New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-02-19

lS was IRON one third 10 One-htf During several NJ
the last years OF his administration came bae.
THIS remarkable result also effected through the VIA.
application Of moral agencies Col Montesino, est.A
lishcd among other reformatory appliances foryshr..
distinct branches OF labor IN ortyt different work
shops and he gave TO each convict HIS choice OF eans
any one OF these various trades. Into the prison AZ
Munich. over which Councillor Herr Won Obermaer mr..
sided, received the worst convcts Of Bavaria ths
shortest term Of sentence being for eight years and o
that TO life 10 complete the ascondency oban.a
these desperadoes by his rm but kind aud patern
treatment, that when a new tooDyct began a. IA,
Corners usually did, to msbehsve they would say 10 hun
That OF conduct will do here Herr Won obe,
Is our friend. and shall not allow you 10 Art
contrary TO his rules"
THE PRISON AZ IT WAS AND A. rs
II in the spirit OF those and the discipline esta1
lished by them that tho experiment At Richmond IA.
been conducted. Since April. 1863. Mr.. Burnham Ward
well has been at ts head and his study and anA.
been the reformation OF the criminals. He thoroaxs
believer In the practicabity Of reforming them sod
hence he works with will to that end. Prior TO hs
incumjency. the system one Of stern coercion the
whippingpost, cowhde. shackles. bucking irons gag
and ball and chain being in daily use. There no
heating apparatus in the prson-nether furnace, stoys
CRATE with fire. in cell or corridor aud only ono
blanket was furnished TO each convict in the coolest
weather. and numbers often had their feet froEea a.
10 be crippled for lfe and others only escaped this
calamity by spending the night in pacing their cells.
Not more than 40 prisoners allowed N the prsoa
yard at the time, these witiout six mon with
loaded muskets and fixed bayonets 10 guard them.
Forty was also the largest number ever allowed In .
chapel at once, and they guarded in the sauna
manner.
But Mr. Wardwell has changed all this. HIS H. pre-
emineEtly moral and not ooerciye method. aud the
results fully indicate that method. They are, Indeed
most extraordinary. Facts Illustrative Of this position 20
crowd upon me- that 1t is difficult to make a selection
offer few only, out OF many taking them almost at
dom.
Some weeks ago certain ladies OF Richmond proposed
TO hold charitable fair to which the prisoners were
vited to contribute When the articles we're ready.
dozen convey them to the fair with
Mr. VS. little son, child Of II years, as their only guard
superintendent: Maj ardwell. what would you do 4
we were to run awayi, He quietly replied; II should
convict I'VE will not go, then" Nor did they.
The prison burying ground outside OF the prison wss
Now the remains placed IN decent coffin and more
than 100 prisoners attend his body to the grave. where
regular funeral service is held No guard accompanies
the funeral train the Superintendent and Chaplain.
armed being the only officers in attendance When this
They will surely break and run" The Superintendent
replied /" II they do we shall NIL up WITH others Bat
| no attempt then or since made 10 escape Nor
| this reliance upon moral forces unprecedented COL
MOnteslnos was in the habit OF sending om gangs 70
work outside his prison at Valencia numbering often
400 men, for whose control and custody, nevertheless
officers among the prisoners and unarued,
1 we're found quite sufficient.
| HOW THE PRISONERS BEHAVE WITHOUT sUPbRYisiON
As already stated not more than forty prisoner vel
guarded. formerly admitted into the prisonya1
The prisoners now assemble every morning 9r prayers
in the open yard when the weather favorabe other
wise in the chapel. The cells unlocked 10 Winter
at Ga and prisoners allowed hall an hour 10 uteos
and wash after which they permitted TO come out
on the galleries. which overlook the yard At the drum
beats a signal for assembling. Al the hrst suose
th the pTS erss and fall into line They march slowly IN
single file, and form IN concentrc circles IN the prison
yard, five six circles deep Ihls occupies about zen
minutes and it often happens that while II Is going On
there is person IN the yard except the mite 1am
more than imprisoned feons tcutthroats aud despe
radoes many Of them assemble there In perfect silence
ana without the slightest disorder Mt nardseI he,o
has any officers with inside OF the prison ysd ana
in this he has but followed though probably without
knowing 1t, the example OF Col honteslnos. slould
add in this connection that when the prisoners are thus
assembled the exercises consist OIL ssDgius ny un
Prayer by the Superintendent and prisoners IN concert
Singing more additional hymns, during when
| the prisoners retire to their workshops or cells.
usage obtains in this penltentary when. thinA,s
not found in any other in TINS country ana prooaDy mo-
where else. except in the Irish lntermedlaI- Psona
The doors Of the cells close and when smut the oG
pant has II, light air enough. Mr. MardHen therefore
allows the cell doors to stand wide open every DAY ana
| ali day The prisoners are IN their ceils the Wnoe ..
SUNDAY except when in church and sunday school and
since there is not work enough FOR than half the
conyicts the other half are IN their cells All The tme
The prison by secure one yet there mas not
been an escape during the past year any attempt TOT
many months. have spent yesterday ana today-aun,
DAY and Monday-in the penitentlay ana nave p"s'd
freely over all parts OF the premises. found each con
Wet in his cell and order quiet aud cheeriuness fcSu1s
STOPPING THE SUPPLY OF TOBACCO. -.
II has been customary, from time nme ~ hs
pentenary, To furnish ration OF tobacco 70 the pon
ers This has involved the institution 40 anhha rApehs
OF about 81 200 Last summer Gov Wells issued al oEie,
,orbiddng the further distribution 81 TINS fatob suI
Authorizing the Superintendent increase the guard
found necessary, IN consequence Ot the ehioo'moh v'
the order Immediately on receiving TINS Oluet, Ns'
Wardwell gathered the convics into the PRISON ysr1.
and informed them that Instead Of doubling the sia'u 10
| would only double the Lords Prayer Two aaly se.
vices have been maintained since, and no trOuoc Nh1
ever has from Withholding the tobacco one a.
traitor more. coored convict had TETON Oh W, i
IL had been ripe for opening two days, but ne hld teiu
10 allow the doctor To cut II. ON the thrd day te a
tor called IN six other convets Just iAth tlg su 80,
tendent in from the city ami learning hat ,lss
was excitement in the hospital hl.eued thtn S
AT his request the convict at once peiM.''o nc P'
operation 10 be performed
| The only punishment used ma tAs PehliehlMy y
confinement a darkened cell with dmnlshed Ia'y ~
and only un the offender promises obedience iof 1ne
future Even this has become rare 80 tuat over VIC n.y.
of each, large letters, Is painted the lhs, pou
cell to let" Some time ago Mr. Nard~tu MAJ sng "a
whippngpost dug upand placed III t4e pll1un ca s1s
the following notice conspcuous!y atiC hru. -
Price, 1000 Union Spoilers or 900 uospeI Irlnels MI
it remained for several weeks until that eCoe Ind
anthropist H. {. Dorsey VI Rhode Island AaSuE I.siu
of it, purchased t on the terms rropo,ed "a ySe
man has been in the habit for s0iue years past q. s
feast Of roast turkey to the inhaes oil plsos ~ Ls
ent parts OF the country Oh INC @ % 6csoSed
upon tho PRISONERS III tEe A.DAty
Rhode Island. Kentucky. Maryland ana Nfsinia-!n ~
not less probably, than 100 Being IN Nishhk'on W
| business, ana haNlug u'Ni'' "
| Virriuia Penitentary, came down here on Saiutdy
last and have been abuiidanty repaid iOf my uo"Sb
| Yesterday morning | attended DIVINE service ~ tHo
| Prison Chapel, where sermon was preached ana q
nnnber of addresses made by citizens and strangers IN
cudin. one of very effective character By former
chaplain the whole intersperSed with numerous &
SING with Will BY the whole body OF prisOners, though
| led BY well trained prison choir. AZ ocock p ~ Wy
prisoners again met IN the chapel Tor SUNDAY ar
passed around among the classes taught 9y sV s ~,
al volunteer workers from outside mostly ides lIV
North who arc here as teachers Of the coored Scho
and T. think never witnessed such perfect order soa
snoh universal attentonyet there was not Al Jun" nv
presept Except the Superintendent, nor weapon % ~
nr, ;n rho room One fact OF great interest was sasu
me Inv MIR W VIZ that at least 200 men VINO dia
know letter a year ago could now speli out 1919