The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1864-01-19
MICMIGAN sI.ATErRIsoN.


Vpscrsau0ns ~ inspectors
Tho Inspectors ofthe State Prison repor,
but few changes in that institution during The
past year, and the sans uniform success ba'
attended its management as hitherto, under
its present capable officers. The report shows
great decrease in crime in. the State, probably
Tho effect Of 80 much Of tho floating popsla-
lion, speci, ~ liable TO crime. being drawn of
by tie war. Owing 10 the enhanced price Of
all sorts Of commodities, there has been con
siderable incr ase in the cxpcnces oftbe plis.
or, and the amount charged for convict labor
Is lcssened. The report Of no former year
shows such good health 10 tie piiion. Sill.
Itarv confinement has been abandoned, and ] 8
of the 22, life cpnyicts are employed in the
shops, and lbe change is found to work well.
The IDsp cion adhere to the view that the
abolition Of the death penalty in ibis State is
the best for all concerned. The plan, for
some tjme' iu operation, making j. possible for
tho prisoner 10 diminish bis term Of imprison.
mcnt by good conduct, continues TO work ad :
mioatly. The Inspectors and Agent urge the
class 6cation OF convicls, 50 tha. less hardened
offenders may be separated from the pcrni-
cious influence Of hardened criminals. Tho
Inspectors speak in bige terms Of the several
Officers employed 10 the Institution. - F"
STATISTICS OF THE PRISON.
The number Of couvicts at the beginning
OF 1868 was 4l0; the average nun Der con.
fined through tae year. 1882, and the mum.
Der remaining November 80, 1868, a33.
The number received in 1862 was i04, being
ak less that the year previous. The number
IN prison at the beginning Of 1862 was 53l /;
average number, 4596. In 1850 the State
Prison contained 62l inmates. The decrease
in couvicts for the past year is n. The
whole number Of days spent in prison, from
December lst TO Nov. 80, was 1877 ,74l. The
number Of days Of productive labor for the
same time, was sO,0l1. But 1927 days
were lost by sickness. There arc now EN-
ployed upon The several contracts of With
ington, Cooley q Co., farming Implements
Austin, Tomlinson & Co., wagons, Henry
Gilbert, cabinet ware, aud Walter Fish, boots
aud shoes, 242 convcts. No new contracts
have been let this year. or the 100 dis
charged duripg tho year, l3l were entitled
TO good time,' which is an allowance to
each convict of 5 days montl, f:r good be.
havior. Oal; convicis have escaped du-
ring the past year. There are insane con
yicts, and the agent recommends that the sol
ilary prison bc converted into M asylum for
Their treatment. There are only 0 female
convic,s in the prison, 4 having been dis.
charged during the last six mouths and re
cevcd. In lle list Of crimes for which pris
! D. ers were sentenced, there were committed
for larceny, 46; grand larceny l2.; assault
with inten, to murder, assault with intent tc
commit rape, forgery, passing counterfeit
money and polygany, 2 each; burglary. q
attempt 10 commit larceny and obtaining
goods under false pretences, 8 each. Tho 10
tai period OF seQterccs is l0t years. Tive
prisoners were sentenced In 1853 Tor I s years
aud two for life; 81 % 2yesr, 33 for year
and elk months, { for three ycais and ] l fol
l year. Tho Recorders Court Of Dc,roil
sends up l6 convcts; Calhoun Co stands Is
sends z; q, Otaws g. Tbs :al le shoyios
the age of priscrers, tells the mourntu fact
that ms! Of those sent up last year were
young, although one was agcd 60 years and
Zone 73 yeas; s were sent up a, 10 and the
same number al %. As to tho nativity. OF
prisoners aS were born in New York, l3 il
! Canada and l 10 Michigan: but 2 were born
in Germany, o in Ireland 2 in England, and
\ one in France. There have been 80 convict,
! patdoned during 1853. M e.e
FINANCES OF THE PRISON.
We can ael nothing to the condensation o
tho following, which we take from AgeD
Scaton's adm rs6lc report: lesHis
fhe amount of moneY received from all 1859
| sources during the year as may be