‘esrueat desire to reform and load @ Christian life. An old friend
of his, residing on a form in a distant State, offered C— work if
he would come on. We gave him work at painting until he had
earned two-thirds of the money necossary to pay his expensos and
then mado up the difference, helped him to olothing and sent him
on his journey. On reaching his destination i sent us a letter
‘oxpressing his gratitude and saying thathis prospocts wereexoollent
Of the seores of loters received duriug the year, from men who
have received the benefite of the association, we quote a few —as
further evidence to those who help in supporting tho association
that their gifts aro not administered in vain.
“address you these lines hoping all aro in good health, also
to express my gratitude for the many kindnesso# ‘received.
“Sinco about last ‘Thanksgiving, surely I havo many roasons to
bbe grateful; God has spared mo and kept me the past yoar, and
when forsaken by all, the association took an interest in me, and
saved me from prison or a drunkard’s grave, and you can rest,
assured that I render to God thanks, night and morning, for his
‘goodness and mercy to me; and it is the graco of God that keeps
me dey by day; of myself it is nothing, for if T did not constantly
pray to God, surely T would fall into temptation.
“I pray for all mankind, ask God to bless my friends, and even
my enomies, and pray for more strongth to resist temptation and
romain fuithfal to Him. God, in His own time, will place me in
some work. Psalm exvi, 6: ‘The Lord presorveth the simple ; T
was brought low and He helped me.’ I wish all a good Thanks-
giving; my boat respects to all.
“From your humble servant”
“According to promise that T would write you, T now hasten
o fal it Well, Treached hore sll safe and sound with sixty-
five conts in my pocket, besides some little presents, ete, for the
children. Thad a nice time coming. T made several aequaint-
‘ances on the steamship, was invited more than twonty times to
drink, but, thanks to God, I resistod stoutly, and I find easily to
No. 61.) 55
resist when I don't look to self. Going down I found a wallet
containing quite a large sum of monay, and Satan did his best to
tempt me to keop it, but I rushed into the cabin, where T supposed
‘tho owner was, and T found him. You never aaw more thankful
man, He was on his way to Cslifornia and it was all he had-in
the world, I arrived here yesterday, twenty-sixth, my friends
and family are zeal nice. He is going to give me shout twenty
dollars s month and board until I get my hand in and then raise
me. [am going to commence to-morrow. It is a beautiful country
around here and about eleven and half miles from any kind
of a gin mill. At present there is great excitement over protracted
mectings held night and day in a Little Methodist church out here,
it will seat about thirty persons. Thad not boon here half on
hour before they began inguiring as to my religion.
“T remain, yours very traly
“T hope that you will know how T was getting on, but the fact
is that Tam so busy working hard all day, so that it was my
{intention to visit yon personally and thank you for the kindness
that you showed me, at a time when I sorely needed a friend. I
have given that idea up in despair and so lot you know in writing
how Iam getting along, [ havo secured the position you
obtained for me at salary of eight dollars per week and I think
that T have a prospect of being raised soon, —hhas treated me in
very nice manner and haa showed great kindness. T expect to
‘be baptizod the third Sunday of this month and be admitted to
mombership in the church and would be pleased if you comld find
it convenient to be thero on the occasion.
I have been reconciled with my wifo and if T succeed in
getting an advanco by the first of November will tako rooms and
start lifo over again. My wife at tho prosont time ia working at
crochet buttons and it is light and pleasant work that could be
done at home. I think that jointly we can live together very
well; — also, has showed great kindness to me and has Inid me
under grest obligations. Hoping that I may hear from you again,
and once more thanking you for your kindness to mo,
“T remain, yours respectfully.”
56
[Sexare,
“My son arrived home aafe and sound. I was, indeed, glad to
200 him again ao well and strong. T express my most heartily
thanks to you, from the bottom of my heart, for the kindness re
bestowed upon him. He is a vory good hoy, now, and is work
stondy since two wesks, I thank you very much for the kind
intorost you have shown in imy son’ welfare and hope you will be
rewarded tonfold for all the kind deeds you do. Hoping yon will
exouse my delay in writing this,
“am, yours very truly.”
“I want to tall you that you have been the means, in the hands
of God, in saving » poor soul rom perdition and destruction by
your timely help and sympathy. That act of yours toward a
oor fellow who folt that he bud no friends, has changed my
whole nature. Now, I only want the chancs to show that T can
‘bo grateful
“T promise that during the balance of my life I will be honest
and trao towards my fallow men and live a better life.
“That God may bless the association is the prayer of a repented
“Yours very tral
“Te gives mo pleasure to write you a few lines informing you
that Tam at home with my mother aud brothers, and that I feel
quite hopeful and confident of the future. Ihave commenced to
lead a botter life and, God helping mo, I shall never again go back
to the old life of sin. My people will do anything in their power
to keep me in the right track, and T am encouraged to think that
there i 2 future for me after all
“Your kind words and good advice awoke in me a desire to be
a man, and I hopo that somo time in the years to come I may take
‘you by the hand and thank you personally for being the means of
my salvation. Believe me, sir, to be.
“Yours, very respectfully.”
“Your time being so precious and the prospect of an opportunity
to confer with you personally so uncertain, I adopt this method of
coxpressing my gratitude to you for the kindly interest you have
taken this far in one whom society has been taught to look upon
No. 61.) aT
with distrust, to epeat. mildly, while ready to acknowledge that to
bbe the necessary consequence of way own previous course of life;
ib is eortainly to be deplored that I have found it to be, in the
coutso of my tro year struggle to rise up and eut out an honor-
able future for myself, the ruling sentiment that a man with such’
a record as mine is irretrievably a moral wrock and all the words
imply. I heartily wish you could look into my inner being and
therefore be in a position to form a due estimate. ‘The position I
old in your office does not afford you the opportunity to form
even w substantial opinion as regards me. My threo days illness
after the shock on learning of my wife's death under ordinary
circumstances would unman me completely. I have prayed to
God to sustain me through tha terrible ordeal, and believe not in
vain. If wre to undertake to recite the history of my efforts to
got out of the slough, only to find the ghost of my former self at
hand to push me back, I might tire you—but God bless that
noble woman—she may possibly have enlightened you in a
measure, as I have confided in her without resorvation,
“T ean only hope that sho has; but aside from that—for the
sake of brevity, and to he practical, let me disabuse you of an
opinion that the fact of may wearing good clothing might eause a
person in your position to entertain, via: That possibly I might
not take kindly to rough work Pardon me if Tam saying whet
is uncalled for. However, I stand ready at a moment's notice to
Pitch into anything that offers me the opportunity to prove myself
aman, Oh! what a contempt I would have for myself wero I to
take my hand off the plough-handle and look back. I stand
pledged to my God, to myself, to my motherless boy, and by the
memory of the beloved one who had hoped to live to soe the day.
when the working out of my salvation would be an accomplished
fack Moro 1 ean not say just now.
T remain, yours respectfully.”
“Y foal greatly encouraged by your uniformly kind treatment,
and by the substantial aid you are extending me. You are placing,
it in ny power to bo-honeat, and T fool confident of my ability,
‘with God's help, to hold on to the chance for an honest life.
With respect and gratituda’
[Senate, No. 61.) 8
58
Tastx No. 1
Showing how applicants were arecty assisted.
Meals and lodgings given beqeeeesess 8,619
‘amber of pieces of clothing given-...-....-++ fe 908
Number of days temporary work giv BT
Permanent employment found for.--.-.-.2+2++ a
Number of mon furnished with tools. HES 9
‘Truce No. 2
‘Showing mumber assisted to employment in other places.
Sent to
Amityville, N.Y...
Baltimore, Md.
Boston, Mau...
Newark, N.J..
‘New Brunswick, NJ.
New Haven, Conn.
New Orleans, Ta
Philadelphia, Pa.
Raritan, N. J
‘Tromont, N. Y..
Bagland
Germany.
Bla nerer nner
‘Taniz No. 3.
Showing erimes for which convicted
‘Attempted burglary :
‘Attempted grand Iarceny....--
‘Attempted petit larceny
Attempted robbery.
‘Attempted suicide.
Bigamy i
No. 61)
Borglary.. See eer serene 9
Desortion
1k and disorderly ond vagrancy.
Embezsloment
Manslaughter.
Petit Iarcony......
Receiving stolen soot.
Robbery.
Tame No.4
Showing nationality
Foreign «...
United States
Tame No. 5.
‘Showing nationality of parent.
Auatralia cersererirsentreareesneaeee 4
fiers 5
pe
4
%
26
1
1
: a
2
5
im
ea
Tamu No. 6 —
Stag oe wien conte
‘Under twenty yoare us
Over twenty and under twenty ve 152
Over twonty-five and under thirty.. a7
Over sity ive ond under forty.
Over forty years.
Marvied and widowers.
Single. -
Over thirty and under thirty-five...
Co
‘Tans No. 7.
Showing mumber of convictions (acknowledged).
‘Tasix No. 9.
Shonang social condition.
‘Tans No. 10.
Showing religions belief
The following tabular statement shows the number of discharged
convicts, not previously regitored on the books, who havo, during
the past year, boen assisted by tho Prison Assoointion; and tho
prisons and reformatorioa from which they have been relessod :
==
“SS Ho |
ho Brave Paso
oy 018
T
)
‘Tum Turnovexext o Puisow Discreuom,
‘This feature of the association's duty involves the constant
inspection of penal institutions. ‘This is done by tho society's
comuaitteo, by members of the execntive committee, or by the
corresponding scorotary. Daring tho your just closed thero has
been a stato of complete demoralization in all the Stato and
‘county prisons of the State, owing to tha absence of labor. Ibis
not necessary to go into details, since nearly every newspaper in
tho Stato has been filled with criticism and discussion of the
results brought about by the so-called Yates “bill,” that has
Drought idleness into the prisons. The testimony of all the
srdons in the country is against the practicability of the Jaw in
its present form, or in any form to which it could be modified
Letters from twonty wardons and prison superintandonts reooived.
lat the office of the association, and coming from different sections
of the country, agree that not more than twenty per cont of the
prisoners could be employed under the most modified condition
‘and most favorable operation of this law. It is nob necessary to
do more than to state here the principles of the association, as
stated again and again, heretofore, and to ask that such a law be
passed as shall be in conformity with these established maxims
‘of penological scionce. ‘The Prison Association bolieves:
1. That prisons aro established for protection to society.
2 That to proteet sooiety most effectively against criminals, is
to reform them as speedily as possible,
8. That there can be no reformation for the criminal unless he
is made to work and taught to work; and that his work must be
in harmony with established industrial conditions outside the
prison.
‘4. That this may be so, there should be a diversity of industries
inside the prison; and that both machine labor and hand labor
should be employed.
5. That the workingman should be protected against the com-
petition arising from i large number of prisoners working at any
fone trade.
6 That the taxpayors should be protected (a) by making the
prisoner support himself while in prison, and (b) by learning how
to support himself whon out of prison
[Seeare,
No. 6L]
7. That it is unfavorable to the best discipline of the prison, or
the Dost interest of the workingman outside the prison, to sell the
time of the prisoners, By doing a0 the taxpayer jis, to be sure,
temporarily bencfited, while the criminal remains in prison, but
ultimately sulfare great lose iu the fact, that Uhe criminal is less
likely to be reformed when he comes out of prison.
8. The Prison Association does not bolieve in contract lessee
system as in vogue in Southern States snd protests against ita intro-
duction in New York. It doos not believe in the contract system
in sny form, and least of all by that form which requires the
prisoners to be marched forth in the chain-gang, becoming more
Aemoralized in thoir hardened sheme, and demoralizing the com-
munity in thoir publie speetsclo of degradation. ‘The association
is therefore positively opposed to any system that requires the
prisoners to be contracted out to town or other authorities for labor
ou the public works
In rogaed to one of the various bills that has been offered to the
Logislature as a relief from the present conditions of idleness in
the prisons, the association has publicly expressed itself as follows.
63
New Yous, Aprit 12, 1889.
At a special mooting of the executive committee of the Prison
Association of New York, hold at No. 34 Nassau stroot, it was
unanimonsly
Resolved, That Senate Dill No, 647, known as the Fassett bil,
now bofore the committee of the Senate of New York on State
prisons, providing for the government and maintenance of the
prisons, for the discipline and education of their inmates, for their
training in productive and useful labor with such a system of
Classification as experienes has shown to be most helpful to their
reformation, and for their protection against degrading associa
tions and infuences, both during their confinement and after their
‘incharge, and with every desirable guaranty against the improper
competition of prison industry with that of free citizens, is a
‘moasaro which ombodies priueiplos for which this association
‘has long contended, and meets its cordial approval
Resolved, That we invite all citizens who are interested in the
improvement of our eriminal jurisprudence and the protection of
ot
[Saxars,
society against crime, aud, in particular, all who are opposed to
the maintenance of felons in idleness at the expense of the honest
industry of the State, to unite with ws in appealing to the Lagis-
lature to enact this bill.
CHARLTON T, LEWIS,
Chairman.
Evomve Suen,
Recording Seovetary.
Warniaw M. F. Roux,
Corresponding Seevetary.
Ata large publie meeting in Steinway Hall, on Monday even-
ing, April fifteenth, the following resolution was offered by James
Fenimore Cooper, 13eq., of Albany, and adopted unanimously =
Hesolved, That this meating heartily concurs in the resolutions
passed at the special meoting of the executive committoe of the
association and most earnestly urges upon legislators the immodi-
ato passage of the Inw named therein.
Tax New Orrices of THE Assoctarton.
For some yours past the work of the society having been much
hampered for want of office space, this difficulty has been
remedied by the genorous gifts of somo of the patrons of the
society, who, adding their subscriptions to money previously
received from bequests, have enabled it to procure a commodions
and convenient house, ander the roof of which all the work of the
association can be carried on, and where the library can be con-
voniently arranged for reference. As this library is tho only
special library of its kind in the conntry, it is constantly con-
sulted by penologisis from all parts of the State, and evon far
beyond its borders. It is an unquestionable factor in the devel-
ment of penological science in the country, and its usofulness
fully repays in benefits accruing to the society, the small outl
that is requisite for its maintenanes. ‘The library-room furnishes
‘a suitable placo of mooting for tho Prison Association and other
societios engaged in similar work. It is in constant use. At
present the houso affords more accommodation than the society
‘needs, but it will ultimately be obliged to use the entire building.
No. 6L]
Tt is offen said that the reformation of a man once fairly started
{so uncommon that te chanees do not warrant the necessary
large expenditure of trouble aud time, Leaving the higher ques.
tion of the moral obligation imposed upon a Cliristian community,
the economic value of every aingle reformation is beyond question,
It is estimated that criminals cost the State $2,500 each when at
large, and this merely for the cost of protection against them, and
not taking into account either depredations or their moral effect
on the community, nor counting the Joss of their labor. ‘The pre-
ceding letters, received during the past fow months —in most eases
from men who have porsonally lived criuinal lives for years, and
whose reformation dates back for years, are suficient evidence that
men do reform, and so justify ovory offort that can be made to help
forvard their reformation. Much of the difficulty exporioncod i
attempting the reform of discharged prisoners arises from a dofect
in our penal system, which does not permit a suficieat diversity
cof trades to suit the varying capacity of prisoners. Of conrse
this does not refer simply to the operation of the prevailing law,
which can hardly be permitted to remain for any great length of
time on the statute books, and which has already worked untold
mischief
In no way have wo oxperienced the benefits from the occupation
of the new offices more than in the facilities which it affords of
giving temporary employment to men who are seeking for work
and must live in the meanwhile. Clerical work has been afforded
by the establishment of a burean of research and press informa.
tion, and a small printing office, the gift of one of the executive
committee, has furnished many days work at the same time that
the necessary printing of the association is being done, The
small garden back of the house has been planted, and there has
been considerable employment afforded in keeping it in ordor.
AckNownEn@saTs
In closing this report it is a pleasant duty to mako grateful
acknowledgment for the uniform consideration shown to its
officors and representatives in the various branches of its work
and specially such acknowledgement is due to the judges in the
sourts, the officials in the eily prisons and the poli
[Senate, No. 61.) °
66 (Sexare, No, 61]
Tt is with a sonse of profound satisfaction that our representa-
tives have seen the faithful ministration brought about by the
gospel mission to the Tombs, by the city mission of the
Protestant Episcopal chureh, by ladies from various churches
and by the faithful and untiring Inbors of the Roman Catholic
clergy and sisters of charity, wherever their duties Lave called
them within prison doora We are also most grateful for the
untiring and unpaid labors of our eficiont county committees,
and for the sympathy and support afforded us by the churches
throughout the State. There wasa large observance of prisoners’
Sunday and hundreds of sermons preached in regard to the hopes
and neods of prison reform. ‘The thousands of friends of the
1s most weloome to our rooms, for wo feel sure
society are abv
that a close inspection of the details of our work will further
convince them of its interest and value.
REPORT
Special Committee upon the Prisons of
Great Britain.
By Cnanenox T, Lewis, Riowano A. McCrnom,
[Reprinted at the request of many eorrespondents]
To the Beecutive Committer of the Prison Assooiation of New York:
Grxrumuex.— Your special committee, undersigned, appointed
to examine the prison system of Great Britain, hog leave to offer
the following report
‘The principles upon which society deals with crime and orim-
inals have only in comparatively recent times boon made the sub-
ject of intolligont study, upon the broad basis of the genoral wel-
Tare. ‘The first impulse of a ernde, human society is to revenge
itself upon offenders, and in the early stuges of government, this
impulse is carried out with ftful onorgy, without regard to
ulterior considerations. As the organization of socicty becomes
more completa, system and order are introduced into punishment ;
‘bat still the predominant feeling in the law is punishment, that
is vengeance ; as if the infliction of suffering, ou the offender, wore
‘8 natural or divine law, for the wrong eom-
‘8 compensation, und
mitted; while the idea that the practical end in view is really the
protection of society by preventing fature crime, only gradually
and slowly comes into prominence. Prisons first arose from the
necessity, in order to be able to inflict punishment, of holding in
‘custody the person of the criminal. Imprisonment was anciently
regarded rather as a rostraint than as punishmont; nor was there,
until recont systoms of government arose, any legal and systom-
68 (Sesare,
atic gradation of terms of imprisonment to the enormity of the
offenses. In the societies of Anglo-Saxon origin, this principle
first bocame mature, when the severity and cruelty of the earlier
criminal jurisprudenes of England began to be mitigated, under
the pressure of a public opinion which positively refused to
permit the exeention of the laws as they stood,
Sines the prison aystem of civilized uations began to feel these
inffuencos, it has pasted through successive well-marked epochs
‘of reform. The first may, perhaps, be called the epoch of John
Howard and Elizabeth Fry. These groat philanthropists and
their numerous followers found that the prisons of their time
were torture-honses, slanghiter-houses, pest-houses, hath physio-
ally and morally; and they atrove with energy to arouse a public
sentiment which should remedy these evils, Doubtless the lead
ing reformers themselves hnd broader and more far-reaching
viows and plans than the mass of those who wore reached by
their nppoals, but as far as the popular mind responded to them,
the sentiment evoked was predominantly tie feeling of compassion
for the sufferings of the imprisoned. Groat improvements wore
mado, and the prisons were largely freed from the brutal and cor-
rupting agencies which disgraced thom. But the movement was
at once defective and excessive —defective in forgotting too often
the interests of society in the punishment which doters from
crime, and excessive in awakening tender sympathy from philan-
throphio hearts for deserved snffering. No wonder that reactions
occasionally were felt, and that stern justice found advooates, who
protested earnestly and practically against a sentimental kindness
toward offenders
‘The noxt poch to be noticed may be called that of Sir Walter
Crofton and Dr. E. C. Wines, if we may single out from a large
and noble band of leaders two represoutative men, one on each
sido of the oecan, ‘The characteristic of the epoeh is the intredue-
tion into the discussion of intelligence, as superior to impulso ; of
slatosmanship, looking at the whole question in the light of the
permanont welfare of society, and subordinating or excluding all
influence of sentiment, whether the desind for revenge or the
indulgence of compassion. How shall the criminal class be
treated by organized society, in order, as far as possible, to pre
No. 61. 69
veut crime, to climinate the tendencies and influences which
produce it, to make life, civil order and property secure? This
Breat problem, studied in the light of Christian civilization, and of
that comprehensive political economy, which is the truest philan=
Hnrophy, is what he prison question has become in our day ; and
to understand that question or to discuss it properly, we must
consider it in no narrower fori, :
Indeed, long before public opinion began to be formed on the
subject, n few thinkers had studied it with remarkable success,
For example, the famous treatise of Becearia on “Crimes and
Panishments,” published in 1764, anticipated in many vespocts
the principles of enlightened recent legislation concerning the
criminal classes. But without attempting any historical discussion
‘of the various stages by which our present state of knowledge has
been reached, we wish to point ont to you, with all emphasis, the
‘sential fact that this problem has nob reached any satisfactory
practical solution, on a large sealo, in the United States; and that
it has reached a satisfactory practical solution, on a lange seale, in
the kingdom of Great Britain. To recur to our names as symbole;
Dr. Wines is dead ; the principles and methods which he taught
are not indeed forgotten or lost, but they are applied only in part,
in a few seattored institutions, with constant interferones by dates.
tive systems, imperfect laws aud ignorant or uofaithfal authoritie
and most of the prisons of our States are, if not schools of crime
and agents of cruelty, at least useloss and helpless as reformatory
agencies. Sir Walter Crofton is living, the system he devised
hhas beon matured and improved, by the steady working of intelli-
gent study and experience, and is now applied throughout the
criminal jurisprudence of a great nation. If its practical results
are found, on examination, to correspond with its theoretical
excellence, the conclusion is forced upon us that, in this great
subject, our republican socioty has something to leara, aud that it
aay advantageously turn to the British islands for a suggestive
At the timo of the sppointmont of this committee, its members
‘ere acquainted with the English prisons only through books and
reports, and appreciatod but very imperfeotly the contrast which
those prisons offer to our own. But within the last year your
0
(Severe,
committee have visited and personally examined soveral of the
most important of the these institutions in Great Britain, study-
ing with diligenoo their government and organization. ‘The result
has impressed us deeply with tho necessity of a reform in our
prison system, corresponding with that that has been wrought in
Great Britain during the last generation. ‘Tho principal char
actoristies of the aystem there adopted, as far as we have been
able to understand it, are the following.
1. The gradual progress making in the disnse of short terms of
improvement of the
imprisonment for minor offenses, with #
juile im which such terms sre held; so that no corrupting inter
course shall take place; and so that the time spent in thes, shall
be employed, as far as possible, in profitable Iabor, or under
educational and moral inilnenoss. The tendency is clearly to
substitute, as far as possible, other forms of punishment for
imprisonment, in all cases which admit of the change; it being
certain that imprisoament for short terms has mo reformatory
effect, and, indeed, often rosulls in destroying some of the
restraints which had induenced » wavering or vicious character,
and had determined him to a life of erime, ‘This is especially the
case when intercourse of any kind with habitual crimunals is pos-
sible. And yet the tendency in question has not been carried to
fan extreme, All sentences to imprisonment for terms longer than
been abolished, except the sentence for five years
oF more which subjects the criminal to the discipline of a conviet
prison. But there is some reason to believe that this tendency
may well be encouraged much further, and that fines or som
form of corporal punishment may:advantageously take the place
of many of the sentences for shorter periods still inflicted.
2 The thorough classification of convicts under penal sentences.
No prisoner is received in a convict prison for # tora of less than
five years, but the term may be shortened a year or more by bis own
earnings of time, Evory eonviet received is confined separately
during his probationary period, and his life is solitary, except
during his hour of exercise, when he may see his fellows in the
yard, but can not approach or converse with them. His food is
merely sufficient, and of the coarsest quality; his bed is hard ;
hhis labor sovere and mouotonous, such a8 picking oakum, or
No. 61.)
weaving coarse mats; and is earried on in his Jonely ooll. Tt is
intended daring this poriod to make a deep improssion on his
mind of the discomforts and ailiction which result from his erime.
Abthe sume time, heis, if possible, made to understand practically
that his future depends apon himself. By good conduct and
industry he ean earn two marks daily, and this severe stage of his
condition continues until he has earned promotion from it, by
‘marks enough to represent two for each day of the minimum pro-
Dationary period. ‘This period is now fixed ly law at nine months,
which has been found by long esperience the best period, on the
average, for securing the needed impression on the convict’s mind,
without producing the despondency and listlessness which some-
times result from long solitary confinement. But somo of the
administrators of the law now think that the probationary period
has been too far shortened, at least for come classes of prisoners,
and that a power to discriminate, and. to prolong it for those who
are slower to receive the needed impression, should be lodged in
the supervising authorities. In any case, the conviet must live
his dreary life for mine months, and any failure of duty on his
part will lengthen the period. ‘This part of the penal sentence is
considered by the criminals of England so dreadful that its deter-
rent influence over them is widely felt in preventing crime, ‘The
‘convict may prolong it indefinitely by bad conduct or by idleness,
Dut, im the great majority of cases, the result is that he pursues
submissively and eagerly the purpose of reaching ita end as goon
‘98 possible ; aud in the process acquires unconseiously something
of a babit of industry, something of a sense thet his conduct is
the direct cause of his condition. Tn some eases, he oven forms
‘8 purpose, nover afterward abandoned, to retrieve his manhood.
From the probationary class, after promotion is earned by a
full term of good conduct and industry, he pastes into the body
of Taborors, snd forms one of its third or lowest class. ‘The classes
tare distinguiahod by slight differences of dress, and each higher
class has some privilege of diet, exereise, communication at long
intervals by letter with outside friends, or earning a small gratuity
by efficient labor, which is denfed to tho lower class, so that
promotion from the third class to the second, and from the
sccond to the first, is no less eagerly sought and hoped for than
a
(Senare,
escape from the hardships of probation, ‘Those differential
privileges, indeed, seom so trifling to most persons ontside of
prisons that they will hardly believe them to become, to lange
bodies of men, the object of earnest Iabor and ansious hope
for months together; but in the narrow, simple life of a
convict prison, where these rewards aro ‘all that there is to
Took and strive for, thet become motives of great poteney, and
gradually
this period of labor, in which the convict is associated with his
{fellows for purposes of work, bnt isolated as completely as possi-
blein all other respects, he is also privileged to earn by persistent
induatry a remission of time, which tay amount to one-fourth of the
whole period thus spent; and in this greatest of rewards is found
‘the most important stimulus of all to good conduct In the
Prisons which we visited wo were partionlarly inquisitive in rofer-
ence to the punishments inflicted, and found that the oases are
very rare in which it is necossary to do more than to mulet the
prisoner of s little of his earned time or gratuity, while deprada.
tion toa lower class, or © rotam to the probationary stage, are
measures of expoctional severity. Flogging is not, indeed, abol-
ished, but no one in the prison lias power to inflict it. A prisoner
can only be whipped by order of the visiting justices, and applica-
tion for such an ordor is extremely rare.
No more interesting study is afforded by prison life then the
moral effect upon convicts of this classification in English prisons.
‘he considerable number of men, who, after years of patient and
faithful labor, ander the rigid discipline practiced, are foand to be
trustworthy in every respect, and are promoted to the special
class, form body among the convicts themselves, whose silent
influenee, as a support of order and a proventive of irregularities
of every kind, is more powerful then any physical foree could be,
8. The system of lobor.—'Thie is that commonly known a8 the
public account system, All the work dous is for the government,
which furnishes the bnildings, tools and material. ‘The industeies
practiced are greatly diversified, including the construction of
buildings, piers and breakwaters; horticulture, to an extent
saficient to supply the prisons themselves; the washing, cooking,
‘baking and other household services for the convicts ; the manu-
influence many characters for permanent good. During
No. 61) B
facture of mats, baskots, chairs aud other articles used in all the
government offices; the printing and binding of books, documents,
papers and forms of every kind for the several departments, and
even of many parliamentary reports, Tf a convict has learned,
before his sontonee, auy trad
i eam be carried on in confine.
‘ont, his skill is utilized and preserved. If not, he is permitted,
after the probationary stage is passed, to learn and practice the
trade, if any, for which his mental and physical capacities adapt
hhim, ‘There aro not a few fustauces in which young men, who
have entered the prisons without skill or habits of industry, and
who, but for the training there received, would have no resource
Dut erimo, have become superior workien, and are now occupy.
ing positions of responsiblity. ‘The foreman of one of the most
‘important printing offices of London learned his trade wholly ns
convict at Wormwood Serabbs,
This system of labor is adopted withont regard to its Snancial
results, because it is believed to bo the only one mder which
prison labor ean be made an efficient agent of reform. ‘The
suprome end in view is the resous of men from a criminal life, and
the diminution of tho oriminnl elass; and ¢0 this end every other
consideration is subordinated. Tf the supreme end in view were an
immediate return to the public treasury, « good balance sheet at
the end of the year, this systom must be abandoned, and the labor
of prisoners let ont to contractors, to the confusion of discipline
and the destruction of its moral power
4. The selection of oficers—The entire prison service is organized
swuder the control of the socratary of state for the home depart-
ment, subject to whose orders each class of prisons is governed
by central boards of directors aud commissioners, and constantly
examined by government inspectors and by local justices. The
oficers within the prisons are men who devote their lives to the
work, and are appointed and promoted, paid or pensioned, solely
for fitness, oxperience and efficioney in the service, “Politica” are
utterly without influence in the matter. Every appointment is
made after « rigid examination into qualifications for the special
work in hand, and then is probationary only, iés continuance
depending solely upon proved affiieney. Administrations, parties
and goveroments may rise and fall, but, from the chairman of
(Senate, No. 61] 10
uw [Smuars,
directors of convict prisons, now the highest authority in the
kingdom on the subject of prison discipline, down to the humblest
turnkey, every man is secure im his placo while he fills it well ; no
fone can be dislodged, or fail of his fair promotion, exeapt by
failure to do his work. The spectacle of such a civil service as
that in the control of the English prisons is, to an American, most
impressive, and the contrast it presenta to that which is found
some of the States of our Union painfully disturbs the cherished
prejudices of a patriotic citizen of our Republic. Tt is cortain
that no system, however ideally perfect in itsolf, ean be properly
administered in our prisons until their goverament is freed from
political influences, When this reform is elfocted, we may hope
to seo engaged in the grent work of governing and reforming con
viets many more of such noble men as those who, in afew of our
great penitentiaries and reformatories, are now, in spite of annoy
ing political intorforence and imporfect legislative support, striving
to apply the best priaciples of Christian civilization to the rescue
of fallen man. ‘There are to-day acting as governors of some of
the groat convict prisons of England gentlemen of culture, sovial
standing, military rank and business ability, such as would houor
the executive cbair of any State in the Union,
5. The supervision of the prisons by the government and by focal
authorities —Evory prison in the kingdom, whether for convicts
nontenced to long terms or for prisoners detained for short terms or
for trial, is now uudor the snpervision of the home office. A uni-
form system of discipline and labor is, therefore, enforeed through
thom all, and any failure to carry out the laws is at once detected and
may be corrected by the contral authorities. At the same time the
‘powerof visitors is veated in locsl magistrates, to whom any prisoner
or officer may at any time make complaint, and whose duty it is to
‘examine into every such case and report fally to the secretary of
state, No physical suffering or other severer panishiment can be
inflicted without their sauetion ; and the general condition of the
prison ax to cleanliness, discipline and the eficieney of tho
officers must always be satisfactory to thet
‘Such, in rude online, are the most striking feutaros of the
system which we found actually established and at work in the
British prisons. The sketch is incomplete and may be in many
No. 61.)
respects suporficial; bul itis eandid and trathful, not fancifal as
far as it goes, and every man who understands how criminals are
dealt with in this country knows that, in most important par-
ticulars, we fall far short of « parallel. But, after all, the prac-
tical resulls of any system of discipline must be the final test of
ite value; and it is reasonable to ask whether any good end has
been attained by all this expenditure of thought, skill and money
upon the treatment of the enemies of society. Men are fonnd
who insist that all efforts in this direction is wasted, “Once a
criminal, always a criminal,” is, they tell us, a general rule, to
6
which the exceptions aro so few and ansatinfactory aa not to
justify the ostablishment of a great departmont of government
for their sake. Accepting the issue, then, lot us look at the
fotanl result of this vast experiment, if wo may call it auch,
which has been tried for the Tast forty years upon the moral
nature of the criminal population of Gent Brita. It wan in
1842 that Pentonville privon was opened and the diseiplino abore
dosoribed was, nits peneraloutlines, fr aemptod. This discipline
huas been gradually matured and extended inthe light of experience,
tind logislation on tho subject has been steadily improved ntl
the prison act of 1877 substantially completed the entire systom
by bringing the local prisons or county jails wholly under the
control of the home office. ‘Thus, it is oply within a few years
that the plan hag been working at its best aud fallest; but, for
the parpose of comparison on the largest scale, let as Took at the
stutisties of criminalty in Bngland and Wales forty years ago and
now. ‘The figures arw collected by Sir Rdimund F. Dugane, the
chairman of divectors of convict prisons, in his admirable
“Account of the mannor in which sentences to penal servitude are
carried out in England,” @ work in which an interesting, account
is given of the history and growth of the new prison system from
its origin. We ask your attention to the following facts
Tn 1843 the population of England and Wales was 16,982,228.
‘Phe number of felons convicted in that yoar was uncommonly
Tange, and to avoid any dangor of exaggeration, we may take the
average number of convictions for five years, from 1841 to 1845
inclusive, Upon the avorage of these five years, then, 3,933 per-
sous were sentenced in England and Wales to penal servitude or
16
(Sexare,
transportation, that is, were committed and punished for offenses
of the grade of felony, and 15,783 persons were sentenced for
imprisonment for shorter terms in local jails, that is, were com
mitted and pnnished for offonses of the grade of misde
mognors calling for imprisonment. In 1881 the population of
England and Wales was 25,958,280, and if the criminal
lasses had formed at that time as lage u percentage as in
1641, and wore governed and punished by the same laws similarly
administered, we might expect convietions in the same propor
1881, 6,251 persons
sentenced to penal servitade (transportation having been long
abolished), and 25,000 persons sentenced to simple imprisonment.
‘The wetnal numbers were as follows: In 1881, 1,525 persons
wero sontenced in England and Wales to penal servitude ; 9,266
‘were sentenced to simple imprisonment; in other words the numa
bers ware leas by 4,726 felons and 15,824 minor criminals than
they must have been had not a change been wrought in the state
of society as respects the criminal classes. ‘The yeur 1881 was
not an exceptional year; the decline in number was continaous
and almost uniform from the beginning to the end of the period,
and the year 1881 happens to be the latest of which the figares
are at hand.
Hore, thon, we ventnre to affirm, are cause and effect No
Aoubt otlier influonoas than the prison system lave acted to
reduce the volume of crime and the numbers of the eriminal class.
We do not forget the progressive amelioration of the condition of
laborers, the immense progress in popular intelligence and i
edueation, the improvement in laws and their administration, and
the work of the Christian churches. But all theze beneficent
foroes are at work in other lands and have bean at work in Eng-
land at other periods; and nowhere else and at no other time
have they, together or apart, accomplished any work, so far as we
can learn, at all comparable to this wonderful diminution of crime
throughout a vast kingdow. We have sought in vain for any
adequate explanation of the change which does not take into
account the reform of the prison system, and refer to this a large
‘and magnificent share in the noble work. A yolume might easily
be written in tho attempt to show how the reformed prison
tion, that is to say, we should expect to find,
No. 61} a
jem works to diminigh the number of criminals and the amount
of rime, but wo forbear, believing that your long study of the
subject will enable yon to realize it more accurately and more
vividly than wo could hope to set it forth,
But since s0 much is said of Iato upon the financial results of
on management, as the test of proper govcrument, you will
permit us to say that, if anything can be proved by experience,
‘the facts here given prove such a test to be worthless. ‘The
prisons of England, with the “public eecount™ aystem of labor,
are cortainly more expensive to the State, as far aa the direct
results shown by the annual balanee sheots are concerned, than
the State prisons of New York, with the contract system of labor.
Tn tho former the work of the prisoners pays, ou the average, less
than two-thirds the cost of maintaining and restraining them; in
tho latter i pays the whole of that cost. But look further, aud
consider that the prison systom of England steadily diminishes
the number of criminals, while that of New York has spparontly
no snch effect Tn English prisons there appear to be fewer
convicts sentenced to penal servitude by 4,726 annually than
thore would be under @ system like our Now the average
torm of such conviets is six years, so that the actual permanent
population of the English prison is fewer, day hy day, by 28,356
than it would need to be if, with equal facilitios for detecting
crime, no reform had been made in the prisons. Tn other words,
28,356 men and women are, a8 a consequence of this reform, sup-
porting themselves by honest industry, and at least keeping out of
the criminal classes, who would otherwise be inmates of jails under
sentence for crime, What is the value to society of these people?
‘What is the gain by their industry? What loss is avoided by pro-
venting them from living by preying on the community? What is
saved by not needing to build prisons for thom, and to maintain
them at the public expense? Let us make tho lowest possible
ostimate of the gain or saving in these particulars, and who will
hho hardy enough to suggest that the net result of the reform is
other than enormous henefit, even by the rudost standard of profit
and loss? Who can doubt that the prison reform has alvendy
gained for the community an smonnt of wealth many times a8
great as the entire cast of the prison system ; that it already adds
