Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-12-22


The STATE PgSIrESriARy IN NIRcINIA.-The
Penitentiary of Virginia was oIened, as one OF our
peculiar institutions, in April 1900. From that
period up 10 last September. 2657 white persons
have been incarceratcd therein, OF whom only 4o
were women Also there were o73 free negroes
sent there of whom 90 were females. The aggre-
gate during 48 wears amounts to 1913 prisoners.
Ofthese Within thu above period 562 received par
dons; SOC died in prison IL escaped. and 2.O52
were discharged. We do not include in those hgu-
res some 80 negroes sent there previous to being
transported according to sentence.
On the lst January. 1901 there were only ~
prisoners in the Penitentiary:on lst January 1905,
there we're I24 prisoners; in january, 1922, there
were 209 convicts there, and the number received
during the II months was lO3; in January. 1852,
there were 2O3 prisoners, and, up 10 the present
time the annual list has been increasing, so that
now there is an evident necessity OF an enlarge
nent of the institution. Penitentiary patronage
is increasing. therefore, further accommodations
for boarders is urgently demanded at Col. Nor
gan's Indeed we understand, that if the con-
ycts now on the public works were returned,
there is not in the present building celi-room SUI
fcient for all. This is of course n matter winch
should be forcibly brought before the State Leg
islature at the next session, and this suggestion
is duly urged in the Superintendent Report for
the last fiscal year Ielative 10 the Penitentiary-
Also the heavy expense of transportation fees Is
another matter in Il peruniary point OF view, that
needs proper regulating. Dhl " tiiS VoItN VIC
shall allude ut another time. and will here mere
" state that the bill for simply transporting con-
vcts to the penitentiarv the last fiscal year amoun-
ted to l0,SG4 &C.
The fiscal year in the Pcnitentiary manage
ment ended on the Both of September last. during
which period the average number "ic"nH'cts IN
that prison was 300 j. g. for the first eight months
33l convics and three transports and for the last
four months DO convicts and three Transports
On the l.t Of October. 1857. there were III the
Ponitentary 90 white persons Of whom tw"were
women: 93 weie free Legr"es Oh whom niue were
women During the fiscal year Ill white men
and four white women were received there ana ~
free ucgr,cs If whom two only were females. ma
king in all IA free persons. number much larg-
or than ever leforc received in one year. Out Of
these "a white men. one white woman and one
.nlorcl man were pardoned, and eight white men
died: also two enlo,cd men, and one negro man
was shot for resisting authority on the North Riv-
or Canal .
Amone the DISCHARGED during the year were 49
white men II colared men. coored women and
| white woman---in ali g. There escaped from
the pcnitentiary, Meredith Workman, white
mnn. and Alexander Brooks, IL free lie gro from the
Canal works. This left in the penitentiary and
ON the public works on the first of Octnbcr last,
o5l white persons and 100 free colored persons, Il
of the fnrn,cf and of the latter being womcn.)
in all 35l pri ,oners. Besides these there were IL
slaves in prison. At that date IL free negroes
I : .
FIR hubble works and 60 free negroes and / slaves
in the hands If the james River and Kanawha
Company.
During tho last fiscal year "A percons
ceivcd into the pcnitentiary. of whom 26 were
conv ced of murder and voluntary manslaughter;
- for malicious stabhing and shooting. showing
an uncommon increase in this fearful line Of crime
For granl larceny 81: for abducting and help ns
IF slaves g. lnralary and store breaking III: for
gerry s. dealing and passing counterfeit money III.
rape 4; horse stealing 3. OF this number 81 are
in for year. 26 for years, % for years, Is for
years. 5 for 10 years, 9 for Is years. for 20
years, for 25 years, and for 4Oysars, with 9th
era for intermediate terms.
OF the 3jl persons in prison, 10 are sentenced
for murder and 81 for cutting, &C.. with intent to
kill, making 335 per cent on the whole number
sentenced for offence against life!
The ages of the convicts are as follows: males.
from IL to IA years, l. from Is to 20, 3s; from 20
to rs, "a; from 25 to 80: 60; from 30 to %, %;
from IS to 40, a. from 40 to so, 3d. from SO to GO
II; from 60 to 80, 9-total $40. Females from 10
to 20, s. from 20 to 30, 4; from 80 to so, 5-totai