The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-08

yagrancy, 1913 against 1898 for 1868; for assault
and battery, 1887 against 1862 for 1868; for dis
orderly conduct and breach OF the peace, 1850.
against 1882 for 1858; for assault with intent to
kill, 146 against 121 for 1858. of the entire
number of commitments, 1896, 1887, or
more than three-fourths, are thus traceable to
intemperance; for, with scarcely an exception
in the cases enumerated, drunkenness is an
accompaniment of the special act for
which the commitment Is made. With
out assuming that these offenses are wholly
attributable to intemperance (tor crime exists
and prisons are filed In countries where drunk
enness is comparatively uncommon), we may
fairly urge that the unbridled multiplication of
temptations to crime in the unrestraned sale of
alcoholic narcotics, in our city is fearful evil.
The existing license law is an unmitigated
nuisance, and some modification of it may be
most reasonably asked of the Legislature.
Commitments for Trivial OHenses.
"Of the prisoners committed for trial during
the past year, II ,203, $3.50 were discharged by
the committing magistrates and in the cases of
$50, the bills of Indictment were ignored by
the Grand Jury. These figures show q larger
number of commitments and discharges by
the magistrates than for the past year,
owing to the breach of peace cases being re-
tained exclusively in the hands of the magistrates.
The figures, however, tell the old story, that
nearly two-thirds of the whole number com
mitted were discharged without being brought
to trial involving q fearful catalogue of com
and doubtless too, scarcely less startling
aggregate of oppression and persecution. AM
other argument is thus presented in favor of
change of the administration of criminal JUS
tce among us, which is only too often an engine
of eXtortion and malice. Much of the duty of
the Prison Agent is devoted to the relief of cases
of unnecessary and oppressive commitments.
During the past year 1895 prisoners were re-
leased through the interference of the Prison
Agent The whole number released through the
agency of this officer, during period of sixteen
years. has been 25,6S7.
Other Matters.
"Sinee the overcrowded condition of the cells,
escapes of convicts have been not unfrequent.
In October last, the board, having obtained the
necessary appropriation from Councils, ap-
pointed two day watchmen. No escapes have
occurred since the entrance of these officers
upon their duties, and they have broken up the
conversation among the prisoners from the
windows of their cells, which was habitually
practised at certain hours of the day, and in
volved not only plans of escape, but details of
past and projects of future crime. Intercourse
between convicts and the bummers employed
about the prison has been thus also prevented.
''The standard of health in the prison during
the year was good, and no epidemic of any kind
| occurred. Twenty-nine deaths are reported in
the untried department from natural causes,
| viz, from mania-a-potu, II; debauch, 8; con-
| gestion of the brain, l; hematemess, /; pyemia,
| l. In the convict department there were
| thirteen deaths, twelve directly from consump-
| tOn, ana the thirteenth from hemOpty5lS, no
| doubt produced by tubercuious condition of
the lungs. The overcrowding of the cells has
doubtless contributed to this increase of con-
| sumption.
The Expenses of the Prison
for 1869 were very slightly in excess of those for
1868, viZ.:-$105, 925'12, against $104 635 SO for
| 1868. The profits of the shoe mandatory were
| $3S72'95 The amount received from the United
States Marshal, for the support of United States
| prisoners, was $796S0. The estimated value OF
| provisions, coal, ETC.. on hand, is $95l325. The
| return to the City Treasurer of profits from the
| manufacturing department was $21, 600.
| "Of the prisoners under sentence of death al
the date of the last report Hester Vaughan was
| pardoned by the Governor, Sth of May, 1869
| Five convicts remain in the prison under sen
| tence of death, but indefinitely respited-Edwari
j. Ford, Patrick Farrigan, Jerry Dixie, Newtor
Champion, and Alfred Alexander"
The following is list of the Board of Inspec
tors of the Prison.
President-John B. Blddle, NJ. D.
| Secretary-Edmund Smith.
Treasurer-Henry G. Howell.
Inspectors-John b. Biddle M. d. Joseph w. Bull
lock, Joseph r. Chandler, NJ. G. Evans, James A
| Freeman, Henry c. Howell, William ii. Keichline
| william B. Page, M. d. j. R0dman Paul, M. D., Ed
mund Smith, and Edward II. Trotter.
The officers of the prison are as follows
! Superintendent-Wi iam b. Perkins.
| Clerk-Joseph X. Howell.
| Physican-Henry Y. Smith, NJ. d.
Matrons-Ann g. Ryan and Ann Slower.
Deputy Superintendents-John Mlrkel and HOW
| ard Perkins.
| NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. F. Butcher NJ. D.
| Prison Agent-Wiliam j. Mullen.