The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-07-04
KEFUUE FUR OONVICTS.
DISCHARGED PRISONERS AIDED TO
RESeEcTARiuTY.

Find Work That Win Enable Him to
Become 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 ,115 First avenue is the Home of In
dustry and Refuge for Discharged Con-
victS.
The institution occupies a plain four
story red brick building.
This home of refuge is for the purpose of
offering to discharged convicts a secure
anchorage and field for new beginning.
Not only released conyicts 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-
perience of the refuge entirely at their SER
vice. The inmates of the home are anxious
TO be helped-the home is anxious to help
them.
WORK IN THE FACTORY.
There are 20 per cent. of the inmates who
get outside work. The rest remain in the
institution in the service Of 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 5000 yearly. The expenses
of the home are 5000 year. The contri-
button to the support fund from the pub
lie was $, 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 i'll tempered.
The inmates rise at $50, attend morning |
prayers, get breakfast and report for work |
at z. 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 liyelihoods through
the aid of the home of refuge. Thus they
have been enabled to permanently rejoin
their families.
Young men who have just served out
their first term have returned to re-
claimed life through the home
All of this is admirable testimony to the
virtues of the institution.
Mr.. Charles Stewart, the superintendent
Of the home, was asked by reporter;
DO you ever have men 90 from the home
back to their old habits of crime2"
''Ten per cent, perhaps. do so to our
was the reply.
1.-THE number is really very small But
We can't keep track of more if more really
return to their old ways. We give our
selves the benefit of the doubt and say ~
per cent"
SIS permanent re-establishment of the !
discharged convict III public confidence
,racticablei"
YES"
WHO ARE RECLAIMED.
"How many become good members of !
ociety?"
80 far as we are at present able to de- S
ermine we would say 20 per cent We {
hink this very gratifying, and see con-
uant indications of increase. We hope l
inally to do away with a great part of I.
prejudice and realize success in the work =,
# restoring former criminals to useful po-
itions in society.
Some die. Some become shiftless, with ]
'ut becoming actually criminal again, {
while Others drift out of our knowledge"
Can you specify any particular instance
# an ex-conYict who has returned from /
,rison and acquired prosperity"
Yes, indeed! There is one in this city
low who is as solid business man as any
'ody. He is looked up to and respected by
II he has dealings with" :
There are instances of released men who,
or various reasons, have grown discour-
ged in the home and have started 10 s
cave. They have decided to return TO their 7
vii courses. They will no longer continue
he fight to be respectable. These men .
ave been almost invariably persuaded to =
eturn to the home. y
The Home of Industry was established in I
S79 by Michael Dunn, an ex-convict. He v
made an humble beginning in very small
gay ct first on Water street. The home L
7as then removed 70 Bleecker street. =
rom Blocker street 1t was changed TO / -
iulberry. Thence it was removed % Hous-
on street, thence 70 its present location at z
us First avenue. The organization has
time and change and i "a ~