The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1885-03-19
PILIaG UP COSTS
To Avoid Paying a Small
Amount From COun-
ty Treasures.
A Potent Abuse in the Natter Of Sen.
fencing Boys who are Trans
ferred to the Reform Farm.

I
n Special Correspondence to the Sentinel
# COLUMBUS. March II h.--Sinc
v Gov. Hoadly assumed the eaic
of Governor he has transferred
y between Is and 100 boys from
> the Penitentiary to the. Reform
Farm at l. ncaster.
The number of these transfer
was smaller during the admins
tration of Gov. Foster. although
they showed decided increase
toward the close Of it, and thi.
increase has steadily kept ny
= since, and if it continues a little
while longer, almost or quite
one third Of the Penitentiary
sente hoes will be changed to Re
form School sentences.
The persons transferred are
mere boys and great number
of them are for offences that
just come up to the grade of fel-
onies. These boys vary in age
from II TO Is years, and great
many of them whom have seen
look even younger than they
claim-in fact they are mere
children under sentences Of from
! one to three years.
The course of the Governor in
transferring them from the
strictly penal to the more human
izing reformitory institutions can
not but be applauded as the part
lof wisdom. Ii there is any
chance to reform them, it will
be wholly lost in the Peniten.
tiary. while there is a chance of
doing something for their better
ment at the Reform School.
But even after they are trans.
ferred they are at great disad-
vantage, and their opportunities
for reform materially lessened
by their original sentence to The
Penitentiary. which does moi end
there. but teaches and has its ef-
feet upon all the other inmates
of the School.
Gentlemen connected with
that institution tell me that the
inmates who are sent direct to
the institution, have the greatest
frepugnance for those who come
by way of the Penitentiarv, and
the result is two classes or castles
, i'm the School, in secret. if not in
open antagonism. ''The Peni-
tiary BIRDS" as these who are
transferred from The StaIe Prison
are called b. the other class, are
constantly reminded by the an
tipathy of their fellows that they
are branded and recognized crin-
inals and convicts.
Thus while il Is The part Of hu-
man;tv to take the mere children
from the Penitentiary and send
them to the Reform School, the
effect upon the latter institution
is extremely deleterious and de
moralizing, and no doubt results
in retarding if not wholly pre-
venting the reformation of many
a youth who might otherwise
profit by the teachings Of those
in charge Of the purely reforma
tory institution.
This antipalhy between the
classes of inmates. of course, is
largely sentimental and devoid
of any reasonable tasis-nany
of t. ose going direct no doubt
being worse criminals than
many who go through the Pen
iientiary-but it exists and will
continue 10 exist of all that can
be done or said. The stigma of
a penitentiary sentence cannot
be wiped out, and the boy that
has 1t placed upon him will have
it constantly brought to his at
teniion, even among people who
ale not under the rules and re-
strainls Of a reformatory institm-
ton. 1t is a fact that boys sent to
the Reform School from the Pen
ltsn,lary seldom or never show
any signs Of improvement. which
fact is no doubt attributable TO
the spirit of caste and the aniip-
athy already referred to.
But is there any remedys This
is the one important question for
consideration in this connection.
AS long as mere children are
sentenced to the Penitentiary, the
course Of the Governor in trying
to save them 10 future usefulness
to the commonwealth, by trans
ferring them TO the reformltory
institution cannot but be en-
dorsed by all right thinking men
and women. And as it is becom
ing more and more the custom
for The courts of the State to con
vict and sentence youths for fel-
onies, the increase in the number
of transfers may be expected tot
The work Of reform must be- !
Gin in the counties and with the !
various criminal courts. Under
the law, it is optional whether
mere youths shall be tried and j
of what may be deslg- |
lated The minor ielonies, and
,ent TO the Peniientiary. or I
whether the presiding Judge e
hall commit the offender 10 The 4
Reform School without indict- )
nenI and formal trial. In MANY +