The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-01-29
STATE PRISON.

The report of the directors and warden
of the state prison has been received at
this Office. 1t is very creditable docu-
ment and contains much useful informa-
ton. Warden Smith is evidently man
of good Judgment and positive convic-
lions, and unlike Gov. Smith has no hes
fancy in giving them expression. The
directors take stand against life senten-
ces, and, what will surprise number of
our readers, say that almost all persons
sentenced for life become insane.
Mr.. Smith speaks strongly against the
system of discharging prisoners whose
terms have expired, without any means of
supporting themselves and with reputa-
ton to earn. He also comments severely
on the rule Of the attorney general of the
Q. S. in directing the q. S. Courts to
sentence prisoners to the state prison at
Joliet instead of that at Waupun. He
directs attention to the law which allows
person who has stolen less than 800 to
be sentenced to confinement in the coun-
ty Jail, where he lives in idleness until
his term has expired.
The state prison is practically self-sup-
porting. The total receipts of the insti-
tuition for the year covered by the report,
including the balance on hand at the end
of the last year, are S58,2736S. The ex-
penditures for the year amount to S47,-
1873, leaving balance on hand of S11,-
090.44. OF the receipts for the year,
500, 141.76 comes through the contract
labor of the convicts, and $l2,G19.76,
from sales of articles manufactured in
the prison, The total number of per-
sons confined in the state prison Septem-
Der 80. 1879, is 800, seven of whom are
females. During the year $50 persons
were received, of whom are females,
and lat were discharged.
Of the whole number confined at pres
ent 900 are Americans, and SO foreigners.
One of these has been sentenced eight
times, one seven times, and 267 for the
first time. Manitowoc county has now 5
persons confined in the state prison and
since the organization of the prison has
had 80. Milwaukee has had the greatest
number, 500, and Ashland the least, 1.
The whole number of persons who have
been confined in the prison is 2, 729, l.
COL being Americans and 1,128 foreign
ers. OF this grand total 81 were sentenc-
ed for life, and 1927, the greatest num-
Der were sentenced for larceny, 400 the
next greatest number for burglary, and
SO for murder in the first degree. Far
mers, who are usually regarded as an in
nocent class, stand second, GAG; laborers
furnish the greatest number, 713. Sail
ors stand third, III; Lawyers, whose
wit rather than honesty preserves them
from the clutches of the law have their
quota at 4; Clergymen, the salt of the
earth, have five representatives, and edi
tors, whose poverty would excuse crime,
have the glorious record of furnishing
but one inhabitant of the state prison.
More persons were confined during 1873,
being 346, than for any other one year in
the history Of the institution. At pres
ent there are 30 life members, Manitowoc
having 2, and Milwaukee furnishing the
Mfa at ,5t5' furnished 8 of those receiv-
ed during the fiscal year, Dane having
Is representatives and heading the list.
Five of the persons sentenced during the
year are in for life and so, the greatest
number, for one year. The habits are
as follows: Incorporate 81, Temperate
81, Moderate 36. Forty-eight are mar
ried and rs single; 81 are sentenced for
burglary and 5 for murder. Ninety-nine
can read and write, and II are illiterate.
Eighty six are Americans, Is, Germans, 6,
Canadians and 8, Irish. Foreigners in
all, A. The greatest number IS, are be-
tween the ages of 20 and 80, while 3 are
between the ages Of 60 and 70.