Middletown transcript., 1875-05-15
Letter From New Castle.

DEAR TRANSCRIPT In accordance
with the law, Courts began their spring
session on Monday last, Chief Justice
Gilpin and Judge Houston being pres
ent. Judge Wooten was detained and
did not make his appearance till We'd
nesday morning.
It was very gratifying to the num-
erous friends Of Judge Gilpin. who. at
the last Fall Term of Courts was very
sick, to see him again at his post of
usefulness, without any evidence Of i'm
pairmsnt of his physical. or mental
vigor. He is clear headed fearless
Judge, and it is earnestly hoped that
the State may long enjoy his valuable
services.
Little of special interest has, so far.
transpired. Only routine business and
few criminal cases Of minor import
ance, having been broug BIT up.
Perhaps the subject that has attracted
most attention, and excites most COM
ment, is the charge Of the Chief Justice
to the Grand Jury, or, to be more ex-
act, the statement in it that there has
been, recently, ssa fearful increase" Of
crime in New Castle county. Opinions
are divided: 1st, as to the accuracy Of
the statement, and I'd, as to the reasons
for the actual or apparent multiplica-
tion Of criminal cases. Some think
that the .'increase" is more seeming
than real; that is, that whilst there are
more cases of crime Of the lesser grades
of turpitude, the proportion Of offences,
to the growth in population, is not in
such relation as to show an absolute in
crease ; and that, therefore, statistics
Of crime, properly interpreted, would
not lead to the conclusion that our pec-
pie are becoming more corrupt.
But, admitting that the morals Of
the people are growing worse.it is diff
cult to find agreement Of opinion, as to
the demorliazing cause or causes.
Liquor, says one. is the chief radicle OF
all our woes. Sham religion, cant and
hypocrisy, is assigned as a cause by an
other lax home government by third,
and 80 on, ad im1initum, almost every
man who thinks at all, having and ex-
pressing a different reason for the evil,
and like doctors whose diagnosis of
disease differs, each has his faverite
remedy, which in some instances is ex-
tolled as specific.
After some observation of the man.
agement of criminals in other States
and the fullest Investigation of the sys-
tenn. or no system, in this, during the
past two years, / am satisfied that there
is most urgent demand for the estab-
lishment of a Penitentiary, or work.
house, in Delaware. I have not time
or space to develop the numerous ad-
vantages to be derived from such a
change, but it strikes me that, in every
point of view in which the subject may
be examined, the benefits to both the
moral and the criminal class Of the
community must be obvious. To a
large class Of the prisoners confined in
New Castle Jail, during the last two
years, incarceration acas not punish
ment. The only real sufferers are the
honest industrious taxpayers One
woman has been in the Jail, for petty
offences and vagraney, a half dozen
times in less than "a months Can it
be supposed that she suffers from i'm
prisonment
Put the lazy wretches to work
make them earn living, and pay their
expenses by hard labor, and they will
either avoid criminal acts and vagrancy
or, at least, not prove burdensome to
good people. But with regret that I
cannot amplify on this important subject,
/ must leave it,.
As usual, a large concourse Of peo-
pie were gathered here on Monday.
The crowd has sensibly diminished each
day since, There has been quite a
large sprinkling of prominent citizens,
among whom l will mention State Sen
ator Ray, Mr.. Samuel Townsend,
Messrs. A. o. Newton and Nathaniel
Williams.
On Tuesday Delaware's favorite SOD,
the gallant Bayard, was in attendance
upon court. looking remarkably well
and showing no signs Of the severe con-
tests he had recently passed through,
upon the floor Of the U. S. Senate
Chamber, where he had gathered fresh
laurels for his brow, and won warmer
place in the gratitude and affection Of
the American people.
MORE ANON.