The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-21

THE PUNISHMENT
in use at all the prisons is the strap. the
one ut the main prison being rather light
and those at Coal Creek and lnman made
somewhat heavier, while one OF them at
Tracy City is very large heavy, and, in
our opinion, u most brutal instrument.
This latter strap is the new aud favorite
instrument at the prison. From convcrsa-
ton and inquiry OF the guards and man
ayers we think 1t matter OF skill on the
part of the wielder to avoid tearing
the skin and innicting severe injury
with it. The punishment is administered
upon the bare buttocks OF the offending
! convict, who is compelled TO lay upon his
face during its administration. emitting
the main prison, where we are informed,
the strap is only administered for violation
Of the prison discipline, we find that IN
all the branches Il is administered Tor
nearly everything, from breaches OF prison
rules to failure in getting out tasks, the
usual number OF blows being from five to
thirty. We met but very few convic,s at
any OF the branch prisons, who had not
been punished 10y feeling the sting OF this
porsuader BY far the largest number OF
these had received itsior not getting out
their task. We regard this method OF
punishment rs
CRUEL, INHUMAN And BARBARoUs.
at is disgraceiul and unworthy Of the
Endorsement OF am educated and enlight-
encd people. II has been abolished in
nearly every modern prison, and with
| good effect. II never reformed q convict.
| and never will. II is unjust, for the .rca-
son that the punishment in most instances
/ is given for ohcnscs against the lcss2cs, in
/ failing 10 get out task, aud not for Oilcnscs
against the State, for violation Of whose
! laws the convict is confined. II is entirely
wrong and should be abolished. Some
more civilized method could easily he
! found were the wrong against the state
| considered rather than the interests Of the
| State. The solitary, the dark cell, bread
and water have all been found 20 quiet the
| most refractory, desperate and violent OF
! Conyicts We can see no reason why one,
or all, ul those methods could not be
adopted in our prisons. These branch
prison are
HELL HOLLIS or RAGE,
cruelty, dispair and vice. We regard the
| whole branch prison system rs horror
and shame upon the state. Tho quarters
are only on q par with au ordinary stable
and were IL not for the stoves, they would
be no more comfortable. The state owes
| il 10 itself, and for the protection 81 lis
own society, that ic.ons should either be-
! killed, or il confined, that some collateral
effort at reformation should be made ON
| the mind OF the convict. We suppose no
one wishes 10 indorse the killing. and
must say that under the present system
! reformation is absolutely impossible. In.
! deed the attempt is not even made. We
] e.
! this report intended 10 create any, but
so long Us the present system OF
! branch prisons are maintained an
| injustice is done the State itself
! for the reason that man goes
] into one OF these branches bad aud
/ comes out worse, being both rcycngciul
| and defiant. Furthermore, the present
system being cruel and inhumln in itself
only calls into activity the bascr aud more
brutal qualities OF our people. IL i not
only degrading b. the ielou himself, but
also 90 the people who sustain the system.
for no effort whatever is made 10 call out
the better qualities OF either conyicts or
citizens We recommend the entire abo-
lition Of the branch prison system aud the
building OF q new pcnitcniiury on mD1crn
principles In q suitable locality capable Of
accommodating all our cOnyicts.'
rnE MAJORITY REPORT
of the Senate Pcnitcntiary Committee,
signed by Mcssrs. Sparks and Nelson, was
| presented and read this morning II was
| the same ~ the report OF the House Com.
miitcc, submitted yesterday, wiki the cx-
ccpuon OF an addition made by senator
! Jarvis protesting against the use Of the
leather strap with which the conyicts are
] f.tf u Ia Too. mt
Sparks rose and said that the report Of Mr..
Jarvis was right aud he thought lighter
strap should be used.
mNOGirY REPORT or ruE SENATE COM
MurEE.
Mr.. Moody submitted q minority report
saving hc did not believe that either az
Coal Creek, lnman or Tracy City the con.
yicls were properly icl and clothed. They
have 20 wear one pair OF socks until they
are worn out. Tie bedding is iillhy aud
insufficient and the food insufficient The
prisoners arc oycrw0rkrd, aud IN many
clsrs are made 10 work when they arc un-
able 20 do 80. Tho way 10 which the men
are whipped, being nude 10 lic down on
their bellies and be whipped with
q heavy leather strap ON their
bare flesh, h singing disgrace o.
] ltuiiHfefs ~ lhlNAN lN'A UNNt 10 WIN
through mud and water 20 got 10 the
mines, and several OF the conyir,s had told
the committee that they had been mli1
10 sleep la wet clothes aI night. Tic
crime Of sodomy prevails among the cJu-
vicis according 10 the physician Ia charge,
who says 10 Is impossible 10 prevent it uu-
der the present lease system. The Law
requires that the Secretary OF state, the
Comptroller aud Treasurer should visit
the prison once q year. THIS they have
mover done The officials. from Gov 1ay.
lur down TO the warlcns aud guards,
are guilty OF neglect. Tho main prison b
paradise beside thcbmncl prisons The
people can't afford 10 pcfpyiualc this loose
system. In conclusion, Mr.. Moody said
that he made the report with reluctance
lie would rather praise than condemn,
: but, having been placed on the commit.
tee, the fact that he will have TO meet th,
conyicis face 10 face on the great day 81
Judgment and be- accountable for his act
impDilcd him 10 DO what he thought wa
4 justice 10 the conycts.
! Both reports lie over under the rules.