The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-01-17
BETTER THAN IRON BARS.
THE GOOD WORK OF THE PRISON
ASSOCIATION.

THE GOOD WORK OF The PRISON
ASSOCIATION.
The Organization Chartered by the Legis
| lature Fully at Work. and Much Goof
! Already Accompiished-One Hundred
Acres of Land Purchased.
A subject that is attracting much atten
ton among philanthrOpic people is that o
prison reform. The true philosophic ant
enlightened treatment Of the crimina
classes il one Of the questions Of modern
life and progress which is growing and des
tined to grow rapidly in public interest.
At present the contrast between the worn
now going on in England and in America
Is very striking. Here, and especially IL
Virginia, il the great work Of prison pre-
tentative in its infancy, while in Great
britain there are now over six hundred re-
formatOry, preventative, and child saving
| institutions in successful operation.
About ninety thousand children and
youths have passed through these schools
| i'm the last twenty years aud the effects OIL
the training is shown by the large decrease
Of crime in that country.
CRIME INCREASING.
IL is said that in nearly every state In
this country crime is not only on the IN
crease, but that IL is increasing even faster
| than orr teeming population, while in the
british Islands, where population is also in
creasing. though not with the rapid strides
that mark our wonderful expansion, crime
Is not only relatively but absolutely and
rapidly decreasing.
il was looking toward the establishment
of an institution 10 diminish the prison roll
ard TO save the young from falling deeper
into crime. that the Legislature at the last
session. after being strongly urged by men
filled with philanthropy for the boys OF the
state who are subjected to the influence OF
crime, passed the act Incorporating the
Prison Association of Virginia.
The objects Of this organization are: The
improvement Of the government, discipline
and general management OF prisons within
this State, whether und' the control OF
State, city, or county authorities; the ameli-
Grafton of the condition OF prisoners,
whether detained as witnesses, or for trial,
or finally convicted; the encouragement
and aid Of discharged cOnyicts who exhibit
any desire TO reform and 10 become good
citizens.
The names Of the officers Of the AssOcia.
ton are a sufficient guarantee Of its noble
purposes, and Of the good it is destined 10
do. The officers are: Robert Stiles, presi-
dent: ID. G. Richardson, yice-president; W.
b. Williams, secretary, and John A. Lam
caster, treasurer.
ASSOCIATION HOME.
The Association now has a temporary
home about three miles below Richmond.
on the river road, and quite a number OF
boys are already sheltered there. The
school is in charge Of superintendent of
large experience, and who comes highly
recommended.
About one hundred acres of land have
been purchased by the Association at Lau-
rel. eight miles from Richmond. on the
Richmond, fredericksburg and Potomac
railroad, and there they expect to erect at
an early day a large and commodiols
house.
The inmates are pat under no physical
restraint, but there is constant watch
kept over them. A part Of each day they
r. ceiye instructions in the element0ry
branches Of edl cation, and the rest OF the
time il occupied by manual labor.
The fourth section of the act Of incOrp0ra-
ton is as follows:
Said association shall have power, dur
ing the minority Of any persons so commit
ted to their charge, 10 bind out such persons
being minors, during their minority, IS ap-
prentices or servants To such persons. at
such places. and for such employment as
will IN the judgment Of the appropriate Of
fcers or agents Of said association be most
conducive TO the reformation and real adj
vantage OF such minors.
THE ACTS PASSED.
On the day after the passage of the act in
cooperating the Prison Association. another
act was ed amending the criminal code
50 as to allow judges and magistrates 10
commit certain offenders TO the keeping Of
the Association. This act is as follows:
81. BE il enacted by the General Assem-
bly, of Virginia, that whenever any minor
charged with any crime, or any witness.
yagrant, or disorderly person is arrested;
or whenever any person is convicted OF any
misdeameanOr or felony, where the punish
ment inflicted does not exceed confinement
in Jail for one year, it shall be lawful for
the court, Judge, or Justice causing the ar
rest, or before whom conviction is had, in
the discretion of such court, judge, or JUS
tice, and with the consent of the Prison As
sOciatiOn of Virginia, TO direct that the per-
son arrested or convicted, as the case may
be, and held for testimony, trial, or punish
mUnt, shall be committed to the custody aud
control of the said Prison Association Of
Virginia. and the sand Association shall
have power and authority over any such
persons as the proper authorities OF the
State penitentiary now have with regard to
the persons committed TO it, ard shall be
entitled TO the same compensation for car
ing for them which the jailers of this Com
monwealth now have or are entitled to-
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
In the address 10y the president he notes a
few of the evils Of the present system Of
prisons as follows, and urges speedy re-
form:
"The county Jail system, under which
persons are cOnfined-either as a punish
ment for crime or while awaiting trial-in
absolute idleness, and herded indl-crim-
nately together, the innocent suspect and
the hardened criminal.
"'rhe commitment Of children TO these
DEVILS kndergartens, these schools Of
crime, sometimes for the most trivial INSIDE
meanOrs.
"The well-nigh resistless suction. by
which, when man has once been drawn
within the maelstrom Of our criminal sys-
TEN, and had the lightweight of "fel0n"
attached to him, he is dragged down
lbIouEu vice ana uuuti tue StDii-
full lOathing of Christian society, which he
repays with yengeful hate-tO despair and
DEATH"
Tsbleaux at Barton Heights.
A series Of very interesting and well |
arranged tableaX were given in the theatre |
at Barton Heights last night for the benefit |
Of the Musical and Athletic Association Of
the town. A large audience was present. |
and quite a sum Of money was realized. The |
names of the tableauX were: Bachelors |
Reyerie." Flower of the Family" after |
noon Tea" Turkish Scene" "CleOptra," |
Letter of Recommendation" Taking the |