San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-07-30
The Present Convict System in Texas
Galveston News.

| Galveston News.
There may be an unreasoning pref
udice against convict labor, which,
however, is scarcely worth attention.
But there is a reasonable, just, and
well-nigh universal opposition to the
employment of convicts outside OF
prison walls, and beyond the immedi-
ate oversight of state officials, which
is worth the undivided attention OF
the state authorities. II is not an OPP
position to outside labor, but to out
side convicts. It is not perverted,
sickly sentimentalism, but it is siren
uous, vigorous, growing demand for
the enforcement of the penal laws,
and for the protection of societyagainst
penal system that endangers life, Oh
der, peace and property which it was
devised to protect. Since the first OF
this month large districts of the state
have been terrorized by escaped Grim
inals, and in most cases by criminals
who have escaped from convict camps
or convict farms. Since the first ol
May, not including the recapture OF
the convicts who escaped from the
CLAY farm, there have been some half.
dozen recaptures of convicts reported
in the News specials, and probably
twice as many have been recaptured
in districts of the country where there
are no telegraph stations. These re-
captures indicate that the country Is
widely infested with outlaws, for few
of the many who escape are promptly
recaptured. They render life and
property insecure, and encourage the
criminal element to violation of the
law. 1t is not ar unreasoning prelu
dice against convict labor that de
mands the incarceration and punish
ment of the outlaws. In May, up tc
the 26th inst, there were general lalI
deliveries in four counties in this
state, and large squads ofarmed men
have traversed extensive districts ID
pursuit of the escaped prisoners, many
of them being under sentence for fel-
onies. The counties and the state to-
gether have, in May, permitted the es,
cape of not less, probably, than lou
convicts and criminals, who became
dangerous outlaws, and terror in
many districts. In May, up to the
26th, the special kilograms to the
News show that there have been sew
enteen persons killed in affrays and by
assassins, and fifteen badly wounded.
As it is in May, so it is the year thro
Crime is not checked, it is not effect
lvely punished and rebuked, by the
present convict system. In even the
capital of the state, an assassination
or an attempt at assassination is OF al-
most nightly occurrence. The out
law class is daily reinforced, commit
ting the most sickening crimes in the
cities, and plundering and terrorizlng
the people of the rural districts
Bloodhounds are being purchased,
even for the capital. 1t is found nee
essary to transfer convicts from the
farms to the main prisons, so bold
has become the desperate element,
threatening to release hnsmen and
friends, and making good their threats
In May probably thousand men IN
armed squads have been securing the
country in pursuit of escaped convicts
and fugitives from justice. The peo-
pie have been alarmed and endangered
and the country in some districts has
the appearance of a state OF war. Ii
lis not solely by reason of the existing
deformities and abuses in the convict
system that this condition of affairs is
procured, but undoubtedly escaped
convicts will repeat their crimes, and
their success in escaping punishment
emboldens others. If there is a sen
timent outside of the criminal element
that would encourage the release Of
convicts because of opposition to out
side convict labor, or sny other con
Wet labor, it only aggravates the mis-
chief and danger Of the present sys
: TEN. This sentiment, and all maudlir
sentiment. as well as the active sym
pathy Of friends and relatives Of con
yicls. would be perfectly harmless at
the iron gates Of the state prison