Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1859-02-03
Correspondence of the Cincinnati Gazette.
The Ohio Penitentiary.

eAhIululnS lDS NarlOuS UIduCucS vi INV
chanism in active operation, and observing
the labors of those who have become out
casts from society by their own acts. The
Penitentiary is a little world of itself, al
though the bright spots may be few and
far between; where daily toll, not pbysi-
cally hard, yet unceasing within prescribed
hours, reaching through long term of
years. The same energy and industry
outside the walls, would have kept many
man from forming an ACQUAINTANCE with
the inside, which a majority of them realize
when it is too late.
To-day l was shown through the instr
tuition by Mr.. p. S. Calkins, ole of the
guards, and had good opportunity for
observation. There are now in eonfine-
ment 724 prisoners, of whom thirteen are
females, and yet the prison is provided with
705 cells. The excess, however is very
well accommodated at present by the va
cancies occasioned by the sick list, al
though there are less number, in the
Hospital than is usually the case in insti-
.ations SO completely filled. The prison
ers appeared healthy and good physical
condition, and although they cannot per-
form their tasks with pleasure, they certain
ly do with degree of energy that is in
striking contrast with outdoor labor. But
work occupies the mind; it kills time, and
makes the years come round more quickly.
In looking over the list in the office
books, kept by Mr.. Goss, the gentlemanly
clerk, we find that the youngest person
received into the prison since its erection,
was eleven years of age, and the oldest SO;
that the number who were 21 years old
and under, when they were sentenced, was
169, and the number who were sixty and
over, was s. The total number of years
for which the persons now in the Peniten-
tiary, have been sentenced, exclusive of
those who are in confinement for life, is
1921 years. Of those who have life
long service before them, in explanation of
the crimes for which they have been con-
yicted, there are Al. Living dead men
are they, most emphatically, SO far as the
world and its business, and pleasure, and
associations are concerned. What dreary
blank must be the long, dark unfathoma-
bic future, lighted up only by single
gEmmering ray of hope, scarcely more sub
stantial than the foam on the billow-the
syren promise of release!
The statistics of the married and single,
show that the former are less addicted to
grave offences, than the latter, and furnish
an argument in favor of early marriages.
Of those who had families when they were
sentenced, there are 294, while those who
were single, number 3S2-a difference in
favor of the married 8S. Of widowers
there are 26, and of widows 5. Those who
have not profted by one term of imprison-
ment, but have returned to life of crime
and been sent back to prison quarters
number 55; for the third term IL, and for
the fourth 3. One of the thiid term con-
yicts is fine looking young man named
Campbell, who was sent from Athens coun-
ty, and every time for horse stealing-the
last sentence being for fifteen years, He
is the head 'cutter" in the State depart
ment, and handles the big tailor's shears
with dexterity, although his "its" might
suffer IN comparison with q Fourth street
artist. But that may be accounted for
from the fact that his customers" do not
come to be measured with tape and figures,
and are never disappointed because their
clothes are not sent home in time. He is
a tailor without cabbage" but cuts his
coats according to his cloth" and yet al
ways gives full measure. In this respect
he is model for the outside world.
Of the total number in confinement, a
good proportion are without any education
whatever, except what they may have
picked up in their bufetings with the world.
Those who cannot read nor write, number
1874; those who can read little but can
not write, 85; those who read and write
German, Al; those who can both read and
write, 43s. The lists show that intemper-
ance is the great source of crime. OF the
total number, 326 were intemperate men
before sentence; 1877 were moderate drink
ers, and 17S We're temperate, though not
all ofthem total abstinence men. Of all
the occupations at which they labored be-
fore being sent to prison, there are more
persons classcd as farmers" than any 9TH
er calling, there being ia of them. No
less than I23 have been sent for burglary,
and l36 for grand larceny, and yet but
one prisoneris put down as '.thief,"- (which
probably means that he never had any
other 'profesion," and finally reaped the
reward of perseverance in it. Al of the
inmates took fancy to other peoples
horses, and rode to the Penitentiary in con-
consequence. One 'pugilist" fought his
within the walls, and employs his stalwart
arms in more useful and honorable call
ing than "milling" an antagonist in the
prize ring. There are numbers of the same
calling perambulatiug the country, who
would grace his company at the black
smiths anvil. Seventy-four colored men,
from the slightly tinged to the deep ebony,
are doing the State good service-'slaves"
for term of years, with no prospect of
manumission.
OF the total number in confinement,
Cincinnati has furnished its full share, be-
ing represented by no less than 16S, SEN
fenced for every grade ofcrime, from MUIR
der to the lowest penitentiary offence known
to the laws. Of these "a were sent to the
penitentiary last year fearful record of
crime. Cuyahoga county has the next
highest number ofany county in the State,
being represented by 96.
The convicts are well fed, many of them
living better than they ever did out of
prison. Meat, vegetables in abundance,