Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-07

Z community of law
Bez,zy Warner. breakers, Mr.. War
ner commenced TO point out the benefits
and disadvantages of our present policy in
dealing with criminals So far as the pres
ent penal system goes, he said, county and
State prisons are as nearly perfect as they
can be- Carload after carload of prisoners
come TO Claremont from the two cities of
Pittsburg and Allegheny, day in and day
out They must be kept out of the way Of
society, and they must be kept for nothing.
The system of convict labor had been the
outcome of this. That question has been
thrashed over and over again, and to some
extent has righted itself, but out of it all
has been evolved the present method of
keeping these horde5 of offenders. The
workhouse, its shops, its farm and the
routine of peaceful life there, all speak for
themselves, Mr.. Warner assumed. As far
as the law permits, he thinks, the manage
ment of law-breakers has been successful
The Defect Mr.. Warner Sees.
''But our pena; system has one fatal de-
feet" continued Superintendent Warner,
''and the future generation will have that to
remedy. 1t NAV be illustrated by the case
OF that prisoner you see over yonder."
We were sitting on the lawn in front Of
the workhouse. The convict the Superin-
tendent pointed out was pushing a wheel
barrowful of boards Back of him was a
squad of men, and only one guard was in
charge of them all. "That prisoner has
been serving terms in the workhouse for the
past nine years." Mr.. Warner resumed.
''These terms have varied in length from
two to twelve months each. He was gener-
silly sent here for some of the more common
ofenses, such as disorderly coEduct, fight
ing, petty thieving, or, perhaps, for the
more serious grades of crime, such as bur-
glary, stabbing or the like. No doubt in
every instance he was sentenced to the usual
limit Of the law, but in a comparatively
short time he finished his term and was set
free. Coming under our strict discipline so
often, be knows what to expect, and we
have, perhaps, less trouble with him than
with a newcomer. We have scores of other
prisoners like him. Some have been re-
peaters for more than nine years; others for
less time.
A Contented and Happy Man.
Now, this prisoner, who has been SEN
fenced time after time during nine years,
bears the record of being one of our best
behaved inmates He works diligently,
obeys cheerfully, and, to all appearances, is
cOntented and happy. AT any rate, he is of
some use to his fellow-men here, for we
keep him employed at honest toll, and in
many of his duties he actually contributes
to the sUstenance of the other 700 prisoners.
"But when he is free, when he is among
society at large, he viii not work, refuses to
obey the law, becomes discontented and un-
happy, and is of no use to his fellow-man.
On the contrary, he becomes a pest to soci-
ETY. as well as dangerous to the public vel
fare l submit 10 you in all reason, when
that man is a cheerful laborer here, when he
bears the record of being one of our best be-
laved and most useful men, why should he
be sent back into the open world at all? If
had horse who is not fractions, but who
serves me well, and who enjoys his stable
and feed, would it not be wrong for me to
send him adrift into some barren sand field,
there TO stay until he becomes wild and hum
cry? In other words, should not that pris-
1ner
Be Put Away Forever
From the outer world? If he is only useful
Ind happy and good under restraints, then
why not keep him isolated all the time un-
Ter mild restraints2 Would 1t not be a
kindness to him as well as blessing for So
,iety2 My idea is that it is cruel to the man
himself TO send him away from place
where he works well and lives decently. In
he world at large he is unable, either from
Otal depravity or from mental weakness, to |
i've peacefully or successfully. While he |
S away from this prison his life is misera- |
lie debauch, and he is the one, perhaps, who |
uffers most by it. He never knows happi- |
less when he has freedom. But here he is /
heertul and easy to manage. Look at him /
low."
Once more glancing across the workhouse
avn saw that the prisoner was alone,
The squad had retired, and nowhere was q
uard in sight Oddly enough he was /
gayly TO himself, and vigorously
rudged here and there with his vheel-bar-
ow. a freight train was passing on the
Vest Penn Railroad below, but the nine
ear repeater" showed not the slightest
isposition to jump it and escape. Mr..
Warner continued:
Send Them to an Island.
"Ah, every time that man came back here
q q sentence I felt that he should never
ave been allowed to go back into the
yorld. Apparently the only success he is
apable of is behind these high walls. For
lch men and women would advise a new
enal system in the United States. 1 would
ave department of the National Govern
ltuL bdhS GudTge Oh lIleLu, dIiu Wnere I1eV |
ave served three or more terms of impris-
nment, transport them to some isolated
Dot-say an island-and there let them live
he remainder of their lives. Let them
raduate out of a prison-bouse there by good
ehavior, and then give them lot or farm,
nd teach them to be some use to them
lives by building home upon it; but keep
lem altogether, and isolate them from gen.
-al society forever My word for it, they
i'll be the happier and the world at large
i the better
81 am aware the leading objection to such
plan would be the supposed expense that
ould attach to it. If I have been able to
Ipport prisoners here in this workhouse,
lrrounded by populous Allegheny county,
r something like 81 cents day, think
a day would certainly cover all the sup
1rt of prisoners on an island, who every
5ar would approach nearer and nearer self
pDOrt In the general benefit to society, /,