Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-07-10
REFUGE FOR CONVICTS.
DISCHARGED PRISONERS AIDED TO
RESPECTABILITY.

hGOF CS l ADIClI T.
The Criminal May Now Find Aid Upon
Leaving Prison, and If So Disposed May
Find Work That viii Enable Him to
Become a Respectable Citizen.
A new life dawns on discharged convicts
They need not despair of again becoming
respectable citizens. Plenty of employ
ment is offered them. For those who can
not work there is a free home. Released
criminals need not be obliged to resort to
their former habits of life for a livelihood
At Ills First avenue is the Home of In
dustry and Refuge for Discharged Con
victs.
The institution occupies plain four
story red brick building.
This home of refuge is for the purpose of
offering to discharged convicts a secure
anchorage and a field for new beginning
Not only released convicts from the state
of New York come here, but returned
prisoners from every quarter outside of
the state are welcomed.
The home encourages discharged prison
ers to return to correct lives, boards and
lodges them and secures honest employ
ment for them. 1t does this without
charge.
In securing the discharged prisoner EN-
ployment the officers of the institution
make personal efforts, and advise the men
how to proceed for themselves In indi
eating to the men in what manner to pro
coed for themselves the officers of the home
advise with them in the fullest and friend
lest way possible, furnish them with prac
teal suggestions and place the large ex
IF fba anti alu of bo;,
vice. The inmates of the home are anxious
to be helped-the home is anxious to help
them.
WORK IN THE FACTORY.
There are 90 per cent. of the inmates who
get outside work. The rest remain in the
institution in the service of a factory es
tablished by the refuge. The factory
manufactures brooms and scrubbing
brushes. The discharged prisoner while
employed in the factory receives all the
way from one dollar to eight dollars per
week and his board and lodging This
lasts as long as the inmates good conduct.
The products of the institution are sold
and the proceeds applied to the support of
the home.
The financial results of the labor of the
men average $1,000 yearly. The expenses
of the home are 5000 year. The contri
button to the support fund from the pub
lie was s., 500 in 1890.
The factory is on the ground floor of the
building and opens directly upon First
avenue In the workroom is seen industry
and application. A spirit of harmony pre-
walls among the workmen. Rarely, if ever,
does any disturbance occur among them.
The influence of the home is mild and
wholesome, and the inmates respond salts
factorily to that influence They are neither
fractions nor ill tempered.
The inmates rise at $50, attend morning
prayers, get breakfast and report for work
at T. They work until 12 and go to dinner.
At they have supper. The evening is
spent in reading, playing checkers and other
harmless games, and in conversation. Ten
O'Clock is bedtime.
The returned prisoners come principally
from Sing Sing and from Clinton, while
many come from other prisons in the state.
AS has been said they are also welcome,
and come from outside of the state.
THE OLD LIFE GONE.
There are many in the refuge who have
lost all traces of their former lives. They
have reformed and become honest, indus
trious and respectable citizens. Some of
| the later arrivals still bear the suggestion
| of the prisons. These, however, show will
ingness and adaptability. They soon learn
they soon throw off the evidences of
their former imprisonment. They early
lose the sense of their past confinement.
| They become upright and honorable.
Married men-those who left wives and
children in New York when they first
yielded to crime-have returned from their
| prisons and earn good livelihoods through
IL oof VI,,,c@ III
| have been enabled to permanently rejoin
| their families.
Young men who have just served out
| heir first term have returned to a re-
| .laimed life through the home.
All of this is admirable testimony to the
| rtues of the institution.
Mr. Charles Stewart the superintendent
If the home, was asked by a reporter:
do you ever have men go from the home
ack to their old habits of cfime?"
Ten per cent, perhaps, do SO to our
| nowledge," was the reply.
1.-The number is really very small. But
&c can't keep track of more if more really
eturn to their old ways. We give our
Elves the benefit of the doubt and say 10
| ,er cent"
SIS permanent establishment of the
discharged convict in public confidence
racticable?"
'Yes"
WHO ARE RECLAIMED.
How many become good members of
;ociety?"
so far as we are at present able to de-
ermine we would say 20 per cent. We
think this very gratifying, and see con-
slant indications of increase. We hope
finally to do away with a great part of
prejudice and realize success in the work
of restoring former criminals to useful po-
sitions in society.
Some die. Some become shiftless, with
out becoming actually criminal again,
while others drift out of our knowledge"
"Can you specify any particular instance
of an ex-conyict who has returned from
prison and acquired prosperity"
Eyes, indeedl There is one in this city
now who is as solid business man as any
body. He is looked up to and respected by
all he has dealings with"
There are instances of released men who,
for various reasons, have grown discour-
aged in the home and have started to
leave They have decided to return to their
evil courses. They will no longer continue
the fight to be respectable. These men
have been almost invariably persuaded to
return to the home.
The Home of Industry was established in
1879 by Michael Dunn, an ex-convict. He
made an humble beginning in very small
way at first on Water street. The home
was then removed to Blocker street.
From Blocker street it was changed to
Mulberry. Thence it was removed to Hous
ton street, thence to its present location at
Lis First avenue. The organization has
withstood time and change, and is to be
congratulated upon its continued prosper
ity.-New York World.
Got What He Wanted.
One of the inmates of military prison
had in rage threatened to strike a warde1
and had insulted the governor. AS he was
a young soldier the latter wished to deal
with him himself and not bring him be
fore the visitors, who would have ordered
) him to be fogged for an offense so serious
Discipline, however, had to be maintained
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