The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-01
YrRGTNIA PENTTENTLfRT.
What Can BE Said About the Convicts In the
State Prison.

The Board of Directors of the penitentlary
is composed Of Messrs. John X. Cooke, w. ID.
Chester1nan. and +. W. Chamberlayne. who
receive the reports of the superintendent ana
surgeon and transmit them 70 the Governor.
The directors in their preface say;
Since our last report the convlcts at work
on the railroads. under the operation OF the
new law governing their hire, have been self
sustaining and the earnings of those at work
inside of it's walls. under the new contracts,
have considerably increased Altogether, the
result is gratifying and shows net gam 10
the State of slS.6Sj.ls.
we have set on foot work by which TO in
crease the number of cells IN the institution.
rendered necessary by the greatly crowded con-
ditOn of those now existing and the steadily
increasing number of inmates.
The enlargement contemplated Il not
equal TO even present needs, but It IL all the
board feel authorized to undertake at this
time When the next Legislature meets IT Is
hoped an enlargement will be ordered ade
quate to meet fully all demands IN this direc-
ton
The conduct Of the officers and guards of
the institution during last year has been par
tcularly commendable. and we take pleasure
in calling your attention to the fact"
Superintendent w. W. Moses in his report
says that the feeding clothing, and guarding
sos prisoners chat being the daily average
within the walls of the penitentiary) for
SI4s7l. 26; gross cost. sci. $3.50.
Total number in prison, white and colOred
October /, 1890. 93S; total on public works
24-1. 192.
Total number received during the year from
the cities, 1886 total from the counties, 333
Norfolk county sent the largest number, %
and the next largest quantity were convicted
in Richmond city-A
Here is a list OF the crimes on which the
45s prisoners received during the fiscal year
were convicted:
Abduction. l; abortion, /; arson, II; admin
istering poison. 3; burglary, Is; barn burning,
&: buggery, 8: bigamy, 3; breaking into YES
sells. 6; car breaking. 2; forgery, y. grand lar
ceny. - house breaking. l2l; horse stealing, Il;
infantIcide. /; Jail burning. 3; mule stealing,
3; malicious cutting. 20; malicious shooting.
"a malicious assault, 35; miscegenation, 2;
highway robbery, g. passing counterfeit
money. .; kidnapping, !: rape, 3; attempt at
rape, 10: murder. second degree. 2S volun-
tary manslaughter, 8; seduction, 4; stealing
from person. 10.
Their occupations when received were as
follows: Butchers. 3: BARRIERS. 2; bricklayers,
/; blacksmiths /; clerks l; cooks. Z; carpen-
tiers, 4. coopers. 2 engineers, y farm
ers, z fremen. 3; hack-drlyers,
/: house servants. 49, laborers, 346;
miners (coal PITS. q millers. /; musicians, l;
merchants, 2; nurses 3; oystermen,4 painters,
/; physicians. 2; printers, 2; sailors, D. shoe
1.
One hundred aud twenty were married. 1893
single. le6 could read and write 23J were IL
literate, 153 were moderate drinkers. LOG IN
temperate and 1919 abstinents.
SURGEONS REPORT.
Surgeon John W. Nash in his report says:
Il am pleased 10 say that we have had 10
forms of epidemics. although We have had
several cases Of mumps measles and various
diseases Of minor importance | found III
none Of them anything which gave me any
trouble 10 treat.
IL must say, however, the mortality of the
Institution Is seemingly large, but that Is
owing in a great measure, TO the condition of
prisoners when received IN the institution,
many being in an advanced stage OF con-
sumption and other diseases, and again there
are others returned from the public works in
like condition; and those who are predispOsed
to pulmonary or lung Diseases with the
| crowded condition Of our prison mther has
tendency 10 hasten It's development and often
terminating fatal in a very short time.
The sanitary condition of the prison Is
GOOD. which think is due to the efficient ser
vice of the superintendent and his corps of
able assistants who have been untirlng in
their efforts 10 add TO the comfort and health
of the cOnvicts.
For this kind and cheerful help towards
mitigating the suffering of our sick. extend
to each and all my sincere thanks"
Following is the percentage of deaths in
prison and on railroad contracts:
In Prison-Average number of prisoners,
s96 s-l2; number died, % percentage of deaths,
12-100.
On Railroad Contracts--Averagen number of
prisoners. 1888 9-l2 died, Q; percentage OF
deaths. 3 SG-100.
The report shows that there were at the
end OF the fiscal year three children i'll the
penitentaly-all mulattos One was born
there in 1856 and the other two went there
with their mothers in 1888. All were boys.