The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-05

has been obtained by the addition of forty-two cells
when was made some years ago, during which time
there has been marked Improvement, both sanitary
and moral, in this department, and striking diminu
ton OF Vagrancy and crime In the female population
OF our city, clearly proving that both OF these
are increased by the undue congregation
called upon to notice the invaluable services OF one
VINO Tor many years has been of the Board OF In
spectors OF this institution, and having taken the
female department under his especial supervision
has devoted nearly all his time and much of his
means IN his truly benevolent efforts TO ameliorate
the condition of those who are here confined
Respecting the male department, thesiury regret
10 una that the crowded state of the prison has
PEELED the temporary abandonment OF the system of
separate confinement, and that even in the convict
corridors two three, and even four prisoners are
placed In single cell This state Of affairs cannot
long continue without the most disastrous conse-
quences, and the jury would earnestly recommend
an extension OF the accommodations in this depart
ment, as also the early erection Of house OF correc
u0n, where those who are committed for minor
Onenses may be confined
The jury lind that those prisoners who by their
good behavior meried favors were occasionally az
lowed some privileges not accorded to others, and
they express their approval of such distinctions, "a
tending 10 good discipline and melting TO good Oeha-
vior. They desire, however, TO express their dis
approval OF the practice now 30 common Of per-
hitting indisCriminate visitors to those prisoners
who are under sentence of death. without
desiring in the slightest degree to increase the
the Jury are OF the opinion that from the time
of their sentence they should be considered pract-
caly as dead $50 far as the outside world Is con-
diatey upon the sentence Of the court. The time
mercifully allowed after condemnation should be
spent in strict seClusiOn and no visitor should
be permitted, excepting those of the spiritual
adviser, the COUNSEL and occasionally those OF the
immediate family OF the prisoner. All statements OF
conversation with the prisoner, of his views and
feelings, made through the public press, pander to
low and vicious taste in the community, and tend to
make the convict n hero in the eyes OF his former
associates, whilst the accounts of religious eXpe
rience occasionally perhaps genuine are generally
the merest burlesques upon the Christian religion,
might naturally lead to the conclusion that
death upon the gallows was the surest way to eter
nal happiness. The jury therefore recommend q
change in the prison rules in this respect.
The attention of the jury has been called to the
prison-van used for the conveyance OF prisoners
from the County Prison to the court. From testi-
mony given before them, they learn that the apart
ment in this conveyance is only eight feet long by
fOurwide, and that into this space sometimes six
teen or seventeen persons are thrust while there is
no accommodation for females excepting the two
seats at the back Of the van where they are exposed
TO the public gaze i'll passing through the streets.
Were all these persons condemned criminals,
mercy and humanity would call for better
treatment; but when it is considered that many
are entirely innocent of the crimes for which they
have been arrested, the merest justice and common
decency require that they should thus be crowded
into sitting cell, publicly exposed and dsgraced
on their way to the Court The jury therefore COM
mend this matter to the attention of the Court
Having made special presentment in reference
to the illegal sale Of intoxicating drinks the jury do
not deem 1t necessary to add anything upon that
subject. Respecting the scores and hundreds of
places that are open every Sunday for the sale of
liquor, as also the numerous disorderly and gambling
houses which are maintained in defiance OF the law,
and to which attention was called by the Court the
jury find that inasmuch as no class OF public
officers charged with the duty OF seeing that the
laws in reference thereto are Observed IL is scarcely
possible to obtain proof of that which is 80 well
known to exist All experience has shown that pri-
vate citizens are not willing to become public prose-
cutors, unless the infracton OF the law in some way
materially affects their own private interests, and
therefore it may be safely alleged that all general
laws of this character, whose penalties to be
forced only upon the voluntary evidence of private
citizens, are, to great extent, nullities upon the
statute book. In the opinion OF the jury the efii
cheney OF these laws would be greatly promoted by
change, making it the duty OF police officers to re-
port all breaches of the law which may come to their
knowledge, and requiring the Mayor, as chief magis-
trate of the city, to take immediate action upon such
report, by closing the house or taking such other
proceedings as may be necessary TO enforce the law.
I. G. HENRY, Foreman.
In reply Judge Allison expressed his pleasure at
the prompt attention the jury had given to their
duties saying that at no time during the term was
there lack of business in the court Occasloned by
any hardness on their part they had returned 1872
tue bills, and now upon the last day of the term,
166 had been already disposed Of leaving 26 untried
which had gone over upon strictly legal grounds.
In respect to the traffic in intoxicating liquors the
special presentment they made few days since met
with his entire approval. 1t perhaps was too much
TO expect that private citizens should become public
prosecutors in such number OF cases as would ne
ccssarily arise from the wholesale violation of the
law upon the subject, and to grapp.e with so huge
an otTense.
The statutes egaizing the sale of rum were upon
our books, and so long as they there remained we
should search for the best method of administering
so as to afford security to the community This he
thought would be by the appointment OF a class Of
competent officers, whose special duty it should be
to watch the liquor dealers, and enforce strict
pliance with the law.
Their manner of inspecting the prisons had met
with satisfactory results
In his charge TO them at the beginning OF the term
he had called their attention to Grard College, and
was happy to find they had acted upon his sugges-
tions They had expressed doubts of their right to
visit the institution in their inqusitoral capacity
but as this a public charity, there could be no
q estion Of their right to make these investigations
when they should seem to be required by abuse of
power by those entrusted with its management.
IL was matter of great relief to find in their re-
port that the crying evils which had been testified to
by number Of our best citizens and had been the
subject of consideration by our State Senate no
longer existed; and the community were to be con-
graduated that the system under which these evils
prevailed had been abolished, and an entirely new
one established
Thanking them for their valuable services, he dis
charged the Grand Jury from further attendance.
An