The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-03

Fletcher presented $3.50 worth of boo-.s, and a
few miscellaneous books have been given since,
Mrs. Burson, of Mnncie, sending in forty volumes
making liberal gifts, but a larger collection of
suitable books is much needed and would be the
means OF doing great good. 1t is hoped that
some benevolent people VIII turn their benefac-
ton in this direction.
The inmates in both departments are we'll fed,
well clothed and well housed. The prison smell
and prison look are both absent at the reforma-
tory. 1t is seldom, say the officers, that there is
any trouble with the inmates, and rare that
there is any need of punishment. Over 500
women and girls have been cared for In the iu-
stltution since it was opened, over 500 in the re-
fUrmatory and nearly 800 in the prison.
The reporter TINA that the inmates of the
reformatory looked much like other children of
the same ages.
$50 they do" said the Matron, land some of
the sweetest looking girls here are as cunning
as can be-sharp and secretive. There are girls
mere under ten years old who can pick any lock
o the prison side the women look con-
tentedq"
"Well they are not, I doubt if there is one who
wouldn't give everything in the world to get
our, and yet most of them are better off here
than living their former lives. But this isn't lib
erty, Our policy is to reform them, and qualify
them To make their own living"
81 suppose 1t is difficult to find places for girls
VINO nave been in the Reformatory; nobody
wants them," suggested the reporter.
"1ou are wrong" said Mrs. Smith, 81 have
twenty applications today for girls to do house,
work. 1 placed fifty out during the past year.
some were liberated to go to their homes. but q
large portion of them went out to go to work.
Ihlrty OF my girls are married in this city. There
are a few In the city who wander back into the
ways OF the wicked, but we do thoroughly re-
form so per cent. OF the girls we take into the
We save many who otherwise
would be prostitutes upon our streets.
Judge Norton doesn't appear to
nold this institution in very
high estimation. That is because he knows
nothing or but little about it. In looking over
my record | find $50 from Marion county, not
twenty OF them in the city to-day and Of those
not more than half a dozen are doing badly, We
get the girls away from the evil influences of
the city and provide them with homes as far dis
tant as possible. Here are letters from some Of
them many Of them now happily married"
The reporter looked at the letters thirty or
more and ali of recent date and from postoffices
distant from Indianapolis.
81 could give you hundreds of instances of re-
claimed girls. Nearly nine years ago [ called at
the Jail for a girl that was called Babe Van. IT
you can do anything for Babe said the chief of
ponce, you'll be doing a great work. She's the
toughest case we have Well, we took her, and
a better girl never left the institution. She is
now ln-(Mrs. Smith named a northwestern Ter
rltory). She has married a man of property, and
Is teacher in a Suaday-schOol. No, we don't
scruple to have them marry, They are as good
as the men. Nobody knows what these poor
girls have to contend with. Only q little while
ago a man came here and took away his niece.
lie was her uncle, and a day or two later l got
a letter from her that the unnatural monster
mad tried TO take her to a hotel and seduce her.
ALEGAL POINT.
AS the reporter was about the leave the
matron handed him the following letter, which
she had just received. 1t refers to a prisoner
who was left by the sheriff of Morgan county
yesterday morning (the letter did not arrive
until IN the afternoon), being committed for
receiving and concealfng stolen goods. Her
husband was taken to tho Southern Prison yes
terday for the same offense for a term OF three
years:
"MARTINsvILLE Ind, Oct. l, 1888.
Superintendent Indiana R~eformatory Institutions:
To-day III our court a Judgment was rendered
upon a verdict of jury, sentencing Elizabeth
Ihacker to one years Imprisonment in the
penal department of the Female RefOrmatOry
Tor Women and Girls of the State of Indiana
"Ihere is no such institution known to the
laws OF Indiana. Our sheriff may bring Mrs. I.
TO your Institution with a commitment as above
specified. Certainly it will not authorize you
section 6,162, revision of 1881.
If received, it will be our duty to at once take
legal proceedings for her release. We thought
act advisedly in the matter. We are, truly,
"GRUBBs & PARKS,
Attorneys for Mrs. Thacker."
By reference to the section indicated it viii be
seen that the name of the Institution is the "In-
diana Reformatory Institution for Women and
Girls"
Nine persons, all women, comprise the entire
force of officers of this institution, which holds
1873 inmates, forty-three of them adult crimi-
nails. O