Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-08-20

lppOdtNu III lHlh, Will bO huIlcll us tlul
we shall never take another" The
American War of Independence put an
end to transportation 10 America. Tn,
"hulk" system was invented rs "tcm-
porary eXpcdicnto, till the pcnitcntiary
could be adopted. This temporary
cXpcdicnt lasted till 1857. This
was even worse than tho prison system.
The mortality OF prisoners was at differ
cnt times 80 and 20 per cent. per an
nun. "lIulk fever took the place of
''goat fever" Tho mortality in the
modern pcnltentialy systems OF prisons
s Is per 1000.
With the discovery OF Australia the
transportation system was renewed.
The Botany Bay settlement was founded
in 1887, and from first to last 1874, 1903
persons were transported to Australia.
The state of things which existed then
is fairly shown by two quotations. In
1884 the number of convicts in Van
Oicman's Land was about $1,000, the
summary convictions amounted to about
$1,000, and the number of lashes in
ilictcd was about $4,000. From the
formation of the establishment at
Macquarie Harbor, January 8, 1922, to
May l6, 1927, there were ll6 attempts
at escape. Of these IS were supposed
to have perishcd in the woods, 3 are
known to have been murdered and 6
eaten by their companions; "a escaped
to the settled districts. 13 of whom were
hanged for bush ranging and 3 for
murder; In all, l0l Of the 1l6 came to
an untmely end. After lSi7, trans
portatlon ceased to any other colony
than Western Australia. and was then
conducted more on the penitentiary
system, and in 1868 it ceased altogether,
and the present penal servitude con-
vict system was established In its place.
This system Is absolutely Uniform, so
far as rules can make it 80. During
the first nine months the prisoner passes
his whole time-excepting the period
allotted to prayers and exercises-in his
cell, apart from all other prisoners,
working at some employment of an
industrial or remunerative character.
During the second stage he sleeps and
has his meals in separate cell, but
works in association, under cl ,se and
strict supervision at employment suited
to him. The third p, riod |, that of the
ticket Of leave. The second stage Is
divided into three classes, and on pro-
motion from one class to another the
prisoner gains certain privileges, such
as more frequent communication with
friends, more freedom for exercise on
Sundays, and earning more money to
be paid on discharge. Corresponding
punishments are inflicted. but corporal
punishment only by the director Of
prisons, and after full trial with evi-
dcncc taken on oath. 1t is significant
Of the Improvement which is taking
place in the convict prisons that, while
in 1871, of l3,500 prisoners, nearly hail
received punishments, in l8S4-5, out Of
prisoners numbering nearly 100 more,
under 5000 were punished. 1t is salts
factory. also, to know that the average
number Of prisoners under sentence Of
penal scrvitudc is gradually decreasing.
Notwithstanding an increase of popula.
ton of five millions, there were on
March 81, 1885, only $500 persons In
penal servitudc, instead of II, 500 in
1869. At tho same time tho average
number of prisoners In the ordinary
prisons has also fallen from 10000 iI
1869 to 1900 in 1884, and the loves
figure known. in February, 1883, O
1878, while the, percentage of extr,
punishments In prison has fallen pei
cent; and the most striking proof of i'm
provcment is that the death rate hal
fallen per 900, and the average mum
bor of suicides from II year to IS
year. 1t is certain, therefore, that tn,
adoption OF the reformatory, and humani
system of prison discipline has not con
tributed to the increase of tho numbc
or the criminalty of criminals.
But perhaps the most encouraging
fact of alfis tho diminution in tho mum
bcr of Juvenile prisoners. In 1916 there
were in London alone, with population
of q million and half. 5000 prisoner.
under 20, or one in every 800 persons
On March 81, 1884, out of the whole
twenty-sevcn millions OF England ant
Wales, there were only $500 prisoner
under 20, or one in every 5000 persons
Further, while in 1916, 800 of the 5 ,00C
prisoners In London were under II, il
1884 there were in all England only 275
Even adding the number Of children il
reformatory schools (6,60l) the numbe
OF juvenile criminals is 500 per cent. les
than it was In 1916. 1t is also satisfac
tory to reflect that while the cost o
prisons In 1870 was f456. 900, 1t was il
1884 only 1881, 400. If progress contin
ues at Its present rate we may hope t.
see the number of prisons, the number o
prisoners and the cost Of keeping then
reduced almost to o vanishing point
With the progress of education in tn,
young, the improvement of the dwell
ings of the poor and the progress of hu
manty in the efforts to reform and re
claim prisoners, the prison population
may gradually be reduced to these ir
rcconclablo enemies of the human racl
whom inherited dcpravity or exccptiona
circumstances have contorted into spe
cics Of wild beast. = London Spectator