New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-08-13


OF KEWYORK Published by the Association
New York: l547.
Whatever is learned Of good or evil between the
cradle and the grave may be termed Education.
The periodical Reports of the Prison Association Of
this City undertake to describe the progress OF
public instruction, and the formation OF manners
with reference only TO that division or department
Of the pupils Of the State who begin, complete, or
receive some portion at least OF their scholastic ex
perence or personal requirements within the
gloomy limits OF public jail
Among the subjects treated of in the Third Re
port are our State Prisons-Auburn, Sing Sing and
CiintOn-Other State PrisOns-our Houses OF De
tenton-' The Tombs, and other City Jails-Black-
wells Island Peniten,iary - Hospitals - County
Prisons nurseries Of crime-the Separate, Silent,
and Social Systems of Observation-Disclosures
Labor. Moral and Religious Instruction, Books and
Lectures the Prevention Of Crime the Police and
City Justices Pardons Discharged Convicts. Pro
visions or Food for III, Prisons Vagrancy, Disease,
Mortality, Ventilation, Exercise, Cleanliness, In
sanity, 'The Home Female Prisons, Confinement
Of Witnesses, Cases Of Extreme Cruelty, Inprison-
ment OF the Poor Classification Of Criminals, Prs-
onefs &c.
If the Socletys Report were in the hands OF the
public generally and its bulkiDess did not prevent
its perusal we are persuaded that it would excite
feelings friendly to a thorough reformation and i'm
provement in Prison Discipline and Instruction the
necessity OF which, though urgent appears to he as
yet unperceivod and unfelt by the millions. So.
ciety turns with horror from recitas OF Spanish
Portuguese and Venetian Inquistions and the
horrors Of the prison house during the prosecuting
times Of Charles and James Stuart-it shudders al
the crueties of the French Bastile OF the Bourbons
and the uOtine Of their successors-and painfully
peruses tho tale of suffering Of the good Lafayette
and his compatriots in the dungeons OF Austria -
Has it the frmness and forttude OF the Agents and
Officers of the New-York Prison Association p
can n 6ear 10 look at honae2 Is it ready to cen
sure error Injustice, cruelty and recklessness OF
life and character in the Managers of Anercan
Jails and Penitentiaries. as in those OF Foreign
Countries2 If so. the facts laid before it, as ev
dence Of the workings Of questionable system
requiring instant amendment win be read, re-
Aected on and the fitting remedy diiise?'Is- "ousht
for The question Of Prison Education and Peniten-
tiary Discipline comes home to every individual
and to every dwelling in the State What shall
be done with the thief house breaker, murderer
forger. house burner periurer and aduterer p
preserved nom the pilage and vindictveness OF
its own members These are subjects which
"the Prison Association has undertaken to dis
cuss and should these and similar suggestions be
needed in the right quarter which they will be
II the People take proper interest in the matter
incslcuable advantages to the community may be
the result.
Arrests in Ner York and BroOhyR
The number of persons arrested in NewYork
City, from July l. 1915. to Nov. |, 1896 was 1890
In New.York, during the year ending LIST Nov last
the number arrested was 33l4s beside 2osi ar
rested and carried before the Mayor and Justices OF
Brooklyn. This includes witnesses detained Tor
trials and in many cases the same persons may
have been arrested second time. In five years
says the Report page IS, the number OF Migrants
has doubled Among 10000 persons arrested IN
one year for offences against morals and good order
we find the summary convictions for vagrancy
alone in 10 stated at 2,l35; and these Migrants
cost the City over $4,000 a year, while " no I'M
nrovemeut in their moral condition can be discov
cred
Tho whole number of commitments, to three
houses of detention, during the year ending Dec l,
1876 was as follows: To the City Prison or Tomos,
ulO5-to the Eldridge st. Jail, l7l-and to Brook
lyn Jail s54. There were detained on criminal
charges, Of which many of them were aiterward
proved TO be innocent. 1880 persons.
Innocent Sufferers az Prison-CdSeS Of CrNcfy
That the innocent have in all ages Suffered in
prison with the guilty is the lesson taught by His
tory from the days Of Joseph and the butler and
baker Of the King of Egypt down to ours. Our
latest files Of the Times tell of highway robbery
which took place near Hartford early in 1916.
Three OF the convicted highwaymen were sen
fenced to Il years transportation TO Van Dieman 9
Land one Of whom. William Bowers, who declared
himself innocent seemed to suffer great misery at
the thoughts Of being separated forever from his
wife aud three children. ARor being Il months at
hard labor ia convict hulk, associated with the
vlest malefsctcrs the proofs of his innocence were
made manifest, and he was liberated.
Bowers and many more whom society robs o.
liberty, might have exclaimed in nearly the words
Of an old song
When WAS boy " he said
"lplsyed on the hills of green
swem In the stresm-l hshed In the brook
And blessed was | 10 sit and look
Unte,tered on Natures seems
For eighteen sad months or more
Ny hfs has sway
10 murky huks of poisonous air
Mhera We yesrned for sight OF the valley. fair
And the light OF freedom day
An innocent prisoner doomed
Nv heart 10 heavy within
Oh, WHY should man unstsined by guilt
Who the blood OF creature never hath split
he pent like feloD, for sin =
sach cases are not rare even in America. With
reference to II the hsrshness which had character
lied the Auburn system the Executive Commit
tee of the Association offer the following state
ments from which they intend that saiutary Sd-
moni,ion may be obtained. as to the necessity Of
constant vigilance TO prevent the recurrence o.
"crueltes which might challenge the competition
"ol the Spanish lDquisition in its worst days
The relation of few well suihenticsled eases will
lie sufficient 10 teach the desired lesson while they will
add 10 our report ell the gloom which can well be al
fordsd.
On ono occasion some idle writing was discovered
q door In Of the work shops and the keeper In
charaa affnnI.fad Of Alfrr