The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-02-21

Our Prisons and Criminals--The Rapid In
crease Of Crime-Where Boys are Taught
Evil Ways-The Whipping Post Suggested
Tho Pecuniary Damage inflicted by Grim
inals-Tramps, etc.
New York, Feb. 10, 1877.
The question, how TO deal with the GRIM
inal classes, has long been among the en-
igmss of civilization. Savages are not
troubled with such questions, because in
their condition "might makes right" and
the injured have no defense. AS nations
advance, society Is called to defend itself
against those who war upon it, and this calls
for penalty. 1t is to be observed that in
primitive conditions of mankind punish
ments are simple and imprisonment seldom
occurs. In the early days of New Eng
land there were but few jails. The penalty
for grta. crimes was banishment or death,
while minor offences were punished by the
lash. 1t may be observed that under the
Mosaic dispensation nothing is said con-
cernlng prisons. Penalty was either by
restitution, by retributive iniliction, or by
immediate death, the only escape being the
city of refuge. imprisonment came with
the progress of social condition.
THE PRISON ASSOCIATION.
The first man mentioned in the Scripture
as being cast into prison was innocent.
How often may this have been the case
since then? The prison association of this
city therefore has an important duty In
watching over the captives which crowd
our iails, so many of whom are unfortunate
rather than guilty. The chairman of this
association Is Sinclair Tousey, well known
as the leading manager Of the American
News company. 10 this business he has
made fortune, but he has found time
amid all its cares to serve the cause of hu-
manity.
ARMY OF CRIME.
Going back to last year it may be said
that the opening of 1876 found 3,739 con-
victs in our state prisons and 3,596 in the
Blk local penitentarics. This makes an
army of crime 1885 in number. After de-
Quoting the women (676) from this macs,
we have a larger number than was in efiec.
tive service under Washington In any of his
battles except, perhaps, that of Long Is
land. A very large part Of this class &C.
cepts q life OF crime as its destiny, ard
when released from prison lenews its war
on society with no regard for consequences,
Since the date referred to there has been
an increase of convictions IN the rural dis
tricts, arising from the increase in vagran
cy, and the prisons are now more crowded
than ever. For the 739 convicts IN Oui
state prisons there are 3,104 cells; hence
1870 convicts are compelled to "doublt
up" (to quote prison language, and as ,
cell hardly has air enough for one the pri
vation is a serious injury.
OTHER FACTS.
In addition to the numbers given abov,
there are 1l6 insane convicts who are KEEP
in an asylum built for that purpose at Au
burn. Last year the total number of Death
among convicts was 122, of whom eigh
were insane. Speaking of state prisons
the largest in point Of population is Sins
Sing, which contains 1905, OF whom 14i
are women. Clinton 10 the smallest in thu
| point, its number being 606. Auburn con
tains 1,427 Sing Sing, from its vicinity tt
this city, is the most crowded. 1t has foul
| cells more than Auburn, but its excess Of
prisoners is l79 The same rule applies tt
penitentiaries. The largest is at BlackwelI'
Island, and contains 992. of whom 14O are
women. The Syracuse institution has tht
least, the number being 225. Of whom twen
| ty-fve are women. The temptations Of {
| great city upon the young are illustrated by
the fact that Blackwell's Island contaiDl
1856 prisoners under twenty, and fifty leigh
! under sixteen.
POLICE PAoTs.
The last report gives "a 800 arrests in thi
city during one year. Ofathese "a 655 wer'
committed either for penalty or for trial il
some higher court. There we're ,79S case
of alleged felony and 597 of grand lar
ceny. For vagrancy $40 arrests wer'
made, one-third being women. The chic
crime, however, is, as might be expected
lntoxcaliop, for which 38 910 were ar
rested, Of whom II 305 were women.
| general view of The prisons In this stat
shows the alarming fact that crime is stead
| lily increasing, and this is no doubt due botl
to the present depression and the dem0r
alizlng effect of widespread intempeIauce
| CONDITION OF PRISONS.
The modern method of punishment show
how civilization is creating crime inst ad o
repressiHg it. We permit the genera sal
of Intoxicating liquors, which is the chic
cause of human misery. Drunkenness
when arrested, is rewarded by food ant
lodging, with nothing to do but read, smok
and play cards. County jails are "castle
| OF Incidence" where petty crime meets en-
couragement. There can be no punish
ment in such penalty as this. Such Grim
inals can only be reached IN the name
adopted by Puritans-the lash. The whip
ping post is still retained in one state, ant
it is customary to speak Of II as "remnan
of barbarous age" / am satisfied. how
ever, aud have been for some years, that !
is much needed throughout the country.
think that If "half dozen" should be givel
to each professed vagrant, 1t would dt
much more to protect society and also t
benefit the vagrant than our present sys
TEN. In fact, think that the lower class
es of America are not much better than tn
Israelites, for whom "stripes" were ordere,
as the punishment of petty offenses. A
present so, 900 persons are annually arrest
ed and held In our county jails at an ex
pense of board varying from So so to 8,
per week. Half of the outlay could b
saved by rapid penalty, which this elias
would fear more than spell OF imprison
ment. Hence desire restoration Of tn
whipping post, at least so far as to test tn
experiment.
THE ToMBs.
This is the principal city prison, and
intended to receive 300 prisoners, but ofte
400 are held there by the doubling up
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