The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-08-08
CORRESPONDENCE.
Criminal Reform.

Criminal Reform.
/ WATERBURY, Conn.,, July 3Oth, 1889.
Editor of the Banner The BANNERS
Ount OF the escape from jail C) o
Pease" was interesting There il
the old BANNER prints that re,
lis absent readers 30 much o.
its perennial accounts Of escap.
minals. With more criminals
build create furore. imagine
sep matter in type, ''mortised fol
B." l believe old Vermont is the
State that still clings fondly to the
God old custom OF letting its criminals
Ike "leg ball." In this period Of growth
nd constant change, such devotion to
be old ideas is refreshing. In this State
d fibrous nutmegs and STEADY habits,
ythe escape of a criminal IS subject
for the Jester. The public really gets
excited when a criminal escapes, and
they have Investigations, new jailors
stronger jaiIs, and all that nonsensica
sort of thing. The long accustomed
sense of enjoyment which the people OF
Bennington take in learning now and
then that BILLY has sawed out,
or Jimmy has walked out" is foreign
to this prosaic commonwealth. You're
in the van. And then, sgain, your
system has another advantage. II gives
the criminal some chance in the uneven
struggle, while it adds to the intensity
of the public feelings to think that bets
are even on the Jail birds getting out or
staying in. But the equilibrium is being
spoiled and the.time Is unquestionably
near when any member OF the "deft
craft" who is so unambitious and spirit
less as to neglect his opportunity and stay
in bennington Jail" until the State calls
for him, will lose caste with his species
and meet with the derisive jibes and
taunts of all respectable, enterprisiDg
members of the profession. When did
you get crook of wide reputation in
Bennington jail" and keep him Please
have the date and name inscribed on one
of the panels of the monument, If you
wish to ever prove.
Another beauty Of your system there:
1t lie economic. Vermont IS not q rich
State and can't indulge in expensive
criminals. There are plenty of rich states.
New York State, for example-that live
ly town of Troy dotes in sending up
criminals 80 they may cut through your
paper Jail and return 10 new fields OF
usefulness and enterprise. The officials
of other states are aching to get your
runaways. Some states Drag about the
dangerous criminals they capture and
hold. Vermont don't; did you ever
hear her?
But the browning glory of the. Ben
nington method remains. You are hui
name You take your poor, jailed pa
tients out into the clear, cool Green
MOttntofn aiH Won ohnxry fhnrn aEni6of
the refining and ennoblInK scenery of
the ''granite hills" the "beauties Of the
universe" and the jailor tells them of
better life aud nobler purposes. How
sublime Connecticut has reform
school, and a state full Of jails from
which criminals emerge only on invita-
ton from proper authority but nowhere
within its boundaries is there an imi-
tation of your beautiful combination re-
form-punishmen system. On the con
trary 1t is persistently and cruelty insist |
ed that the following of bank robber
is 80 unnatural and uncalled for, that
those who affect 1t shall every year,
more and more, be deprived Of those
pleasures of good society and freedom Of
action which your theory so humanely
and consistently supplies, Go on
And what is the result of your meth
cd +? Why, the recipients OF your chart
ties are appreciatiye and kind. The
BANNER says that the comrades OF the
late William who similarly in another
section of the State, violated the canons
of Jail etiquette, stopped in their flight
to say good word for their benefactors
and compliment their appointments.
To be sure the boys (Clough and Trimble)
said, 1--WE did not like the air, it was not
fresh," but "they had plenty to eat"
They say criminals are hardened
wretches Look at this tender appreci-
alton. Here two men, engaging in an
enterprise that threatens their liberty |
even life itself, calmly pause, and, re
regardless of the peril, state in clear and
grammatical language, that "they bod
plenty to eat" and were, on the whole,
treated like gentlemen, What more do
you went?
Irresistible impulse drives the writer to
this weak word in praise Of your" theory
of criminal reform" and to inform you
that boundary lines can not shut out the
powerful echo Of your good works. In
thus striving to retain that which has
long made the Greer Mountain State
famous with its neighbors, every true
Vermonter is with you. Your record is
high; keep it there. And you should be
borne up and encouraged by the solemn
thought that your efforts are known
and appreciated by at least that large
class Of intelligent, shrewd and discrim-
mating people who have visited yonr
town in official capacities and for limit.
ed periods in the days gone by.
Yours Truly, M.