The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-11-28
PRISONERS IN THE PEN.
INTERESTING STATISTICS ON CRIME
IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
Annual Report of the Superintendent of
the State Penitcntiary--The General Con-
dition of the Prlson--Other Facts of
Note.
COLUMBIA, S. c., Nov. 21.-The an
nual report of the superintendent of
the State penitentiary to the General
Assembly. just issued, makes interest
ing reading. It presents an array of
facts bearing on crime in South Caro-
lima which affords an interesting
study. Superintendent Neal says:
"On the 31st of October, 1898, there
were confined in the State penitenti-
ary and convicts camp 1, 1888 prisoners.
Received from county courts during
the year, $50; recaptured, So; total I, )
73S. Lost by expiration Of sentence,
535; by pardon, so; by escape, So; by
death 81; killed attempting to escape,
1; killed accidentally, 2; transferred
to the. asylum, 1; total lost, 676; leav-
ing this day in confinement, 1,062;
making an increase of 90 over last
year.
1--WE have made during the year
many improvements, having now a
perfect system of water works and
sewerage; no better to be found any
where.
1--WE had the misfortune to lose by
fire the hosiery mill on the 25th of
April, which had just been enlarged
and improved at a cost of $4,000. l
am glad to report that the hosiery mill
has been rebuilt double the size of the
old one, and substantial and conven-
lent, at a cost of SIS, The inn
provements inside of the yard have
been upwards of $4,000. Feeling the
necessity of more land, to use the
convalescing and cripple, and such
| labor as we could not hire out or send
out on farms, we rented IT'S acres of
land for three years near the yard.
We planted 100 acres in cotton, so in
corn and 25 in potatoes, &C., from
which we have made at the low price
of farm produce, about a, 600 worth,
which was almost a clear profit. |
am glad to report that the crops this
year are all good, with few exceptions,
altogether good average. At the
best estimate which is possible for me
to make at this date, would say that
we have on hand and to be gathered,
$50 bales of cotton, 10000 bushels Of
corn, 5000 bushels of oats, 5000 busfIa
els of peas, $50 bushels of wheat, and
at the low or present prices of farm
products we will be able to pay the
81, 900 now due on the DeSaussure
farm, and all other outstanding in
debtedness of the institution and to
have on hand at least $4,000 in cash
to begin the next years operations.
"We have purchased during the
year seven head of mules and horses
and have now on hand sixteen head,
all in good condition and most of
them young and valuable. We will
have $50 head of fine pork hogs to
kill this winter, and also have On
hand thirty head of milch COWS.
II would especially call your atten-
ton to the fact that this institution
has been heavily drained during the
past fiscal year by Clemson College
and the Girls Industrial School at
Rock Hill and the South Carolina
lunatic asylum, as follows:
Clemson College, cash.. 81, 937. .O3
Labor, clothing, etc.. 5,412.22
Girls Industrial School, cash 1,372.S0
Labor, clothing, etc. .12, 948. 90
South Carolina lunatic asylum 1,17.O5O
80 you will see that this institu-
ton has been taxed during the year
by these institutions to the amount of
s22, S5O,33 besides furnishing four or
five convicts and one guard to the
State house the entire year free of
charge, as required by law. I would
especially call your attention to the
small death rate and list of escapes,
both of which have been remarkably
small this year; the recapture of pris-
oners for the year has been equal to
the escapes. I feel sure that under
the find water closet and sewerage
system which we now have, our death
rate will be much smaller in the fu-
ture than in the past. In reference to
the food, clothing and sanitary condi-
ton of the institution, would refer
you to the report of our efficient ply
sician, DR.. D. S. Pope. It gives me
much pleasure to commend the faith
full service of our chaplain, Rev. A. P.
Norris, and for the spiritual condition
of the prisoners would call your at
tention to his report would beg to
thank the board of directors, officers
and guards for their kind treatment,
which l have at all times received at
their hands; our relations and bust
ness transactions have been most
pleasant during the entire year. For
the business transactions of the office
I would call your attention to the full
and complete report of our competent
clerk of board and bookkeeper,. r. E.
Burris."
The report of the board of directors
! of the same institution shows that the
| actual and estimated profits of the in
stitution for the past year were $27,-
302.55.
CONv1CTS IN PRISON.
The following is the report of Capt.
Eber G. Allen, as to the total number
of prisoners:
Prisoners in confinement,O Oc
tober 81, 1898. 49,. 1,O33
| Received under sentence from
that date and recaptured... 705
1,73S
From which deduct
Discharged by expiration of