Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-01-21

Delaware Association for Criminal Re-
fOrm.-PubIic Meeting In the City Hall
Tuesday Evening.

DsIawars Association for Criminal Re-
fOrm.-PubIio Meeting in the City Han
Tuesday Evening.
Quite large and highly respectable audience
assembled In the City Han, Tuesday evening, in
response to the call of the above named society
Mayor Valentine was called to the chair. Gov
ernor salisbury was invited to be present, but
was detained at Dover.
The hall had been comfortably fitted up and
every arrangement possible made for the conye-
nience of the audience by the committee of ar-
engagements, consisting Of Rev Messrs. Aikman
aud Israel and Geo. G. Maris, Esq.
The Delaware Engine Company had kindly
lent their settees for the better accommodation
Of the ladies, and the committee wishd us to
express their high sense of the kindness and
courtesy of the company.
of the ORIGIN object and work of the Association,
and read the reports of the various sub-commit-
tees, showing the work already entered upon.
He stated that the society was organized In
August, 1865 and that committee had recently
been appointed to prepare charter for the asso-
citation and lay 1t before the present session of the
Legislature for Its action.
The Doctor tersely stated the objects of the
society TO be to visit and inspect, under legsla-
tive authority. the prisons throughout the State,
and recommend measures of reform In rson
discipline, TO render proper assistance to persons
wrongfully imprisoned, TO promote the reforma-
tlon of convicts In confinement and when dis
charged, to alleviate hardships 10 the families Of
criminals, and to prevent crime by efforts directed
to its causes.
The reports of the several committees of the
Association were read, and present the following
facts:-
The report of the committee to visit New Cas-
tie County Alms-honso showed that the commit
tee had paid two visits to that institution. The
committee benrs testimony to the general good
management of the institution, and denies the
n IF ta1 e
In the insane department. At the time of the
cOmmittee's last visit, there were 156 inmates OF
the alms-house proper, and % in the insane de-
partment, but the members were informed that
frequently In winter there are as many as 800 in
the institution at one time.
The Committee speaks of the many incon-
veniences experienced from lack of sufficient
water, and suggests the extension Of the Brandy
wine water to the building. The Committee also
earnestly recommends the provision of some
means Of employment for all the inmates able to
work. The Committee consisted Of Rev. Willard
u. Huxley and T. G. TAYLOR.
The Committee, consisting of Rev.F. Israel and
George =. Maris,appointed TO visit the city prison
In Wilmington, report that in company with the
Mayor they proceeded to the cellar under the
City Hall, which is used as the city prison. They
found the first room occupied as The place of trial
with no ventilation but the cellar windows. Its
furniture consists of desk bench, few old
chairs, clock and Bible. 1t is altogether unfit
for the purposes of police court, there being
none OF the usual conveniences for witnesses,
officers or prisoners and the important duties of
the court cannot be discharged with any dignity
or dispatch amidst such surroundings. The
Committee thinks these considerations alone
warrant and demand an immediate appeal to the
proper authorities for the removal of the court
to more suitable place.
Immediately In the rear of this room Is the
place for the deposit Of coal and wood. There
are no bins or boxes for either and they lie scat
tered and loose on the ground. privy for gen
ern use is situated In one end of that apartment.
Through this room lighted by one gas-buruer
the committee passed into the maiH room where
the prisoners are confined. II is damp, dark,
dirty, and disgusting. 1t Is cellar. 1t is beyond
description, dreadful hole. The odor from the
cess-poos adjolnlngis intol cradle. II Is without
ventilation and light, and is altogether unfit for
use. This Is the room where dodgers are put
There is one old dlapidated bunk in il and a
bench or two. 1t Is warmed in winter by slove
lnto this foul and fetid place men arc put indis-
criminately, and women are only separated from
it by a grating. through which the committee
was informed the most obscene words were fire.
quenty banded, and the most disgusting deeds
done. The room for women is even worse than
that Tor men and is separated only in name. The
cells OF which there are two, are simply loath-
some kennels OF filth and foulness. The stencil
from them Is sickening. They abound with YER
min, and are without any ventilation, light, or
heat.
They arc, in the opinion of the committee. a
disgrace To the community, and nuisance, that
demands an immediate and effective remedy An
enlightened christian community like ours can
not longer tolerate such an evil without serious
dctrlment to Its order, morality and good char
acter
DR.. Askcw stated that the committee to visit
New Castle jail had not yet presented written
report but it Is generally admitted that the Jail Is
IN good order and that proper attention aud food
Is furnished prisoners.
Cassandra McClees reported in regard to the
.hnt tcaf hat cnah Ind hna,,
through 1t by Its pleasant and intelligent matrOn.
II is situated about three miles south of Camden
A fine large brick building constructed somewhat
like common country dwelling is set apart for
| the insane, and II appeared as If the comfort of
those thus afflicted were conscentiously studied.
The house is heated by heaters and is surrounded
| by large yard pleasantly shaded.
The sane poor are in a number of wooden
buildings. The rooms are large and airy, heated
| by old-fashioned wood stoves The inmates are
well fed, and the men and women kept separate
The colored people have Just as comfortable
apartments as the whites. There were at che
time of her visit 100 inmates very few Of whom
could read. The buildings are not fine but the
Institution is well managed, and the farm connec-
| ted with 1t, a model one.
DR.. Jump, one of the Vice Presidents of the
Association, reports concerning the Kent county
jai that 1t is two story building rather old and
dapidated. The Sheriff, who is the jnior, resides
in portion of the building. The prison proper
has two rooms on the trst floor and two on the
second story. besides the cellar which.is fitted up
with cells designed to secure more safely prison.
ers who become obstrcperous who cannot be
safely confined up stairs. The rooms ure all bad
ly ventilated, and from their position two of the
rooms never have any sunshine, and are conse-
qucntly damp, close ard unwholesome
The four rooms are severaly occupied by
white males, white females, colored males, col
, nred females, and IL sometimes happens that
.nc.e IRE dozen men In onr room, especially IN
| that Oh the colorcd males, who are generally
most numerous There Is opportunity for
the prisoners to exercise in the open air. tber
| being no Jail yard but some Of the prisoners
under sentence of imprisonment are allowed 10
| 20 n''nut town. There is no regular systematic
attention paid to their moral or religious training
though tracts have been occasionally distributed
| among them. They frequently amtlse themselves
by playing cards, and, far as the writer knows,
| this is their only amusement. The prisoners arc
allowed a sufficient quantity of wholesome food
and bed clothes sufficient to keep them comforta-
DIR. C. H. Richards the Vice President of the
Association for Sussex county reports that there
is in that county q brick prison, rebuilt within
the past two years. II is quite large building,
| In part Of which the Sheriff and family reside
1t Is well located, carefully arranged and well
| ventilated when compared with the old one. At
night the inmates are locked In special cells. By
day they are allowed the full privilege of the
several apartments and an open back yard. There
| are occasional instances where more strict con
ilnement becomes necessary. The Sussex County
Bible Society has provided bibles and the Sheriff
passes in newspapers. The table food is excel
lent few poor families faring better. As to re-
ligious or moral influences ministers seldom visit
the Jail and no tracts are distributed.
The Almshousc is situated about two miles
from Georgetown. The farm contains about 400
acres in good state of cultivation The build
ings are old but kept In good repair. There are
80 inmates all of whom are properly fed and 9th
erwisr well cared for. The colored pnupers are
separated from the whites. Those OF the inmates
able To work are required to assist in the cultiya-
tiln OF the farm. The Sussex County Bible So
cicty has distributed bibles. There is no library.
At the conclusion OF the report the President Of
the Association introduced Edward Otis Hiuk-
ley Esq, Of Baltimore, who made brief and
rertincnt address, congratulating the city and the
State on the organization of such a society IN
their midst.
Rev. DR. Wines of New York, Secretary OF the
Prison Association of that State, made an address
chiefly devoted to the explanation of the pract-
cal working OF the celebrated system known as
the =" Irish Prison System" the undoubted ten
dency OF which Is to reform the prisoners, and
restore many criminals to society as useful and