Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-05-20

in most cases under either feeling OF
angry passion, or the mind is worked up
to believe that great wrong has been suff-
cred, and by taking the law into his own
hands and endeavoring to right himself
he becomes q criminal. The law holds
him as such, but his acts find justiica-
tion in the minds Of his friends, which
the thief, or forger, or sneaking house
breaker cannot hope to retain. In very
many cases the crime is repented almost
as soon as committed, and the crring one
has made his resolution to never allow
himself to be carried away by his feelings
again, before the sentence Of the law has
been pronounced. When released from
custody he finds that his Imprisonment
hss not left upon his name that ineifacc-
able stigma which will forever attach to
the criminal who preferred to live by
wronging others TO earning living by
honest labor. His offence was prompted
by passion, or revenge, aud had been di-
rected, not against the multitude, but
against an individual. Probably it had
been satisfied by the crime hecommitted.
Blu: the records Of dishonesty punished
show fearful number of returned con-
victs. Here is where we should turn our
attention IL we wish 10 make our State
Prison reformstory, for it looks as though
the convict of that class, once sentenced
to its walls, is pretty sure Of finding his
way back again after brief period Of
liberty. With some, doubtless, the prin-
ciple Of knavery was born in them, or so
ingrafted in the mind by vicious influ-
| ences that they are ready to branch out
upon a career OF dishonesty from the mo-
ment they are out Of leading strings. For
such characters there would seem to be
no hope of any other life than that OF one
vaScillating between the doors of prison
and the opportunity for the commission
OF fresh crimes. Sooner or later they are
bound to find the way back to their old
quarters, as they are kept under the sur
veil!ance of the officers Of the law. There
are, however, many to whom the prison
life, its confinement, its associations, its
disgrace and loss of character, causes a
sincere desire when they go forth, to wall;
in the paths Of honesty and sin no more.
In too many cases these good intentions
are frustrated, and the unfortunates thrust
back into the vortex Of crime and vice by
the cold reception the world gives them,
the universal disbelief in the sincerity OF
their desire to reform, and the too com
mon fault of human nature to remember
OF men all that is evil, forgetting all that
is good. We can call to mind an in.
stance which came under our personal
observation, which shows how hard it is
to Danish the memory of the stigma OF
having been State Prison convict. A
man who formerly resided in this county
WAS sentenced to the State Prison for
stealing some article. On the trial cir
cumstances were shown which satisfied
the Court and jnry that his intent was
not that OF an abandoned criminal, and
they joined in recommendation of mer-
cy, upon which the Governor released
but by some oversight failed to pardon.
\ ears passed, the young man married,
became respectable member of society
and was hold in good estimation. Being
Unfortunate in business he passed through
insolvency, and moved away. In the
new home where he located, he built
up good business, and showed his
honorable disposition by sending back
and paying up the debts from which the
law had released him AS bankrupt. Fif-
teen years after his crime and its expia-
uon, in the city where he was a respected
membcr Of society, the record of his
youthful disgrace was hunted up and
brought to light to make point in favor
OF a criminal on trial, whose Indictment
had been found by "A grand jury Of which
our irlend was u mem Der-his not having
received pardon ut the time OF his re-
lease being disqualification.
The released prisoner has TO besr tbo
worlds eontumey from the hour in which
he sets foot outside the prison walls. He
has but pittsnce given him, barely
enough to reach tho nearest city. and
there, II he attempts to obtain honest en-
ployment, the chances are ten to one that
those who are disposed to aid him are
warned of his character bv some over
Jealous policeman or friend and he soon
learns that he is looked upon as an object
OF suspicion. 80 will this thought cling
TO HIM like the poisoned shirt Of Nessus'
Wherever he may go. What wonder then
Is II that, finding himself stunned bv
those whose friendship he Graves, couptc-
nsnced only by those whose Characters.
IKE MS own, are not free from reprosch'
ne loses his desire as well as the n1rser tn
Ie'oFhl, ana III moment Of desperation
Turns ms hand against the world as the
Morld mas already turned against him
no wonder that the list Of inmates Ia San
Quentin grows longer with each month";
report, until 1t has assumed per centaGe
OF our population frightful TO behold. Ii
IS evident that as a reformatory, San
quentin Is not success, and those who
DelieVe IN the elevation Of mankind should
seek other means in addition to what Is
now furnished. We believe that many
released prisoners, if furnished with n
sum or money sufficient to take them IN |
parts where they and their crimes were |
unknown, would gladly embrace the on
portuhity. There they might, if not
hardened IN crime, once more assume
stations OF respectability. 1t would rcr-
AMY cost tho State less TO try the exner-
ment than it costs under the present
ystem.