The Portland daily press., 1882-01-07
MAINE STATE PRISON.
ABSTRACT Of the Report Of the inspectors.

The inspectors of prisons and jails are Jo-
seph w. Porter of Bangor, D. G.. Bean of East
report they present the cash value of all the
articles in the prison, and the full amount OF
liabilities
There are now carried on at the prison three
departments of manufacture-carriages har-
ness and buots and Shoes The work thus di-
vided is not SO profitable as it would be if less
kinds of business were carried and steam
power introduced to drive the machinery; and
these improvements are urgently recommend
ed
The number of convicts at the beginning of
the year was 1893; present number, 1874. There
have been three deaths during the year-Pat-
rick Hurley, Jan. 10th; Albert I. Kenney,
March 25th; Elihu Phillips, Nov. 9th. The
health of the convicts has been remarkably
good, and their conduct very satisfactory. One
prisoner. who was outside the wall at work on
repairs, made good his escape.
The buildings have been improved during
the year. The food has been good and the
clothing ample. All hard bread used is made
at the prison. In order to retain the services
of competent officials, the inspectors recon-
mend that the salary of the Warden be ad-
vanced from $500 to $500, and that of the
clerk from 5000 to $1,000.
Rev G. F. Mathews and Rev. Ammi Prince,
clergS men at Thomaston, have ofticiated as
chapains, David I. Starrett as teacher and
DIR. H.C. Levenseiler as physician, all satisfac-
torily.
The tables accompanying the report show the
net expenses for the past year to have been
$16, 7544 AZ, being $7796.89 less than last year.
There has been gain in assets of $18,65773.
wARDEN's REPORT.
Mr.. G. S. Bean, the Warden, found, on as
Stunning the duties of his position, the financial
condition OF the prison most unsatisfactory.
The prison was loaded down with debt. which,
with accrued interest, amounted to 5000.
OF the bills payable from the prison, $4,000
were provided by legislative appropriation,
about $1,000 paid at prison, leaving the amount
unpaid in charge of the Governor and Council
$39,S74.46, and smaller sums, amounting to
S396.7l, left in the Wardens hands for settle
ment. The stock of material for manufacture
was low. More than 1000 old notes were sue
successfully placed for collection, and of the
number more than one half have either been
paid, settled, disposed Of or cancelled. OF
these demands, 475 remain unsettled or un-
paid. ACTUAL collections upon the gross amount
of old matters cancelled during the year are
62.7 per cent. thereof The averaged apprais-
al Dec. l, 1880, was AT per cent, and the
value of such as remain unsettled Dec. /, 1881,
is appraised at 10 per cent, or 50, 70, which
is 81 ,94947 less than the estimate OF Decem-
Der, 1880. The sales during the year have
been made largely for cash or short approved
credit the quality of the production has been
improved, more skilled labor having been per-
formed.
Forty-nine convicts have been discharged
during the year on expiration of sentence.
The following convicts were pardoned during
the year: Cornelius Sullivan, larceny; Henry
Robinson, larceny; Walter X. Chamberlain,
lewd and lasciyious cohabitation; Albert o.
Hall, rape: Isaac L. Fuller, having and re-
ceiving stolen goods; Peter Dean, robbery;
Charles u. Thomas, breaking, entering and
larceny; Silas @. Thomas, larceny; Patrick
Carter, assault and battery
There are 1874 convicts, Of which twenty are
in for murder and four murder in the second
degree. The others are for various offences,
large majority being for burglary and lar
ceny.
OF the convicts 100 are natives of Maine; ten
other States are represented, as v ell as many
foreign countries.
Following are the counties from which con-
victs were sent:
Androscoggin, 20; Aroostook, 3; Cumber-
land, 60; Franklin, 8; Hancock, 4 Kennebec
6; Knox, 9; Oxford, 4; Penobscot %; Piscat-
aquis, 2; Sagadahoc, 4; Somerset, &; Waldo,
8; Washington, II; York 8; U. s. Court, 6.
JAHs.
The inspectors have visited and inspected
the lails OF the State. No new jails have been
erected and but little improvement has been
made in any of the old ones They recon-
mend the passage of law giving any Judge of
the Supreme Judicial Court, after sufficient
notice upon petition of inspectors, the authori-
ty to remove any prisoner from any unsuitable
Jail, to such other jail as he may deem best
The whole number committed to the jails in
1880 was 1903, in 1881, 2,461 Number COM