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


divided the terms of their sentences into
three periods. During the first, or punish
ing, the men were subject to close surveil-
lance and discipline.
Partnership of Criminals.
At the expiration of thisterm they could
divide themselves into companies of six, by
mutual consent only, however. Each six
were to have o common fund of marks, into
which all their earnings were to be paid,
and from which the fines of any and all that
company must be paid. This Is perhaps the
most original reform Of the whole system,
and at once makes the germ for the
growth of all the qualities that are
essential to good member Of society Each
man becomes Interested in the industry and
GOOD behavior of his associates in a manner
SO direct and palpable in every way that the
effect of the voluntary partnership is to
keep all the partners in continual state of
watchfulness and emulation, or of shame to
the one who may be derelict to the interest
of his immediate companions. Dishonest
and selfish as they might be, they are thus
made to feel that shirking by any one of
them hurts all; so that majority must all
the time use a pressure for industry and
fair play. As they had no way of pun
ishing each other for shortcomings, the con-
sequence was the creation of an honorable
conception of mutual duty and forbearance
In the third period Of the sentence the
prisoner was to be thrown on his individual
character and to be permitted under the
same system Of marks, or wages, to profit or
lose for himself alone according to his indus
try and good behavior.
Were Allowed to Buy or Sell.
In the island of Norfolk, where the
Maconochie was able to add some privileges
tence not practicable everywhere. He was
allowed hut and garden, pigs and poultry,
which might be sold for his benefit to the
ships that touched at the island. Thus by
all these means this great reformer taught
the prisoners industry, appreciation of the
right of others, the mutually of rights and
obligations in community, self-reliance
and self-respect
He spent four years in this experiment,
and thus states the result: IT found the
island turbulent, brutal hell; 1 left 1t
peaceful, well-ordered community"
Sir Walter Crofton succeeded him, and
organized the system more perfectly to
adapt its discipline and methods to the
average grade of the persons who have
charge of prisons; that is to say, to much
lower level than would be required were
such men as Maconochie in charge. Crof-.
toms modified system, also divided into three
stages of imprisonment, consists of:
First-A separate Imprisonment Of eight
months
Second-A reformatory stage propor-
toned to the whole length of the sentence,
in which the system of Maconochie is re-
tanned in principle, but modified in adapta-
tion to give the prisoner a progressive or
acceding position, and a larger and smaller
industry or conduct.
The Prison at Lusk.
Crofton also put his plans into full opera
tion in Ireland in 1854, where three separate
prisons were provided to accommodate the
graduate from lower to higher degrees The
first was at Mt. Joy, and the second was on
Spike Island. The third was the social evo-
luton of the other two, and was located at
Lusk, IL miles from Dublin. This prison at
Lusk is the most remarkable fruit of the
system. Here the prisoner has degree Of
freedom that puts to test all his previously
acquired self-control and self-respect. There
are no walls, prison bars or armed watchmen
before his eyes; no prison garb, physical re-
straint OF check in social Intercourse.
The prisoners are employed in groups,
mostly on outdoor farm work, in company
with unarmed wardens, who work with
them. They are not even restrained of lib
erty of escape, except by the knowledge of
the advantages to be gained by working to
the ends of their terms and securing the pay
ment of earnings in store for them. At
tempts to leave before the ends of their
terms have been rare among those who reach
this stage of reform. The mark system, how
ever, it is not continued at Lusk. The ap-
pearance of pupilage is avoided and men are
made to feel themselves part of the COM
munity around them by attending lectures
and public worship at the parish church, and
in being trusted in various services out Of
the eye of any prison officer. There Is no
physical restraint to prevent their escape
day or night. The number of inmates in the
prisons just described, and their cost for the
year ending 1874, was 81, ,130, and the net
annual cost of each prisoner e22, It's and 4d
Systems of the United States.
Concluding the article in the International
Cyclopedia upon prisons, the writer says:
'The United States as nation has no great |
prison. Each State maintains one or more
large establishments, conducted under many
different systems, but in general tending to
the social system of progressive classifca-
ton, and making more or less progress |
toward it. Each city also has its special |
prison. The association of prison man
lgement with politics, and the facilities in |
some States for prison officials to have a |
patronage at their disposal, in
,luding the contracts for the labor of the |
prisoners, is the most unfortunate feature of |
United States prison systems.
estate Legislatures tend to the most hn
name and thoughtful iberality in providing |
or the accommodation and reformation Of |
so that when prisons are making
title progress toward the ideal which Mac.
'nochie and Crofton have proved entirely
practicable, it is because the officials and
managers themselves are not the right men
n the right place" L. E. STOFIEL