New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-12
PRISON ASSOCIATION OF NETWORK.

length on minutes and referred.
Tie Board adjourned 10 Monday next
PRISON ASSOCIATION OF NETWORK.
The Tenth Anniversary Of the Prison Association
of New-York held Thursday vening in the Rev.
DR.. Cheeyer'- Church. Unon-squarc. The attendance
was not very large.
AT the time for the commencement Of the exercises
they were opened by chant appropriate to the oc-
ession.
There were upon the stand the Rev. DR.. Osgood,
X. n. Havens, President OF the Society Or. Grscom
Peter Cooper, the Hon. S. l.. Maconber, VIM. Rus
sell, Abram Beal, Agent Of the Society, and ohers.
Mr. H.vEss made some remarks relative to the OBJ
ects Of the Society. lis aim is to look after the wei
fare of prisoner. while in prison and after their dis
charge, the condition OF prisons and similar works of
usefulness pertaining to this class Of delinquents.
The abstract of the Annual Report was read by
FRASK BALLARD, Secretary Of the Society;
Tie Report alludes 10 the fact that previous to the
organization of the Association in 1874 there were
systematic efforts made in the State for the aid of dis
charged convics, for the protection of those de
tanned the charge OF crime against the eXorons OF
unprinciped LAWYERS or the malice of prosecutors.
Tie result Of the exposure Of frauds by the Special
Committee of the Legislature of 1884 has been such,
that the Ex, cutive Committee now assured by one
of the Inspectors that hereafter this Association will
be permitted TO perform the duties OF examination III
the manner prescribed by their Charter
The report, in its closing observations on general
matters connected with the State Prisons says
deep-rooted conviction with the members Of the EI
ecutve Committee that the advanced state Of the science OF
pnoOEy the experiments and successes Of other Governments
in the treatment Of criminals the increasing light and inte-
people, the duty 70 each other
members self governing eah; OBJ gaiions
thorough matte examination Of prisons prison
systems and criminal laws with such changes will
The report recommends that this should be done by
the Association under direction of the Legislature, or
by a commission Of three five gentlemen 10 be ap-
pointed by the legislature and to be selected with
particular regard 10 their qualification for the work
Tie Commissioners should thoroughly examine all
prisons and prison systems, compare them with those
of other States and countries point out the modhca
tons which would insure the full benefit of all I'M
provemens made elsewhere, estimate the cost of such
changes prepare plans accordingly, and report 10
future Legislature, when they able TO do so
wisely and benctciay.
Crime IN the CffV Of heu- I0rk-The arrests for
ofienses of all descriptions were in
1853 ...........se7s 6
ls52..................3f25 8 1854
The arrests for inoxications and misdemcanors gen
orally arising from intemperance, during the same
years, were in
1852 q SIG SO
Places where intoxicating liquors are sold:
Dec. 81 1888 Dec 81, 1854
In licensed shops..................6,sSl sos
In unicenfed shops................ 2H l.bl
Total .........................7,075 GOT
Thus apparent increase III crime both against person
and property, and the reported dimnution of the
Der OF places where spirinous liquors were sod may
at first excite surprise. 1hi- is wide divergence
from the ordinary laws of crime deducible from
similar official statistics for other periods aud places,
il is well therefore TO inquire into It's cause.
lie laws of statistics presuppose the element of al
miuistraive efficiency TO be uniform and positive II
this be tickle and variable. but little reliance can be
PLACED on the deductions from the figures. With a
lax polce therefore there might be actual increase
OF crime while the number OF commitments and con-
sequently OF convictions would lead casual observer
10 infer decrease. But with growing activity and
iaihfulness in the police there would naturally be,
especially during It's transition state from laxiiy 10
efficiency, increase in the commitments and this too,
with reduction in the number of liquor sellers.
During the years named there a marked aud
tnuing Improvement in the police which satisfactorily
accounts for the increased number Of guests
The Report OF the Warden OF the City Prison 20 the
Board of Ten Governors states that there received
into the IrOns IN -J4 30 6gl persons OF whom = 81
were committed for intemperence. He cautions the
public not TO be- mised by these figures, r,Inarking
that II Ii not unusual 10 have during the year the
same person committed eight ten tlme- for that Of
Tense and in instances a. often a. twice in
" week; and each case being distinct commitment,
"swels the number 10 that above stated" But l.
as well TO guard against erroneous influence in the OPP
Iosiic direction.
The expense to the City is just As great though
each uuit OF the number repn-euted An individual.
Taxpayers need not therefore feel themselves relieved
from cent Of their bills because OF these mis-
cradle victims of an unh0y traffic committed
" eight or ten times within the year."
But allowing 600 for the extra commitments OF
the same indivduals-probably large allowance
there would It'll remain 20 900 human beings each
cowed with the highest capacities for good or ILL., enjoy
men or suffering, reduced 10 the extreme OF degrade
ton by the legaized temptations of society.
The crimes against property in the City, incu,iin-
arson, attempt TO steal, burglary, embezzlenent,
forgery felony, fraud gambling grand petit aud con-
tructive larceny, passing counterfeit money obtaining
goods under false preieEses picking pockets robbery
and receiving stolen goods, were in
lt5l u 1855 ..... ssh
leSz... .......5f17 ls5i.......... ... ....gS
The following table exhibits, as nearly a. mere IL
ures can, tie extent OF the services Of the Association
through the Agent OF is Discharged Convict All
Deention Committee during the year lsJi
>ifusous obtained foT csch,-ed couvie.s from Siu 81
situsns obtained for discharged eoayiets Bsekxe
PeoIs dchas, thioash Gar reeoIast -
Pe.ess t-ri.be5 ~ tis.
Con examined ami adEice and assistance "a
Con PLAINS abandoned BY stvice 10
IoS II Declared AM ieses prisoners aided 10 va-ous
The good thus effected has all been reformed with
The small sum Of ,09s 92-our total g.eip,s for de
year. bat OF this i23 - the remainder of the
legacy Of hi-s Demit, made several years since The
expenditures follows:
Salaries 4 agents and e.erss........... srs,in
One reat No IS eufre-si............. 20 sD
D.se ha.ea consisi, account. ............ as 80
PRINTING ,ai other Incidental e1pen.e.. ~ Is
hasEee due Iressarer, January lS4... ga
Balance O. had December 81, lsS+...... aa
TOsAl........................s3 as q
II Is proper 70 remark that the direct donations OF
money 20 discharged prisoners in sense an nd-
cation Of the good done By the Association.
during the year the Executive Committee have ID.
spected by iis members the Peni,entiaries Of New
York and Albany the Houses Of Detention and CITY