New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-01-28
pemnIe Prison at Sing Sing


some length the Reports Of the Clinton and Sing
Sing state Prisons Mrs Farnhsms administrs
tlon Of the Female Department Of the Prison last
named having been sssaied in certain quarters IN
2 manner adapted to throw suspicion upon her
conduct and motives and greatly to inJure the
cause Of Prison Reform, We turned with consider
able interest to her Report as embodied IN one o.
the documents before US TO see IN what way she
had met the charges so industrlously circulated
against her We are not disappointed in finding
the accusations alluded 10 answered IN manner
at once frank and explicit, and with "omany
dignity calculated 10 make highly favorable I'M
nression on the mind Of the reader Though the
charges affect personal character aud are such as
would very naturally provoke Indignation, there IS
in the reply no harsh or unkiDd word. 1t is due
not only to Mrs Fsrnham but to the people OF the
whole State. whose servant she IS that her de-
fence should be as widely dlfiused as possible and
therefore We give IT place, as iollows
1t may be proper in this connection TO advert 70 Ger
,s ccnsures that have recently been cast upon the
mode In which this department Of my charge has been
administered The imputstions TO which refer are ~
the main to your knowledge so false or so puerhe anu
owe their circulation 10 such irresponsible suthore
he, have not pernitted nor shall permit them III the
smallest degree 10 vary my official conduct so long as
continue 70 enjoy your confidence OF uhu receive
some iutmatiOn Of lis abatement because oil mem IL
LII No, boweyer trust BE- esteemed impairment ior
me 10 testify my respectful appreciation oil lha' eOl.
dence which has greatly miugated the annoy ahcs y
woman may be psrdonfd FOR feeling al oeps i ri
snbec of Inscriptions and brutal newspaper illusions
hv referring here very briefly 10 such oil the asshus 70
which my official character has been exposed as "ou
be most likely 10 impress uniaFolaOiy muse WIZ az
entire strangers 10 the history VI uis su'uN'" wv 0
past three or four years
The most prominent of these il the charge mat nave
excu ded tie Bible from tie female prison answer
this by SIMPLE denial. The Bible Is no" ana mas oeen
during my connection with the prson, part oil me i9r
ritrc Of every cell II Is never removed unless Dy the
prisoner hcrsef tor her own convenience An no9 end
hall are also spent each Sabbath morning and nave
Deen during the whole time | have been here IN SAP
ba,b schuo On these occasions the Bible IS read ~
the prisoners and to them They are questioned on Iho
psrs read and explanations and remarks are made ior
the purpose OF enighienng and inierosuns ta.n minus
In sacred readings The frequent reading OF the scrip
lures by themselves in private is also enJolned on al
proper occasions. ,,, +,
Among the books of an improper character, which
am charged with havin, introduced here, are Oh'er
Twist Nicholas Nckleby Fowler on Religion ana + w'
Ter on Austiyeness The fret two did loan win inc
consent OF the chaplain each TO one prisoner Inc TWO
last named have never made an attempt TO introduce
here. was requested 10 be the bearer oil DONATION OF
books to the library of which these formed part Inc
gift was unsolicited by me, bu, was not at liberty
mad wished 10 DO to refuse 1t or divert II from Tue
purpose of the donor ltw the right and duty OF the
Chaplain 10 decide whether the books should be re-
ceived or not and to him delivered them without
word OF communication. and without expressing IN any
manner the sintes wish 10 influence his decision III re-
gard TO them.
is also alledged that have cndeavored to circulate
ccniious novels among our prisoners II seems almost
suptrfuous say that this charge untrue many Oh
the books named have never seen their very titles are
unknown 10 me. The only works OF ncnon recoheot
ever have furnished TO the prisoners, are lew oil
Miss Bremers lhrcc OF four OF Dckcnss and upper
Crock of Gold. do ne feel disposed to make any dc
fence of the Sc acts.
On the same footing with these char-es stands that OF
FoureIsm. Il has not the slightest foundation IN truth
and yet were 10 pass by in silence should leave
false impression on the mind Of every person who has
given credit to this statement
The catalogue of the library OF this department viii
"a | AIN informed, accompany the ehaplsns repor,
from that you will learn the character OF the books IN
among prisoners Ia addition 10 tntse, VOL
umes have occasionally been loaned by myself and some
of my assistants TO the more intelligent among the IN
mates of both departments These loans have without
exception In the of the male prisoners been made
with the sanction of the chaplain, and generally so IN
I our own department Occasionally when II has mol
been convenient TO consult him, We have granted the
request Of one of prisoners by the loan OF
volume but never, 10 my knowledge, Of one which We
thought would be Al all eNcepuonsblc in his Judgment
In conclusion. permit me ~ cay. that am deeply IN
deb,ed 10 those who have been associated with me II
charge IT the risen not only for their just appreciation
Of the plan OF government and their very effective aid II
carrying into execution but also for the unity al,
rmness with which they have abidod the coarse assault
that have continually been made upon US.
Al which l. respectfully submitted.
ELIZA w. fARNHAM, Matron.
Mount Ploascsi Female Prison, Dec l, lsio.
The issue having thus been joined between Mrs
Famhsm and her assailants. we hope in justice
to sn parties that the Legislature viii order
thorough investigation Of the whole matter. lie
the charges be distinctly tabled and either proves
or shown TO be false