The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-09
PRISON REFORM.
TIE CONGRESS Interest-d By n W Western We
mss and By the Hon. q. r. DAILY.

The second session Of the Prison Con-
eress yes erdsy was opened by the Rev. Marcus
Amos, ex-Superintendent OF the STATE Indus
trial school for Girls, Lancaster. mass, with
paper In answer to the question. Does the
family or oonRreeate system ofer tho best basis
for the orpnis atlon and management OF reform
schools; or may both principles, to q certain ex-
tent, DO advantageously com oined In the same
institutionf" lie favored the family system.
The Hon. Henry A. Monford, 5uperintendeDt
OF the House OF Refuge. Cincinnati. followed
with paper strongly supporting the coneregate
system, on the ground that less space was re-
quited for the inmates.
1be Hon. D. W. Cnidlsw, Superintendent OF
the Reform School OF Ohio. said that ~ his
sac both systems we're IN operation, and both
had proved successful; hut that experience had
led him to favor the family system.
A paper on the oreaniL alton OF industrial and
reform schools was re by the Rev. Thomas X.
Fessenden, Of the Board OF Trustees of the
Connect, 'ut Girls Industrial school at Farming
ton, In which he discussed the q IesuOn whether
tho schools should he supported hy the state ~
corporation, or by individuals. The author IA
vored a cont mbinatioD as most feasible.
Ihe Rev. &. l.. Brace spoke ~ the sending OF
children to the West from the Industrial schools
OF New York.
Mrs. G. +. Conn, OF the Board OF Managers OF
the Indiana Female Prison and Girls Reforms
tory, though that It would be better u New
York would take care OF her own children
"Indlsna mas her hands full already" said the
speaker, with emphasis; "and IL you don't stop
| sending your industrial school children to us,
we sh n soon begin to make bitter com plaint.
| Wnen l was in England | was shown some
| OF the great institutions from which they
proposed to shiD their surplus popula-
| ton to our shores, and l begged that they
| would deslst. ! could not consclentiously or
| consistently sanction any such project To saddle
| our country with matsrih OF which we have
| already too much. l regret to say, and In what
| say do not wish to cast reflection upon the
| Cnildren's Aid Society or upon the State OF
| New York, that half our prisons are already
| nled with New Yorkers"
| The Hon. Emory washburn, Professor in the
| Law College OF Cambridge University, discussed
| In carefully written paper the question,
"would It be sxpcdient to limit the definition
| and punishment OF crimes by n prescribed code
| TO the exclusion OF the common law?" He
| thought that the common law should be super
| seded BY . written lava private and Inter
national code between States.
Chief Justice Charles y. DAILY delivered an sd
dress In his usual pleasant colloquial style, OF
"Ths Relation between Insanity and Crime,
saying, In conclusion, am the oldest Judge Ia
| once In the State, aud the result OF my thirty
two years srperisnce teaches me that trial bl
jury Is the safest and best means Of determin
| Ing contests between man and man." Tn,
Judge spoke Of several forms Of insanity, and
closed With
Some time ago the community was shocked by tn
appearance OF newspsp-r publ shes and edited o
George Francis Train, paper nlled With blasplem
and opscenity. Tue Grand jury found an indiclmen
against the erratic Train and he was srrested. He r,
40 he sent TO PRISON. | wished 10 oiscovt
wns'hsr ne, ne ~fs I" .1spee'es an insane mSu
him. TLey declared him u sane But wnen he take
10 court the jqy found him ane Ills case vas take
his counsei aud 20 tneir surprise and dsmay the pie
was entered and the JUDGE Issued an order ransferrn
Mr. FRAN 70 The U ica Asy un hS counsel sued out
| him from custody on the ground that he was sane.