The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-03-02
NOT GUILTY.
hat Is What the Committee Say About
the Officers OF the RefOrmatory
and Female Prison.
vi and Complete Vindication Of
the officers of the Charges
Preferred.
be Prison Committee Make Their Re-
port of Their Labors, and Fin4
Both the Northern and
Southern in Good
Condition.

Condition.
1the Reformatory Investigating Commit
ZEE yesterday submitted to the House their
report, indicating the officers of the Insti-
ution. The following is a copy of the re-
port as submitted:
THE REPORT.
MR. SPFAKER-Your Special Committee, raised
- vestigate the Female Prison and RefOrmstory
n inquire into certain charges of uncommon
ielty to the inmates thereof. as published in
e Cincinnati Enquirer Chicago Times ana
Iiivers other papers and persons beg leave 10
make the following report and submit the entire
violence given before the Committee to the
House:
Your Committee, after the examination OF over
seventy witnesses under oath. find that such pub
kcatiOus were made without any sufficient found
n in fact and the charges therein contained
not sustained by the evidence
The Committee have given the matter close at
entiOn. aud have subjected the witnesses 10 a
rigorous examination, and are OF the opinion That
he discipline OF the lns. tuition is maintained as
ar as practicable by kindness and appeals TO the
moral sense of the inmates. and resort Is had to
punishment only when other efforts have failed
The management do not attempt 70 conceal the
act that from time TO time punishment Is
escorted To both upon the penal aud reformatOry
ides of the Institution, and they avOw that some
lines such punishment mas been severe Tut that
he same has been rendered necessary Dy the CIT.
.umstanceS of the case. and has not been out OF
proportion to the ofIense for which it infict
ed Sand in our opinion, this claim of the man
ayers Is FULLY sustained by the evidence and that
the modes OF punishment resOrted 10 are REFORM
kory ia their character and IN the main well cal
lRged to restrain and check Offenders from
SftOn Of the Offense.
We are of the opinion that with the number OF
phicers (which We consider insuthGenu IN me
.StitutiOn and the means at their command. the
augment has been all that could reasonably
e Hen expected.
e can commend the Board OF Managers OF the
n and the SUPERINTENDENT for the
Hence, wisdom and vigOr with which they have
conducted its affairs, and we report mat cOnslu-
bring all the surroundings. much more has been
accomplished in the way OF reformation than
|ould have been anticipated,
Your Committee are fully aware OF the fact
hat Indiana is entitled to the proud position that
zoe contains within her borders the only Female
BON in the world governed guarded and
anced by females. and when we see it, con-
<ition from O sanitary and moral standpoint. It's
nos 81 who'll in consonauce with the female in
tinct and character of what is and should be
sOmanly we can not but express our admiration
Il the pioneers Of such a movement PUNISH
nent by the bath and water we hnd mas been
bOlished.
We would earnestly rec mmend the abolish
nent OF corporal punishment on the naked per
ons OF young females, and recommend IN Its
fead confinement in the lone cell.
And we a5e constrained to say that IN our opln
OF the system which provides for the placing OF
Odng children the institution. and in
contact with older girls, who have become har-
ened and degraded by vicious and pollutlng
racticeS, II not by commission OF actuai cIlInes,
And we accordingly report it as our earnest
I0hyctiOn that as soon as practicable the state
hOuld provide an entirely separate Home for all
hildreii under the age of fourteen years. now in
ended to be provided for by the reformatory de
artment of this Institution, that, while its in
Eaifes hey shall not be contaminated by its aSsO-
iations and after leaving ii be the subject OF
kproaclafuI remark on account thereof.
EDwISs, Chairman,
MARSHALL,
]. +. CARR,
HENRY c. MEREDITH.
agree with above report except as to mode oil
unishment- d. MCCLCRE
TIE PRISONS NORTH AND SOUTH.
In the House yesterday the Prison Com
nittee made their reports, after having
iSited both the Northern and Southern
Prisons. The Committee found that the
anitary condition of the Prison South was
N excellent condition When all matters
gere taken into consideration it was in bet
err condition than could be expected. The
general condition of the building is such that
he Warden could not make ii better than
now is The Committee found the build
ne being very much crowded, the Warden
Ould not be blamed for the condition in
Which some of the things were found, but
eport that when the new dollhouse and
Their buildings now under structure are
Ompleted, the present crowded condition of
Prison will then be IN an excellent condi-
on. The Committee recommend an APP
ropriation of S34. 600 in the estimates that
ne necessary, aside from the $4,000 recon-
lended for the erection of a building for
Insane cOnvicts. The Committee recon-
lend that not less than two acres OF ground
e purchased, suitable for burying ground,
be ground now used belonging to the
M. and l. Railroad. The accounts, books
Ind financial arrangements OF the lnStitu-
on were found To be all honest and correct,
~ that the Institution is being managed
Fan economical manner to bring as much
eyenue into the treasury as possible, and in
way to make it self-supporting. The Com
nIttee say that after the new dollhouse has
cen completed there will be ample room
Or all the prisoners there confined
IN likely to be confined. The report shows
aat the general cleanliness of the Institu-
ion is good The Committee make no COM
laint of Colonel Howard in his manage
hent of the Institution and End him doing
he best he can, with many disadvantages
Under which he labors.
Ehe report as 70 the Northern Prison is
ayOrable in all respects, and find that Insti-
ution in a splendid condition in every par
Icular.
The Committee recommended an appro-
riatiOn OF $50, 600 for new wash-house,
ath- house and Warden's residence. The
Michigan City, and the city offers to pay
alf the expense for new one. The report
loses by recommending that convict labor,
3 lar as il interferes with honest labor be
Discontinued as soon as practicable.
All accounts and books, as inthe Southern
,risOn. are found in an excellent condition,
nd the management all could be asked for
or wanted The Committee report that they
eund no complaints made by the convicts
Il the Northern Prison, and that the sanitary
condition j. good. Also, the moral instruc-
ion is mach above the general average
5yen in prisons. They. highly recommend
be management of Major Murdoch as
sImane land kind TO the convicts.
>ey also highly approve Of the manner in
yhich the contracts are let, believing the
interests of the Stateare well-guarded with O
DIV to reaping the largest revenue possible
lie report also shows that the Institution
more than self-sustaining, and managed
fifth the most rigid economy in all depart
nenis of the Institution.
Fair Matters.
The Executive Committee of the State
- r. <.ffe<. ~f ~