The sun., 1891-10-04
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
oheplA There he an Institution for womes
n Ilka the ElsAlrn Reformatoryl

10 The hDftOE OF THE SUS-Sf: In SON
fencing "a young woman Of education and ro-
1nement" TO the penitentiary for two years
and ak months on conviction for stealing q
piano. Judge Cowing recently said: II am In
clned to think that II you could be sont to q
reformatory institution you might come forth
into tho world again reformed woman. But
tho law givos the Court no alternative The
Legislature Of this State has provided re-
formatory for men. but 1t has never seen the
nccessity-a pressing one. in my Judgment
Tor tho establishment OF q reformntory for
women. It appears 10 me that there certainly
ought to be as great desire to reform women
rs TO reform men. and certainly trust that Mt
the next session Of the Legislature this defoct
In our system Of punishment and reform may
be corrected"
The police returns show TINT women are by
far less frequent aggressors Of the law than
men. There were for instance. last year. out
OF $4,000 arrests. only 1886 women. In othor
words. there were about throe and half times
as many men arrested as women. But. when
the nature OF the offences is taken into consid-
Grafton. the women appear to stll creator ad-
vantage. for their offences were mainly OF q
minor character. OF arrests FOR assault and
battery the women furnished only SAC. out Of
6.<0S or about ono-tenth: Of arrests FOR folo-
Nous assault, the women only furnished SO
s,e SSs q co. or sboTs q SeTeaGs
f. sgzSS men: petit larceny. Ssaa Women to
%;n 1sn saS n
Women 70 81 men: roekless driving. 2 womon
mss esSn g. esn ffsSa
8 y
Sas ssss q ~ SssafSs ~disoIasElz houses. sSr
sS7aas SFs
mon. Judged " transeressions Of the Penal
sttsndine arst to the reformation Of men.
s.s Il a sSs Sas SssS
says:
ss ss. e as
been sonys.ea Of crime Rani.h.s By impri.9nment
ssa'sa
4 ~ e g .Ss under tho
;. prtseners in the the Elmira Reiormatory arc
tSeir CondSct % and y with lberal allowances &c
ssss ass III and Rhe ths s
Sc e From 20 ssAeS
trade 81 offences for which women are rel mostly
C not SSSssa
are not enough female eonvicts suitable for an
nos tea 81 he legislature
has been pnmindfql Of the reformation Of wo-
In 5s ths te sss
Ssse Ssss ssys: .ss '''0nS s'eo0n ' OF the Penal
sss ss ct sopS Y S m
ao H. of f sa she Is esn
nsas iSs % TO In the
ana @ proyson fe@ the sae a' q
q ass e IN aoPss
n :SS st
sss
b. the .S ?, such s.%,s S
sSs
OF OF of ais
ana sassy 81 70 s
3: aos: * =. 4 sessS:Is
s:s Ssn saa
= se:s .ns hC
2: ;sss ss ssss
:sssss
e sS e.: !. s ss assy e 81 :1ss
is:...ss .'s.. In sns city Of Hs% York Tnss
Sy '' such in:si. ptiSn. SOD What s''siss eisss
tion: whsnsvef .ha4 sPpesSS 70 the %an.eers Or
. s%s s ns
proper At subject tor their that such In.
3atudsn has not suitable accommodation for such
female suoh institution may return such female tho
committng magistrate With statement In writing Of
thsreupon commit such female as vagrant, pauper.
or disorderly person
Under this law both women and girls have
been for the last five years committed by
police magistrates to the reformatory institu-
lions named in the law In cases where they
might otherwise be sent to the penitentiary..
There is also State institution known as the
State Industrial School, formerly the Western
House Of Refuge. at Rochester. which Is a
Juvenile reformatory for disOrderly. vagrant,
and criminal boys and girls. It is apparent,
therefore. that the State has not been so un-
mindful OF the necessity for reforming women
as the words Of Judge Cowing would seem to
imply. but has made rather extensive provision
for them in existing laws. Considering the
exemption Of women from confinement In the
State prison. the provisions for their contlne,
%ent IN existing fsfosma;t3ry institqtions and
3endsnts; It is not apRarenht 4 that females are
NEW Y:RK. Sept ~.
In tho Matter or Freedom OF Worship.
tn TIRE ENRON M THE SuN-Cir. Havin o IN