St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-04-15

Paul, who said, in substance, that
without occupying any Of the
very limited time allotted to
him by preliminary remarks, he would
try to assist in defining the duty allotted
to the state in the care, supervision and
control of persons convicted of crime
upon the broadcast lines of Christian
charity and strictly in the pathway of
reform. When man Is convicted of a
crime the punishment has nothing 10 do
with the idea of vengeance, which
is positively delaterious in its in
fluence on society. The convict does not
by reason Of the fact that he is a con-
Wet forfeit any of his natural rights,
except those defined by the court in
hicting the punishment. He loses his
liberty and reputation. Further than
this the law does not proceed, and his
keeper has no right to proceed. The
objects of punishment are twOfOld, det-
terment to others, and reform of the
convict. The state owes him GER
tain duties; that of protection.
The state should reform the convict.
Their efOre modern prison science, that
the convict shall be well and health
fully placed. Prisons, therefore, must
be so constructed as to give hun plenty
of air, with good sanitary surroundings.
Then education should be brought into
play. 1t is important that the convict
should not be placed where he will be
better educated in crime. Under the
old system convictS mingled promiscu-
Ously, and prisons became schools of
crime, and convicts graduated to prey
upon society. Then il is of the greatest
Importance that criminals of
Different Sexes he Separated,
that the old and Young should cOnsti-
tute separate and distinct grades. and
over all should be thrown a spirit of
gentle kindness. At present tine state
does not perform its duty towards GRIM
inals rightly, but proportions the i'm
prisonment to the crime, which is the
old idea of vengeance.
Conducting County Jails.
Hon, ii. NJ. Richardson, member of
the legislature and ex-Sheriff of Koches-
ter county, submitted a paper on 'HOw
to Conduct County JailS " The hon
orable gentleman prefaced his paper by
saying that he felt the honor done him
in asking him to address this
meeting, and a becoming modesty
in particular, who was so we'll
versed in all these questions, Mr..
Hart, state superintendent of charities,
and said in substance that the success
of managing county Jail depended
good deal on the Jail. This should be
built with proper regard to all sanitary
laws, should be as securely built as
possible and proof against the
cunning of the most skillful
efforts to escape from ''turret
to foundation stone" Then in the
control of the prisoners, there is moth
ing so effective as an appeal to his man.
hood. A sheriff should never break his
word to his prisoners. The turnkey
must never forget that his vigilance is
pitted against men playing a desperate
game. 1t should be kept clean, heated
by steam or hot water, for tongs and
other implements used about a
fire have been used as weapons
of warfare by desperate men. The
rules on entering were to search the
men, subject them to bath and see
that they understand the rules. and get
their description. This is all that the
law requires, but by the higher law
keeper must win the friendship of the
men. | supplied them with books and
papers from my library. Men will read
improving books when confined. boys
have learned to read from my children'S
discarded school books. These things
give them something better to think of
than the plotting to escape. Towards
the close of sentence, or where the