The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-04-25

The spirit of crime pervades every
com munity. Society must be protected
against the ravages Of the criminal
classes and for this reason jails and
prisons were erected.
The casual visitor at these places OF
detention goes fully prep red to see
crime aud It's results manifested in the
sullen hang-dog countenances Of men,
some young, some in the prime of life
and many far advanced in years. The
visitor Is not surprised at the scenes that
greet his vision at every hand.
But the visitor who is making a tour
of inspection of the Rhode Island state
prison aud Providence county Jail at
Nor ood. Is oftentimes considerably
shocked to see small boys, some scarcely
in their teens, mingling with the hard
ened criminals within the granite walls
These children nave certainly commit ted
no crime of such heinous nature rs to
warrant such severe punishment Is the
first thought of the observer. and In
most cases the surmise Is correct.
What then. is the reason OF their
presencei Is the next question.
The explanation lies In hs fact that the
boys are awaiting trial for some viola
tion OF the law. They commit sone overt
act, are arrested, arraigned, plead not
guxfy aud are held in surety for trial at
later date. If the surety be not forth
comiug they are remanded TO ] lil to
await trial Here they must mingle
with
Criminals of Every Glass;
and the result is anything but beneficial
to them.
EVIL communications corrupt good
'esanners," and a young boy, child. In
fact, canIot associate with depraved
men without incurring moral injury.
The great danger lies in the fact that the
boys do not mingle with wha5 might be
termed great" criminals. A man of
George Ellwood's nature would not hurt
q boy by association 1t IS from the
common herd OF :'bums," drunk ards
and petty criminals that the greatest
dan yer is to be fe red. Thoroughly de-
praved by nature, 1t Is imposs ole for
them to help communicating the very air
about themselves, and tie boy of tender
years, who is compellsd o live in the
same atmosphere with these morally and
mentally deformed specimens of nan
hood, cannot help but acq lire some Of
their traits OF character
The presence of these children among
the drpraved inmates of the Jail has
Often called forth expressions of astonish-
ment aud
Unfavorable Comment
from persons visiting the institution.
Chapl ain Nutting has frequently called
attention to the fact of their imprison-
ment in his annual reports, and it having
been learned that there was some doubt
as to whether full authority existed to
commit to the Reform scnool in default
of recognizance, "a law was passed at the
May session of the legislature OF two
years ago, upon the suggestion OF the
bo ird of state charities anu corrections.
that covered, as was thought any defect
in the laws on this point. The amend
meut Is as follows:
Whenever any accused person under the age OF
ls years snail be required by any enter In
TO recogntzancc FOR MS appearance before any
may at the discretion OF the court be committed to
tine State Reform s;hool; there TO remain until the
required recognizance De given, or he be other
wise discharged by law.
The carrying out of this law would re-
lieve the officials at the Jail from co sid
erable work in looking out for the boys
and ould be materially better for the
children themselves
Two years ago the chaplain made men,
tion of several cases that had come under
his observation. Que little fe,low OF 12
years was awaiting trial with a comrade
l3 years OF age. Another boy OF l3 yeai 8
was working out "a fine OF $50 and costs
for stealing. All OF these suffered con-
viction for the offeuses charged against
them aud were sentenced to che Reform
school. Previous to their conviction
they under vent an imprisonment more
ignominious than the penalty Of their
crime.
The report of last year showed that
there had been thirtv-nine lads COM
milted whose ages were as follows: one,
10 years of age; two, IL; four. l3; eight,
Ii; eight, Is; aud sixteen. 16. Son.e were
held awaiting trial, others to work out
fine and costs and others still To Sc rye
sentences for slight misdemeanors.
The ate has In he Sockauosset school
an institution for juvenile offenders that
Is unsurpassed in its appointments and,
as the board believe, under excellent
management, and it would seem that
boys might be sent to this institution
rather than TO the Jail where they must
associate at times with old offenders
= One OF the prison officials express ed
himself freely 60 News man recently.
lie spoke of the condition of affairs and
remarked that he considered it wrong TO
hold the little fellows In jail for trial.
Tney should ever be sent To that insti-
tuition, but should rem IN at the Reform
school until their fate was decided.
Said he 1--WE can't bear down on the
boys ~ hard as we do on the hardened
sinners. We have no right TO morally.
IL may be argued by some that IL n boy
In checked i'm his youth he will grow up
in the straight aud narrow way, but
when you turn n child loose among bar
room buns that child is bound to be
come contaminated by the association.
Aud then there Is always that stain on
his name. He has been in jail aud this
will follow him throughout lIfe.
"Why, remember one case that came
under my observation. The boy was
brou yht TO the Jail g await trial on "a
charge of breaking lie had era We'd into