New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-07-09
PRISON REFORM IN RHODE ISLAND.
INTERESTING SERVICES AT THE STATE FARM.


cation Of the New WoIkhousc Chapel. movement
which finally resulted in the creation Of Board of State
Charities Correction was made in the Legislature OF
Rhode island long ago January, 1861 a commit
then appointed 10 inquire into the expediCncy of
erecting State Asylum for the Insane. This Committee
reported the following January, recommending com
mission, which accordingly appointed. This Com
mission reported at the January session, 1869, and the
suit tire appointment OF Committee to purchase
the arm for The location of House Of Correction and
Insane Asylum ana fcr such other purposes the Cen
er Assembly ight direct. The Committee wasfurther
directed to report at the May session. plan for the
caniza;iou and establishment of House of Correction
AM stale pauper system. Their report accordingly
made n the tine specified, and accompanied by the
draft OF an act to establish Board Of State Charities
and Correction" The fourth section Of this act creates
sta.e Workh0use House Of Correction, State Asylum
for the Incrabe Insane and State AlmshOuse, all to
be situated the state Farm, which consists of some
thing 200 and placed under the control aud
OF the Board of state Charities and CoTrec
House Of Correction, when built and organized
Is he made the sole place of punishment for all that
class of minor criminals who sentenced TO the
county as. The WorkhOuse is 10 be the receptacle of
" all persons who may have actually abandoned their
wives children, without adequate support, leaving
them in danger Of becoming public charge who may
neglect provide according to their for the sup
port of their wives children, who being habitua
dunkards shall abandon neglect refuse TO aid in the
support Of their families; all idle persons who being OF
doubtful reputation and having visible of
port, live without employment; all sturdy beggars who
apply for aims solicit charity all persons wandering
abroad, lodging in staonhouses, Out-hOuses, market
places Sheds stables uninbabed buildings, in the
open air. and not giving good account of themselves;
all persons who about from place to place to beg TO
aims; all prostitutes, drunkards and
nghtwalkers; lewd wantOn, and ascviOus persons in
speech and behavior common railers and brawers all
persons neglect all lawful business and habitually
misspend their time by frequenting houses OF ilame,
and Tirr1iu cbor1a and all
cheats, Migrants disorderly persons" -.
The act defines a habitual" or common drunkard'
TO be ANY person who shall have been convicted of in
toxicatOn under such circumstances as TO amount to
violation Of decency three within six months
who be proved have been thus intoxicated three
several times within six weeks"
But the vital part OF the act so Tar az least as me
WorkhOuse concerned consists OF two provisions the
be for term not less than SIX months and not more
than three years. and the second Ordalns that sad
have power to discharge at any any
of said institution" This system cuts by the roots the
Sentences the effect Of which rather to foster than
Tepes' crime ami Py % 10 es
fit it introduces the principle within certain limits OF
indefinite under which the release may be.
made 20 depend upon reformation rather than upon the
nero lapse Of time.
The Workhouse was opened for the reception OF In;
the LIST day Of july and as early as the 2Oth OF
the same month the Board discharged nneoaditiCnay
sentence OF basng their action ON the ground
that the WOrkhOuse place entirely unsuitable for
such bow and tending corrupt rather than to reform
or benefit him." They have also often exercised their
Hose Mo have been thus discharged The liability Of
these latter to rearrest and return to the WoTkhquse
forfeiture of the condition ON which they held their
lhorty operating as powerful stimulus to continued
Tae Few chapel Is a neat and cOmmodious room in the
fCI Greek cross capable OF seating 400 persons 1t
green's ad flowers, presenting an exceedingly bright
Il a.tias i've appearance Inc inmates at present Ti
N4mhc. about l25, tmrd OF whom are women. IheIe
have been at least 200 others in attendance from
Providence and the country adjacent to the farm among
v! OLA was nOtceaDe the tilm ana uapeI form 0
J. Dorsey Of Pawtncke widely known as me fIlsohsI
10 boys from the Providence Reform School, accom-
panied by one OF the assistant matrons on new meo-
OF these children throughout the morning added much
10 the interest OF the The opening prayer was
offered by the Rev Douglass the Oldest prison chap
lain in the United States having hlled that
OF Rhode Island thirtythree years and holding the
position in the institution at the present time The
membcr Of the Board. The Hon Thomas A, Doyle,
Mayor Providence and Chairman of the Board, read
oton OF scripture which the 18th chapter of the
first Letter 10 the Corinthians was reeed III concert
mates OF the institution Mr. Doyle after an interesting
recital OF the origin and history OF this movement IN
DR. Wines, Secretary OF the n Y Prison Association;
S l1 Mr WariTel Deacon VIM King and two of the
Inmates the WorkhOuse. one OF whom-a womanread,
in tremulous tones effective address to her fellow
prisoners and the Othera yonng manrected no less
The aniyersai feengst the conclusion of the service
seemed 10 be of qualification and all appeared 10
look upon the dedication in every sense success
Bat complete surprise a"alte9 the PtlsoHeIs; MI
Dorsey had not come emp handed as u Is ialr 70 pre-
The prisoners went 10 the mess-room, they found
abundant supply Of Strawberries awaiting them.
sboud say that there must have been nearly quart on
every plate. The sparkling eye and laughing face told
how true and deep was the pleasure TINS wholly un-
NJ Rnrnb1In Wardwell, late Of the Virginia Peniten-
tary AZ Richmond has been in charge here as Superin
tndent inst ten days; and already his extraordinary
moral power over men and women Imprisoned
for their crimes is making Itself fe lie tO1K chafge
a roeu 1ttempted TO escape. He caught, however,
and taken Before the superintendent MI MardWeL,
addressing the guard sad brIng IN 10 nt FIX sTV T
office be addressed them thus: PRISONERS want you
Other sentence YOU may impose shall DE carried out to
fbe letter" Accordingly they withdrew 10 another
nartfnent and returned in about 10 nlnutes saying
tfst they had found the man guilty Of an attempt 10
escape from prison, and sentenced MN 20 cEnnslngtl ~
- 10 hours without food or drink MI Ward
veil renljed your sentence snail DC carried INTO
egt flank YOU for this service" As they withdrew
ne 9yetatsII hear Via that boys He thanks us!
day OF 1--WE after this, Mr.. Hardwell gave pass 70
t. be absent IS hours The man g3t drunk ana s'aySa
away rec days instead OF Two he Sa .s
I'D sniien eXpectDg 10 be punished MI. WardWeH
ant for linn When he came into the ONCE he SAID;
We'll Captain, here am; what arr 81 49, FIo,g bc
,.nied am going 10 give you another pass iou
have made bOtcb TINS Jill. IL Won fail
10 will rive Won a third trial. and go with you my
sSf1 Tomorrow the man is 20 have ms secohd pass o
she Tsu, wiil be For myself / do not doubt that IN
f,s Gaze IN others, 10 VIII turn OUT tt "a ~ -
D. Idness viii be found TO possess power "eNeu " -
one more incident in this history Of ten days only
eIteYdav or the day before five prisoners were ~ VOTE
o. the farm distance from the house WD,Ie ,Seg
Xere quite removed from observation one VI Vsie
,ronosed 10 run away. The others demuTTed lie uRu,
1p;s comrades stood firm 20 their refusal. We'll
Ia he ~ will 20 myself az any rae'' no you WO y
~ sSf,ber 9y him false ourselves nor permit you 10
10 t YOU must return with US nnion, ~ cD w t ~
did Sir WsrdweiPs methous, ~ f6af fbev strile neo
I strsneeiy bereabous. some THINK nc - g9ng tp9