Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1880-02-06


all probabilities have some changes in the
management.
1t is safe to make the statement that at
least one fourth Of the bills introduced
this week in the Legislature have been for
the correction Of the Code in which so
many gross errors have been found.
Some little trouble was anticipated IN
the matter of appointing the mine lnsPec-
tor, but as neither Owens or Roy are Re
publicsns they have no special claims I'M
less it be the latter gentleman, who viii
no doubt be appointed.
THE OHIO PENITEETIARY.
Few strangers visit Columbus but what
take in the sights at the Penitentiary be-
fore leaving the city, and the scenes wit
messed while making a tour through this
great institution, doubtless forms the main
tonic for conversation at many hreslde
during these long winter evenings. But
the visitors have not the opportunity, in a
short and hurried trip through the institu-
tion. to learn one-tenSh that is to be seen.
a regular route Of what seems to be the
most interesting sights is laid out for visi-
tors. but other than the information CLEAN
ed from the attending guard, they learn
nothing of the management and care Of
this great establishment.
There are many things which are inter
esting to the people that can only be
learned by careful inquiry from the Of
ficers in charge, and to them we are in
debted for the following facts:
Over !, 300 eonvicts are to-day confined
behind the massive walls and strong iron
bars. The crimes, church relation, ma
tionality and previous occupation Of over
600. as registered last year is as follows:
1888 were convicted for burglary and lar
ceny; So for burglary; IL for manslaught-
er: 6 for murder in second degree; 10 for
shooting with intent to kill; 98 for grand
larceny; % for forgery, and 20 for horse
stealing. All the crimes for which man
can be punished by Imprisonment are repre-
seuted' OF this 600, the parental church
relation of 172 were Methodist; 1873 Catho-
lie: 65 Baptist; 50 Presbyterian; 80 Pro-
testant Episcopal; IS Disciples, and IA
United Brethren. In the nationality Of
convicts, Ohio stands first with 265 repre-
sentatives; 56 are from Pennsylvania, and
nearly ali other States in the Union also
have a representative or so. England,
Germany, Sweden, Australia, Italy, SWitz-
erland, Ireland, Wales, France and Scot
land also contribute to the list. 116 were
farmers before imprisonment; 100 labor
ers; IA butchers; Is engineers; 13 tailors;
II BARRIERS; 8 with no trade when they
went in, but will be more fortunate when
they come out; printers and one Justice
of Peace. In this dist. all the trades and
professions are represented. Out Of this
list 291 are between the age Of IA and %;
226 between the age of % and so, and 66
between the age of 40 and 80; 3S2 Of these
are single men: 173 married, and % wild
overs. OF the number received last year,
all could read and and write, 146; So Of this
number could read, but 55 could neither
read or write; 392 were Of incorporate
habits and 191 of professed temperate
habits.
The receipts Of the Penitentiary last
year from convict labor, ETC., were $172,-
361 O2. while the expenses were $176,077-
SO. Visitors are charged an admission fee
of 25 cents, and the amount received from
this source last year was about 50, 800, so
one can see that a large number Of visitors
include this as one of the sights of the
city.
To feed this large army Of eonvicts it
took $54, 500 90 for proVisions-243 head
of cattle; 715 hogs; As, 601 pounds of corn
ed beef; 1,O36 barrels of flour; 1884
bushels of wheat; S,133 bushels of corn;
1O. 229 pounds of coffee; for the use of
those who have acquired the habit of US
ing tobacco, 9,375 pounds of tobacco were
For the discipline and government of the
Penitentiary are most strictly observed.
In a book kept by the warden is entered
record Of every infrsction Of the published
rules of discipline with the name Of the
guilty prisoner.
Upon the arrival of a prisoner at the In
stitution, the clerk enters his name, date
of reception, and general description Of
person. He is then taken to a room, has
his hair and Whiskers cut, given bath,
and then dressed in the striped uniform Of
the prison. While serving his term his
behavior IS reported each day, and when
pardoned or escaped the re-
cord is made on the book in which he was
first enrolled. The Penitentiary physi-
clan keeps what is called the "HOspitai
Register, where the names of all prison
ers sick, or complaining, who require med
ical treatment, with the disease of each,
and his prescription therefore is entered.
Each convict is furnished with Bible or
Testament and attends Divine services in
the prison chapel every Sunday; large
library for the use of the convicts is under
the charge of the chaplain; catalogue is
furnished each prisoner, and they are al
forded opportunity to do quite an amount
of reading, as the lights in the cells as well
as in the corridors burn until 8 o'clock.
About 800 volumes are sent out weekly on
orders, and about 400 are passed around in
general circulation-lhati is if q man can
read, a book is placed in his cell. whether
one was ordered or not. Every Friday,
the prisoners wishing their books changed
lay them on the foot of their beds-a
prisoner can retain book two weeks.
Reading matter is in demand in about the
order: fiction, magazines, his
tory. biography, science and religion. 1t
will take too much space in one letter to
tell all the interesting things about Ohio's
great Penitentiary, and at some future
day will write more about it, and closing
with advise which chaplain Burns gives in
the following:
Society will have to see to it that all
its youthful members are sent to school,
and primary education SO that they may
be prepared to battle for a living with the
odds in their favor, and at the same time
to charter fewer rum shops, with back
doors leading to the State Penitentiary, be-
fore it can escape the charge Of the French
philosopher: Society prepares the crime
which the criminal commits.
Columbus, Feb. 8, 80 F.L.C.