The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-07-24
THE PRISON SOUTH.
A Penal Institution Conducted on Humane
Principles.
louisville Post.l

Penal Institution Conducted on Humane
Principles.
louisville POST
The Indiana state prison south, at Jefferson
vile, has recently passed through an entire
renovation, and the many improvements lately
contemplated by Warden Patten are about
completed. The 90 cOnvicts are now all en-
ployed- Dennis & Claggett of Louisville have
125 men employed making saddle-trees, and
are well satisfied with the contract. The Pat.
ton holow-ware company of Cleveland have
500 convicts in their department, and the
balance of the men are now employed by the
state in the manufacture of shoes. Post re-
porter visited the prison yesterday. The war
den said he had Just started in 10 make shoes
for the state, and was well pleased with the
venture. This was the first time this plan was
tried in Indiana any other western state.
Warden Patten, who is friendly to the labor In
terest said the work of the cOnvicts did not in
terfere with free labor TO any extent, at least
not in this section. About one hundred and
seventy three men were at work in the shoe
shop. They made cheap grade OF shoes
which were sold to parties in Missouri
and also to the penal and benevol-
ent institutions of Indiana Since the
cOnvicts have been employed by the
state they show a disposition to work better
than they did for contractors. They appeared
to be much more willing to work in this way
than the old way. file did not know how TO &C
count for this unless il was from the fact that a
man naturally Tevolted against being sold after
being confined, which was really the effect OF
working for contractors. About four hundred
dollars worth of shoes and boots are made in
the prison every day. These are mostly rough
variety but some or them are very good COM
pairing favOrably with other factory shoes.
Northern Missouri catches most Of this trade
and the shoes are made so cheap
that the workingman gets the benefit
indirectly. The reason the warden went
into the manufacture OF shoes was because
the firm of contractors gave up their contract
on account Of its not paying. They found they
could make shoes cheaper with free labor on
the outside. and sooner than see the men idle
the warden concluded to work them himself.
The experiment will be watched with interest
by the prison arrangements all over the coun-
try. IL entails C large amount OF additional
work on the warden, but he does not mind this
so he is able to earn enough to make the prison
self-sustaining. The degree OF cleanliness
which prevails about the prison at this time
is very noticeable and might well be studied
by those on the outside. Every part OF the
prison is washed frequently, and a corps OF
convicts are continually whItewashing all the
buildings. The result is that out of the large
number of convicts only four or five men are
in the hospital.
Lately Gov. Hovey has pardoned quite
number of cOnvicts and there is q disposition
to criticise him for so doing, a Louisville ait
ernOon paper and Jacksonville paper devOt-
ing a column to that end yesterday. Warden
Patten thinks the governor ought to exercise
the pardoning power. and he believes the gov
ernOr has done right except in one instance.
There are a large number Of convicts in this
prison who ought to be pardoned. and nobody
with a particle of feeling will blame Gov.
Hoyey for being merciful to these poor
wretches. Gov. Williams pardoned a great
many convicts and he was criticized for politi-
cal reasons and the same is being done IN the
case of Gov. Hovey, but it is gratifying to
know that the warden does not Join in this IN
fair criticism Gov Hendricks pardOned a life
convict and be got drunk soon afterward, but
this did not deter the governor from doing his
duty thereafter. The writer knows several
poor fellows in this prison who much bet
ter than number of people with whom he Is
acquainted on the outside, and If Gov. Hovey
pardons about one hundred more men he will
be doing the state service
Warden Patten, who Is an lmpulslve man
personally, is not so officially and the dis
cipline which he maintains in this institution
speaks well for him. as this discipline Is tenn
pered with mercy. All convictS are treated
alike. the poor negro as we'll as the wealthy
burglar, and the warden does not recommend
a mans pardon where it is not deserved, no
matter how influential his friends may be. The
warden believes somewhat IN the doctrine OF
predestinatiOn. He thinks there are men who
are naturally criminals and ought 10 be treated
as such These men, he thinks should never
have their liberty, while there are others who
belong TO the class OF men who ere criIni-
nails because of adverse circumstances. lie
tries to keep these two classes separated
much as possible.
Another feature in the management of this
prison is that of attempting TO reform those
who enter there. A man who Is sentenced, say
for five or ten years, can learn 10 read and
write if he does not know how when he enters.
His task in day time is made so light that he IS
afforded time to study if he shows any DISPOSE
%fov, n do 50 II IL au1arlrahfa that the
who 90 TO the prison among the first who
try to learn TO read and write.
The prison is now self-sustaining and the
warden is getting a good fund together for a
library, reading being great solace to man
In confinement. The daily papers are sold in
the prison in great numbers, the Louisville
papers being the favorites. The convicts, of
course, pay for these out Of their own funds.
During the stay of the Post reporter in the
prison, he talked freely with the convicts, all
of whom seemed well pleased with the treat
ment they received. AS an illustration of this
the reporter heard a convict say that Warden
Patten prosecuted him when he was a lawyer
and sent him up for life. OF course he did not
like the warden for this, but he thought he was
very impartial with the men, more so than any
man who had ever held this position, and he
had an opportunity of judging as he had been
IN prison dozen years.
The warden invited the Post over to the
hanging, which will soon take place in the
prison. lie is Ounulng scallOlu III tue OH
cell house hall for this purpose. All criminals
condemned 10 death south of indianapolis will
hereafter be hung in this prison.
Warden Patten invites those who take an in
tereSt in prison reform in Louisville to give
him any suggestions which they think would
be of any benefit in managing conviets and re-
forming those who are capable of reform. He
is giving the subject much thought, and is a
man who likes TO hear suggestions.
The Sunday services AT the prison are well
attended. The cOnvicts have a good choir and
fine music, and, altogether, the 500 men over
there do not fare much worse than those on the
outside and barring the loss of their liberty
nearly all of them wO uld be contented and
happy. Visitors are admitted to the prison any
week day and religious assistants on Sunday.
MILL BLOWN TO ATOMS.