The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-01-06

prison department opened on the eighth of
tenth month with seventeen prisoners re-
ceived from Jacksonville Penitentiary, ac-
Se32lnpanle1 ed by the Warden, Chaplain and
Matron, all of whom feared we would have
trouble, as the moral character of some was
below hope, and two were dangerous. Our
first great trial was the supervising of to-
bacco. When told they could not use it in
any form, gloom and sadness settled like a
pail upon them, which taxed all our in
genulty TO dlspel. Our superior accommo-
datlOns sank in utter insignificance, and
with little exception they wished themselves
back to "old Jeff!' We soon got to work,
having reserved washing, sewing and house,
cleaning for them, and, though our rules
seemed hard, they have complied more will
lngly and cheerfully than we anticipated.
There have been four added to the number,
and am glad to state after the completion of
the Laundry, we were able to procure wash
ing to keep those able employed. Sewing
and knitting have been furnished Others
Several have been on the sick list since their
arrival. There are twenty-One girls in the
Reformatory taught halt the day in well
organized school, the other half devoted to-
cane-seating chairs and household duties in
rotation. Some of the girls are commit
ted tor larceny, lncorrigible con-
duct, and the change in some of
the worst is striking, convincing
us, that many of these little waits 20 to ruin
greet to find the age-fifteen-is preventing a
large number from entering the reformatory.
Having received letters from several coun-
ties making the inquiry what steps to take,
10 commit over fifteen, stating they must go
10 ruin II not admitted. The only can be
given, THE law forbids," and the girl on
the brink of ruin robbed of the care, re-
straint, education, and proper training the
State has so wisely provided for her rescue,
ana our expenses are necessarily much
To faaro Cor oil
lily. Our daily religious exercises have
been greatly blessed. Sabbath school en-
Joyed, and regular services on the SABBATH
conducted by the Young Mems Christian
Association, who express themselves highly
gratlhed by the apparent change from week
TO week in the family, and we feel that it is
problem no longer unsolved; that the
power of kindness with the religion of Jesus
IS sufficient TO subdue the most hardened. A
library is much needed As the reading
pris oners had been supplied with the New
York Weekly, interesting and profitable
reading is wanted to supply its place. L can
thankfully record that in both departments
am assisted by earnest Christian workers.
who labor faithfully for the temporal and
spiritual improvement of those under their
charge. With gratitude for the kindness
with which my many wishes have been re-
sponded 10, Respectfully,
SARAH j. SMITH,
Superintendent.
DEPARTMENT.
Counties from which girls were received
since the opening of the institution: Marion,
IL; Wayne, 3; Parke, 5; Perry, l.; Floyd /;
Johnson, /; Vigo, l. Total. II.
CONDITION OF INMATES
Number of orphans, s; number OF half or
phans, 10; number of parents separated, 2;
number whose parents are living, L; number
who can not read, 5; number who read in
differently, IL: number who read pretty
well, 3; number who can write, 5.
Then follows tabular statement giving
the name, county, where convicted, when
received, crime, term and date of sentence
OF each OF the convicts remaining in tho
penal depart ment at the close OF the year.
The number in the department is twenty
one. Seventeen of these were broughtfrom
the State Prison South, on the Sth of Octo-
Der last. Their names were published at
the time. Of the four since received, one
came by sentence of the Bartholomew Cir
cult Court, and three are from Marion
county. All four were convicted of grand
larceny. Two were sentenced for eighteen
months, one for two years, and the other
for three years.
STEWARDS REPORT.
The stewards report shows the following
account current of the expenses of the in
stitution for the past six months: Receipts
From State Treasury. 81 075 So.
DIsBURsEMENTs--Expend la July, $i67 So;
August, $3.50 9S; September, $500 81; October,
81 $50 IL; November, 500 %; December,
500 796. Totals, 030 O6. Balance, S45 so.
1t also shows the payment into the Treas
ury yesterday of 81 so, on account of earn
ings OF the prisoners as far as collected.