The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-03-20

NlNGg gOts a BIZ OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES INK
RIENCE OF AN AGED KEEPER-THE TER
4 RoRs OF THE PAsT-MURDERED AT his
DEsK-THE MUTINY AND OUTBREAK OF
i THE PRISONERS ON EvACUATIoN-DAY-
THREE MEN, FOR A TIME, HOLDING AT
BAY THREE HUNDRED CoNvICTs-NoTA.
BILE CoNvIcTs OF THE PRESENT DAY
MRS. LOUISA LAWsON-PERsOEAL.
The penitentiary iswhat may be called
one OF our permanent Institutions" or, as
some one has more vigorously il less ele.
gantly characterized it--"a necessary
nuisance" The revisors under the act OF
1776 thought that Of the offences then pun.
ishable with death there were many for
which different punishment should be
provided. They suggested hard labor on
roads, canals, and other public works. ga
bill for proportioning crimes and pun
was drawn by Mr.. Jefferson and en-
closed to Mr.. Wythe in letter OF
November, 177S. The bill is remarkable for
its brevity and simplicity, and the notes to
it show no ordinary learning and research.
GFor legislator of this day to prepare such
q bill would require five times the quantity
Of foolscap.l Another bill ''for the en-
ploymcnt, government, and support OF mall
efactors condemned to labor for the Com
monweath" was framed to accompany it.
These two bills were reported to the
House OF Delegates by the Committee for
Courts OF Justice on the 30th Of November,
17S6, but were not passed. Mr.. Jefferson
states that at the request of the directors
for public buildings he bad forwarded
to them in 1855 a plan for prison on the
principle Of solitary confinement. The act
Of 1896, to amend the penal laws ascribed
by Mr.. Jefferson to Mr.. George Keith Tay-
lor, adopted the plan OF solitary conhne-
ment, and directed the building now called
the penitentiary." So says q note to the
Code of 1878. Since the dates mentioned
there have been bushels OF acts OF Assembly
touching the management Of the peniten-
tiary. Solitary confinement was abolished
scores of years ago. The penitentiary build
ing, perched upon hill in a wilderness
bounded by swamps and gullies, and re-
quiring guide to lead stranger to its
gates, has come within the city, or rather
1.-THE city has stretched beyond and around
it, and taken it in. It is still not easily
accessible. What must 1t have been seven
ty-five or hundred years ago?
Those who selected the site and faced the
buildings to the river seemed determined to
have fresh air, fine views, complete isola-
tion from travellers, and, as far as inacces-
sibiIity could give it, freedom from "cu-
rious visitors" To this day you go all
around the penitentiary to get to it, andyour
road makes a sweep to the southWard, finally
bringing you up fifty or seventy-fve yards
south OF the great gates, which have opened
and shut upon thousands and tens OF thou
sands OF wretched souls.
AN OLD CAvALRYMAN.
The acres OF yelow-washed walls, con-
trastng with the soft green carpet with
which Nature has covered the plot in front
Of the gates, the cheerful, unmusical chirDs
OF thousands of English sparrows, and the
almost dazzling brilliancy OF the sun, rob-
bed the place Of some Of its terrors as the
writer entered the prison (as Vlsltor) ana
received welcome from Colonel Sam.
SWann-that gallant old caYalryman and
genial bachelor, who was once gay lesisla-
tor, but is now the superintendent OF the
institution. His rule seems to be firm yet
gentle. No man who knows his kindllness
of heart and love OF justice will ever be-
leye that any man. however guilty and de-
graded, will be by him subjected to any
unmerited punishment.
OVER FORTY YEARS IN THE PENITENTIARY.
One of Colonel Swann's assistants is Mr..
John F. Meeny, manager OF the weaving
department, gentleman now pretty well
advanced in years, but still active and lively,
daily performing his duties, and yet blessed
with fine memory and with unclouded men
tai faculties. He carries the history and
traditions OF the institution IN his head IN
better form than any writer has ever put
them upon record.
| bo
10Th Nav, 1S37Mnearly forty-one years ago.
Previous to that time the members Of the
Public Guard had heen doing duty as inner
Guard, and had been traflicking with the
misunderstanding them whiskey. The su-
periutendcnt complained TO the General
Assembly and asked for authority to ap-
point four citizens for duty on the interior,
and TO allow the Public Guard to do the
duty on the outside solely. Twas in the city
at the time the act passed, and l made ap-
plication and was appointed to position"
Forty wears Of his life Mr.. Meenley has
spent in almost daily attendance at the pen
itentiary. He thinks from what he has
heard that work was commenced on the
buildings there in 1897 or 179S. The room
Colonel Swami now occupies-a handsome
one in the front building, with windows
atfording fine views Of Chesterneld-Was
where Aaron Burr was temporarily con-
fined for safc-keeping awaiting trial. SO he
said [this is point for the local historians
to pitch in].
| FIRES AND FURIES.
In 1928 the number of prisoners had
reached 200, and in that year there was
destructive fire there. After that date the
General Assembly became frightened at the
cost Of the institution, and changed the
laws SO as to decrease the number OF prison.
crs. Twice since 1928 GncludinG the fire OF
the evacuation) the buildings, which have
steadily been increasing in size, have been
damaged by fire. About 1855 Felix Fergu-
son, one OF the employees, while writing ut
table. with his eyes upon tue paper, had
his throat cut by convict, who was after
wards executed within the prison walls, in
lri nht Of the nriSnnerS. so That bis late mlGnt