The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-10-09
he fsstihss at tho Elmira Reform
latory Investigation.
FIGURES SUBMITTED UNDER OATH
No Inmate Ever scsidsd with Hot wsssr
rs . PunIsllnent Convicts Not
Burned with hot Irons-Nsithsr Hot
OAs Pipe Nor showerba,h Now Used.

ELMIRA, N. Y, Oct. AT the continu-
alton of the investigation Of Supt. Brock
way, Of Elima ~rsformatory before COM
mittse, the superintendent submitted the
following figures under oath, based on the
report Of the institution ON September 30,
1892:
Number Of persons received under inde6-
mite sentences since the organization Of the
rsformstory, 5,511.
Number Of indefnites discharged, in
Guiding those paroled, duaing that period,
4,195.
Whole number of indefinites parolsd,
$3.50.
Percentage Of number discharged to
number received 7A27.
Percentage of number paroled to whole
number discharged 77.44
Number peroled after twelve monthA
251.
Per cent. paroled after twelve months,
to whole number discharged, 8 per cent.
Number paroled after twelve months to
whole number paroled, 80 per cent.
Number discharged from reformatory
at expiration of maximum term, 224, or
5.3 per cent, Of whole number discharged.
Total number transferred to state pris-
onS, 5lS, or 1887 per cent. Of the whole
number discharged
Number Of indednitss remaining at re-
formatory, 1884. or 20. 10 per cent. Of the
whole number received.
The superintendent remained on the
stand until adjournment. He reviewed
the work Of the officials Of the prison, and
dwelt extensively upon the monitor system
in operation. In this regard he said that
between 10 to 20 inmates are monitors.
They arc selected from the commissioned
officers of the reformatory militia. The
inmate officers of the prison number sixty.
Inmate monitors make the best watchers
ON account of their service In the ranks.
There is no popularity in the reports IN
the conduct Of prisoners, - returned from
the inmate monitors, as compared with
tue ItpOLL3 VI bu0 S&tizC =
When an inmate mon tor reports q pris-
oner for an intraction Of the rules, tho case
is thoroughly Investigated by the superin-
tendent before punishment 10 administered.
The committee seemed to be OF opinion
that citizen monitors throughout might DO
best.
The witness then said that the paddle 10
never dipped In anything but water before
using. No inmate was ever given the
choice between q padding or a hot water
bath. No inmate was ever scalded with
hot water n a punishment.
The hospital physician is not present In
the bath room when padding punishment
il administered. There Is no rule requir-
ing the physician to visit daily convicts
confined In the solitary cells, but he has
the privilege Of doing so IL he desires.
The showerbath is never used ~ q pun
ishment the hot gas pipe, formerly utilized
to drag vicious prisoners from thor cells,
has not been used for several years.
The allegations that ~convicts are punish
cd aud burned with hot irons are false.
The witness explained the grading Of
the prisoners on their entry and their sub
sequent movements up and down In the
three grades, according to conduct.
Here Judge Gilbert and the superin-
tendant indulged in = discussion As to tho
best methods Of reforming . convict wAo
has some excellence and strength of
character, the Judge referring to the young
fellow who some time ago was pun
ished for refusing to dIvulge to supcrin-
tendent Brockway the names Of his parents
and their residence, a. he did not wish to
disgrace them.
The question of transferring prisoners to
state prison also created a lengthy discus
sion, it being the opinion Of the committee
and Judge Gilbert that a person sentenced
to the reformatory fer a maximum term
should not, after staying in the Institution
for several years, be transferred to a prison
and then be compelled to commence serv-
ing the maximum term, independent OF
the time spent In the ~reformatory.
Judge Gilbert thought IL this practice
was continued a prisoner might, In the
first instance, receive a state prison son
tence so that at the time Of sentence he
would get the benefit of any mercy the
Judge might be willing to bestow.
Thus, in cases where the maximum SEN
tence TO the rsformntory would be for ten
years, a prisoner, II sent at the outset to a
state prison. would probably only receive a
few years sentence.
The superintendent was requested TO
furnish the committee with q list OF all
persons transferred from the reformatory
to insane asylums or state prisons during
the past six yeer,.
tceusrous Inudon-