The New York herald., 1875-11-26

J1BeI OHClaVInRi TTcSBy
terian at the former church. with Rev. J. L. Ammer
conducting the services the Presbyterian and
Reformed churches of Old Bergen at the Presbyterian
church, on Emory street; the Palisade Methodist Eps.
copal, the Central avenue Reformed and the West
Hoboken Baptist at the Paisade church, on
The outdoor sports we're not numerous. The Hud.
Zouaves paraded in uniform through the principal
streets and proceeded to Elm Park, Staten Island.
dinner furnished at the County Amshouse
Snake HILL and the newsboys enjoyed repast at the
expense OF the argus propretors
THE DAY IN MASSACHUSETTS,.
OBSERVANCE OF THE FESTIVAL IN THE STATE
PRIsoN-NAMEs OF THE PRISONERS PAR
DoNED-sKETcH OF CELEBRATED coNvIcTs
NOW UNDER SENTENCE
Boston, Nov 26, 1876.
The Thanksgiving festival this year was more than
usually interesting in the Massachusetts, State Prison.
There was the customary dinner Of turkey, puddngs
and kindred delicacies and also series OF dramatic
entertainments furnished by the best available outside
talent.
PARDoNs.
The matter Of pardons, however, uppermost
the minds or the convcs and out OF the 500 probably
onefourth of the number expected to be the recipients
OF Executive olemency Warden Chamberlain in
nouncing the pardons made friendly and wholesome
address the prisoners and then read the names OF
James Griffin, George L. Mowry, John s. Dodge and
Daniel Young those upon whom the mantle of lib
erty would descend. The unfortunate pris-
not favored with pardons cheered heartily
the good fortune of their fellow convicts except the
case of Young, whose so loudly hissed that
the Warden obliged call the prisoners order 1t
seems that Young only in years. sentence, and
OF the other prisoners thought it unreasonable
that pardon should interrupt short term But
fact that cemcncy exercised because it had been
ascertained that the man was innocent. Mowry was
sentenced for life for robbery in Worcester and Dodge
sentenced TO ten years imprisonment for forgery
and was pardoned OF being the last stages
Of consumption.
NOTABLE coNyIcrs PRISON.
Among the nearly 800 convicts confined in the prison
there are of course, many remarkable criminals The
notable among the murderers is the sanctimonious
Deacon Samuel Andrews, who committed a beastly
outrage old and simpe-minded named
Holmes, down in Plymouth county, and then attempted
TO conceal his crime by murder He was only con-
vcted of mansaughter, however, and instead of get.
ting the rope and scanold, he let on with twenty
years in the State Prison, seven OF which he has al
ready served.
CHECK RAIsERs.
The most notorious OF this class is the celebrated
Spence Petis, who his second year OF ten-year
sentence for utterng counterfeit bonds and kindred
crimes. There are most strenuous efforts being made
the least probability that the appeals for pardon will
ever be needed The ground which his release
is asked for is that by hts testimony in the New York
courts some great deal worse criminals than himself
will be exposed and sent tor prison. James A. Coe,
Boston bond raiser, is an eghtyear convict, who has
better living in his day than that afforded in this
reformaory institution. Among others Of this class
OF offenders is Nehemiah Ball, Harvard College
graduate who forged his uncle's name and Charles s.
Spencer, also graduate of Cambrldge's renowned
University, has just finished sentence account OF
too much skill in initiating the handwriting OF others
HEREDITARY CRIME
One or two instances in the history OF this Massa-
chusetts prison would seem indicate that crime is
hereditary in some families. A man named George w.
Goodrich was sentenced some years ago for chicken
stealing but was subsequently granted pardon.
few months later, however, he was caught at his old
business and was again sentenced and in few days his
two followed him for indulgng in the same class OF
thieving When the boys came TO the prison the old
father said he was glad have them near him. for dur
ing his absence had been much about how
they spent their evenings There is also another
in the prison where a father and two confined
for shooting man in Cambridge.
ISvETERATR oFPENDEB.
The case OF Daniel 0'Bren, who Is serving ten
years sentence for robbery, Is probably without a
parallel in the history of crime He is only hity years
OF age and more than twothrds OF his whole life has
been spent in jas and prisons This s his sixth term
In the Massachusetts, State Prison, and when his tc IS
up he will have served total Of thirty seven years In
the institution. He is handsome and Intelligent man
and his amiabe disposition has endeared him to all the
prison attaches well TO his fellow conyicts just
before his last advent here he married respectable
spite OF his chronic weakness for crime.
LorHARIo.
Among the young fellows Of tho period who are in
carcerated here Is George Allen the gay and festive
lothario who away with Ehe Fhufston, the hand
some daughter Of Fal River hotel proprietor He |
started with her for California but apprehcnded in
New York When thus checked in their eiopement he
still persisted that he would yet win the girl in spite or
law and parents and TO make his word good he in |
truded himself In a defiant manner in the presence Of
her father and brother His conduct in this respect
was aggravating that the father OF Ellie tried the
law upon her for seduction aud the consequences
Ii that four years OF State Prison life before
him. He was considered one Of the "kd eovcdp bows
OF Fall River and he Ia therefore anything but con-
tentodNn his homely prison garb. Ho can truly ex-
claim that III is rough on Georgen
HOW THB coNvICTs ARE EMPLOYED.
On account Of the hard times more than half
Of the cOnyics are employed and the deficit this year
will be $67, 73S. Those employed are chiefly engaged
in brush making chair making cotton tic manufactur.
ing, and few are engaged machinery and bronzed
metal goods
THB MORAL, RELIGIOUS AND INTELLECTUAL STATUS
There Is very superior school connected with the
prison. and many who utterly illicrate have
CURED the rudlments ol education. Both PrOtcs-
tant and Catholic services held In the chapel on
Sundays the latter having been recently introduced.
About oneha attend the Catholic services and large
number Of these regularly attend the confessional.
warden chamberlain says that the effect Is good upon
the discipline Of the prison. and he rejoces that the
established and fundamental principle of the consttu
HOn'hDorty Of conscience for alp'-has boen such
entire success.
PRISON.
The present institution Is by far too limited, and tbs
also very detective 10 the matter Of location and vent
lation. The State IN view Of this has made an appro