The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-06
10 per cent. on 1900 is AGO
l3 per cent. on 1876 is 1872
3124 26S

OH SOS
Here we discover that the non-intermcdiatcs
give S'5S, or fraction over g per cent. As 81
is to l3 so is the advantage in favor of the non
intermediates, or of those who have not got the
new Croftonian training. In this calculation /
have taken for granted that none of the balance
OF the 1924 non-intermediates emigrate. They
get no emigration lectures, have no hall crowns
a week to lay up for it, and no kind friend or
emigrant agent like Mr.. Organ, to induce Cha
ron to ferry them over for half an obous, or
from G2 to G3 each. But let us admit that one
quarter of them emigrate, which is admitting
too much, still the returns would
be in favor of the non-intermedates. On the
LIST of October, 1862, there were 179 convicted
prisoners in Spike Island Prison Thirty-one
per cent. of these were Intermediates, and sixty
nine per cent. non-intermediates. But at this
time there had not been much more than thirty
one per cent. of Intermediates discharged, so
that they gave nearly man for man of reconvc-
tions with the non-intermediates, without allow
ing for emigration. There were thirty
five prisoners in the last batch that came from
hountjoy to Spike Island. Nine of the thirty
five were reconvictions. Four of the nine were
intermediate prisoners, who had enjoyed the adj
Vantages of Sir Walter Crofton's new discipline
-Four were non-intermedates, and one was
doubtful.
The Rev. Mr.. Lyons, the Roman Catholic
chaplain of Spike Island Prison, says, in the re-
port for 1856, when speaking of the seven pre-
ViOus years--"During that time about 5000 con-
Victs passed through this prison. Over 400 of
them returned to society discharged and, after
the strictest inquiry, | can only discover twenty
seven to have been reconYcted; that is, less than
iiCO per cent. of those liberated. Though the
large number of 6S3 have been discharged during
the last twelve months, | can discover but one
Of them to have been recOnvictcd." Let it be
borne in mind that these men had not UJe dd-
0dntdge' of the new system for the intermediate
prison had not been established" :.
q In regard to the assertion that eighty per cent
of the discharged Irish convicts ''are EnOlCH to
be doing WELL )" this able writer says:-
al can aver that twenty-eight per cent. of the
prisoners in Spike Island are doing well as re-
conotcted conUtcts, who are generally well-be-
haved prisoners, and that fifty or sixty per cent.
of those prisoners who have had the advantage
of the intermediate prison have emigrated to
America, or the Colonies, or have gone to Eng
land. hope the latter are doing well, but how
this can be knODn | cannot imagine
We feel justified in here suggesting the doubt
that If, when the Irish system is thoroughly
investigated, it will maintain the character now
sought to be given to it. Like all novelties or
eXpedients, it is highly estimated. Experience
will divest it of all its attractions. just now, il
is the newest phase of convict treatment, and
most applauded where least understood The
contract system" and the other "abuses' i'm the
congregate plan must be replaced by some
new theory, to maintain that plan vet little
longer in public opinion. 1t is odd that Sc
much invention is necessary to devise means [,
sustain the opposition TO the Pennsvlyani;
system. AT last the philosophy of our peniten
tiary discipline, and the laws essential to its in
tegrity as Il system, must conquer opposition.