The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-17

Criminals and Drunkards.
Tho annual report OF the Connecticut State
prison. for the year 1873 which is just
issued, contains some facts of interest
From IT we learn that out OF an aver
age of 2GG convicts, the labor of 237
has been utilized steadily throughout
the year; that the receipts Of the prison
have been S30,0jl 80, and the expenditures
| only $50 5000 Even that small balance Of
81 .il72O ON the wrong side Of the books
would have been reduced by $500 had a
Prisoners Aid Society paid up its clothing
account promptly. Contractors for prison
labor have often protested that, oven at
! the lowest priccs-from n to 40 cents n
day, MS il has been let out in various prisons
| throughout the country-it did not pay
! That was, no doubt. true whore there was
dishonest or inefficient management. But
in this Connecticut prison the contractors
have. on the expiration of their old contracts
at 40 cents a day, entered into new ones at
80 cents a day for the current year, and have
done SO willingly. In view Of that fact. the
directors expect that their next report will
exhibit n surplus instead Of a deficiency.
One item Of income detailed suggests
question Of proprcty, or perhaps even
| ElhNfi 'RllNAl''l hlllllNs II II ANlAtiNt
sG5240" Conspicuous IN the main hallway
Of this prison appears the composite in
scription, "The way OF the transgressor is
hard-Admittance % cent? The State
prison Of Connecticut is practically a per-
manent show. and the Warden has no
authority TO change that arrangement Par
ties Of rural eXcursionlsts visit it in pleas
! ant weather, as they would go to n circus
were that superior attraction within reach.
The thrifty spirit Of New England is 10th to
abandon any source OF revenue, but tho
prison directors should seriously consider
whether the moral damage done by famil-
iarizing tho public with their exhibition does
not overbalancc the small relief taxpayers
may have from the sum thus added TO the
| prison income.
There are at present confined in this
| prison thirty-seven persons condemned for
| life one Of them woman. or the remain
inG 2il on the list during the year, i73 have
been under thirty years OF age, and $50 out
OF the 27s enrolled have been convicted for
| first offences.
The chaplain ~ the institution winds up
| his portion Of the report by the usual refer
cnce to the nelarious rum traffic" and pro-
| pounds the question ." Is not the State re-
sponsiblc for n largo percentage Of the
crimes committed through the use 81 intox-
! icating drink 2" Clearly If one may Judge
| from his tone, he THINKS that an Affirmative
answer would he the right one. But though
! it is q very common thing for criminals 10
make liquor the excuse for their crimes, the
plea is often far less truthful than many
people imagine 1t TO be. The drunkard often
commits crimes Of violence against persons
when inebriatcd, and is also prone To petty
offences against property, but is very sell
dom n really dangerous criminal The gen
cral average OF strict sobricty is not higher
In any tract or missionary society In the
land than among the leading bank robbers
! bond forgers and burglars. In other words
a careful and intelligent study Of penal
statistics, with the associated influences and
characteristics of crime, will demonstrate
| that sober rascals are much the most 10 be
| feared by the community. An experienced
chaplain Of a New York State prison said
four years ago.
81 denounce the rum raic because 1t is really bad
thing. and people expect 70 do 50. but privately
must say that II has no such overwhelming influence
In the production OF crime as tits represented TO have.
OF the several hundred criminals IN this prison under
| my charge all known well by me- do not believe
there thoroughly bad and inherently dangerous
man to the community who has been drunkArd. The
able criminals do not dare 10 drink They would
unnt them for their business and put them at too great
Adisadvanago in their battle ocunniug and skill against
society lean conscieuuousy SAY good temperance
brother who wants the comforting assurance, that be.
hcyc nearly every criminal drnks-iust as would say
that they almost an wear tu,peudcrs-but cannot say
that crimes of high degree, especially those against
| property which constitute the bulk Of offences
caused by drink any than they are the legitimate
| cons quence OF wearing suspendersn