New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-03-11
JUSTICE FOR SALE.
FURTHER EXPERIENCES OF AN AMATEUR
CONVICT

1
! In pursuance of the mission of judicial and
criminal reform 70 which Amateur Convict" feels
he invountsriy delegated disciple, he called
/ few evenings since, al the Vestry OF 81 Xaylers
| Roman Catholic Church. West SxteeDth-st. on Father
Duranauet who has been for many years the Chaplain
OF the various institutions under control of the Com
missoners OF Charities and Correction On being s-ked
his opuions regarding the experience related IN the
story OF SIX Months BaekwelPs Island" which APP
peared i'm TIE TRIBUNE of Monday last the reverend
Father said:
There is a great deal Of truth in tia great deal IN
Decd and especially TO the description OF nndn"
haste in the trial OF prisoners by the courts have
heard this generally complained Of by pusoners anu
others The system Of mixing all kinds OF pr-
oners certainly most unwise and the consequences
is ruinous to might reformed by their rst
visit 10 a prison penitsntiary."
Father Duranquet planned that he now ofclaed az
Harris Island and the TOmbs Harris Island he sand,
was a sort OF depot the Scholarship, and 1t there
fore called the Industrial School, but he failed TO see any
industry whatever practiecd there There were over
$50 boys there at present, which number would De graz
uay increased without any material outlet until the re-
turn OF Scholarship from her Winter cruise There
is a school at Harris Island presided 10y two lady
teachers OF them had left short time ago. anu
there appeared likelihood OF her place being hed
Consequently there now only one woman M charge
100 boys Mischief it seems the most agreeable study
Of these unruly young students and the interference Of
keepers has frequently TO be invoked. The ma
ioty the boys preerrng 70 be sent into what u called
the working gang on the island. purposely commit
mischief order be punished by being driven from the
school and added 10 this gang but Instead OF WORKING
they play and should therefore more properly be called
the "truant gang" II great mistake, the Father
said 20 send boys from B 10 20 years OF age the school
Harris Island, when they should be sent TO the Peni-
Tertiary and TO send boys OF IA to II 70 the Pen
Tertiary, when they should be sent 10 Harris Island
But this be the discretion Of the New York
Of
ing evils-Ony the baneul results OF which 1t his
mission to counteract he stated that Of the young
men confined at Hart's Island admitted TO him short
time ago that he II years DID, but that he gave
younger in the court so as 70 be sent there
great many boys who feel they in danger of being
sent the Penitentiary the State Prison for parc
pating IN burgaries pigeons" for the opera
lions Of much older burglars brought before the JUS
tees by their parents friends who prefer some sghs
charges against them. and they thus escape by being
| sent to the school" at Harris Island.
A novel contrivance adopted in the dormitories &C
Harris Island place two beds close together by way
of anording additional sleeping accommodation, and
three boys obliged TO sleep in the two cots combined
| PRISON REFoRAERs VIEWS.
On the following day the writer called on Dr. Elisha
Harris at office Of the NewYOrk Prison Association
in the Bible House. The Doctor the Secretary OF the
Association and basy occupied in dashng of the
manuscript pages OF of his elaborate Prison Reports
for the printer, but gracousiy bowed his visitor 10
seat beside him. and invited conversation He had rea
he said the story in and the editorial COM
ments upon it. On being asked his opinion on the sub
ject, he swung himself back on his chair and smiled
| swell" he replied after pause II have reason TO
think that 1t has disturbed the nest considerably lheie
is no doubt about your description Of the Judicial MIL,
for it is well known that prisoners are pat thToagh IL
| like rope or sand.'
Like Father Duranquet, the Doctor singled ont tho
other leading feature Of the story published in TBB
TRIBUNE, namely the want Of proper classification OF
prisoners at the Blackwell's Island Penitenary, aS
from his remarks concerning the discipline which has
prevailed at that institution the Prison Reform Assoela-
ton had long since despared Of enectng any OF it, re-
fornaory influences there The writer called the Doe
tors attention the number OF conycts who are dis
charged daily from the Pententiary as their time ex
pres and landed penness, halfsarved, aud haltelad
at the foot Sixty frstst East River with the world
all before them where choose their place OF rest and
Who in the urgency Of their immediate wants. are driven
70 steal again before they reach down town.
ave know It," said the Doctor with his calm, philo-
sophcal air I'VE are advised by a schedule, sent
fortnight ahead every prisoner who on the eve OF
being discharged. We have had name ana parteu-
lara concerning you before you left the Institution but
We have not been able TO do anything there"
The writer ventured TO inquire why they could not
reach the prisoners discharged and endeavor TO help
them TO finding honest path in life. The Doctor be-
came restless. He paced the door. and eestienated
gracefully but be appeared somewhat embarrassed, ~
III
which his Association took regarding the BiackwePs
Island institutions than he wished 20 communicate He
referred passages in his manuscript report,
which he had Just finished, and read them 70 the ANA
teur Convict" by way Of - blind"
J "A glance at the discipline Blaekwelrs Island"
burst forth Doctor has satisfied that our iabors
there prove Intellectual. We have not bes able,
40 far 10 bring Commissioners Of Charities and Cor
recon 10 our way Of thinking in regard TO discipline
For instance what influence could possibly have
upon men such you describe, loaded with chains
and naturally feeling like wild beasts Or what good
would advise who is IN sight Of this city
all the time the Island and who, on the eve OF
his release from there boasts that before the midnight
of the morrow he will get Jolly drunk &c. ' And
again" continued the Doctor, what do you think or
warden ike Capt Fitch, VINO tells me. Goodness J
gracious Doctor how you suppose any ONE can be
reformed no deseends to be imprisoned IN
penitentiary ,"
WHAT THE PRISON ASSOCIATION DOES.
The Doctor explained the working OF the Association
in all the penenuares OF this State except Blackwes
Island and also ia the county jas and State prisons
by which appears that per cent OF the prisoners
taken in by local committees who volunteer their
services In the good work OF REFORM and provide en-
ployment for them immediately their release. But
OF industry must be kep.aive in the minds
Of convicts while prison. insted them If IL had
never been created. DC them for this action the
part OF the Reform Committees. This Is not done
Blackwell's Island. The prisoners there feel the
writer often felt that the PATCHWORK they set 10
perform will have be repeated at distant day. Tho
grading Of roads, according TO Warden Ftchs report
for 1872 has OF principal occupations Of he
prisoners during the last Yet who visits
the rain-storm, during the thawing Of
snow such az have had recently, will be Obliged
wade ankle deep in mud sud water. consequent upon
total disregard principles drainage and OF