New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-12
no incentive to moral Improvement possible under
conditions which exist in this so-called "reforma-

conditions which exist in this so-cailed "ref0rma-
The time must come when there shall be classi.
fcation OF criminals study OF the last report OF
ne OF Prisons hswever 4
that which furnishes an idea Of the impossloility
professional criminal from the hrst offenders. OF
the l,2,5 convcts in Sing Sing Prison on september
to that or some Other reformatory or penal nstitu:
ton numbered $50. 43 per cent, and ~, or %
Rer 81
time 1sI for the third time 50 for the fourth time:
the seventh time, and In descending scale In point
of numbers down to who was imprisoned TOR
the sixteenth time. Here s. per cent Of the IN
mates who might be susceptible to reform innu:
ences but they are thrown into TINS great vat OF
prison door they contaminated and their morals
vit'ated by Of their associations. and little
can be expected from them when they re-enter the
AGE OF PRISONERS
Another interesting feature bears upon the age Of
the inmates at the time Of conviction. The fact ID
developed that the population Of Sing Sing Prison
al the time OF the last official report comprised ~
or GG36 per cent between the ages OF eighteen and
thirty. Extending the computation to the age OF
thirty-two. fifteen years from the age OF eisnss
per cent The highest number OF any one age is at
twenty-five. Of which there were ninety-one, wnMe
% THERE yepe
Of age at h the time q twenty
years Old The Youngest Convict year:
old Between that age and seventeen years.
IL eighteen years. ears" 2s; nineteen years $:
twenty years. ga total OF las Minors or or
Of Sf RI sna to he
81 Of 9th the prison y nap ce s5e Of the entire
prison population Is it humane and Is It CnrisuanS
IKE to herd these young men WIN nsr cen Of the
prison population? Here seems to be the legitimate
cannot be- accomplished by meetings in church ie
ure-rooms or even in public halls and listening t 20
mseTies Of the unfortunates are recalled and retod
from imagination. 1t is reform which , can ,, onty
in order that these statements may be fully con,
rmed If doubts exist as to their reaty: ana;
the adoption Of laws which will provide against inc
further practice Of these inauteS xoune men COM
mitted prison for first offence can be redeem leo
e cna sem great DEAL depends upon their treatment
in these institutions and the cnaractef OF tn ~
9ena hat GENERALLY the officers at Sing Sing
humane. and that. with an occasional excepuSSns:
delicate @sr' functions without undue harshness.
prison is no place for brutal keeper or other ON
s ased tn tn 1n' writer BY
prison in the wsS, mny De employed as bank
clerk in Western town started out one eyemi .n
with number OF his associates h on s0i noxcaed
and after leaving his companions started AZ h an
STEADY or ns he ran against
was coming in the opposite direction on .ne S.Ee
Smse en-" the latter tried to strike the Young man
who being rather athletic struck hnoc SpIonSsHs
over the net the pavemen The sequel ne
was promptly arrested; the man assaulted COT
tom as the result Of the blow and the bank clerk
ra tender a" 70
! and six months Imprisonment Althomgh me VA "a.
Sn was a fam entered Tn his
keep watch over him In any particular way way hr,,H
day ne was standing at the corner OF snop Quill
| ,nS ritb,n the prison grounds when company OF
! prisoners being marcned TO ,ne shop, nr re cnv
vict Who on seeing the warden. eered at him
wagged his tongue and made grimace.s a. INT ths
next morning up position at the ,s spot
when the offensive action OF the Day cSreamsd
his number and after the days work was done Sa,
to the en yoSng arVs se He
spoke to the prisoner who after simply f cas- nd
snS The warden unlocked the door Of the cell en-
tered and sat down the cot by the siae Oh ee
young his visitor At last the warden said pleas
antly well my young friend how are you get
q was the s, pr9mp' a TsP You
The warden said YES bs manner amy you are voa-
ing the regulations Of the prison ana are sp aowd
extension Of your service vice eeySaS me time
oy Tbs nrsnner laid down his book and looked the
s wliaen st a@ not responsible being here
| Have you been mlstreated at all since you came
ssn The Thu xs4Gsn asked FfpsWS ala a
| me- and wag your tongue yesterday and TO-DAY.
the hetes syevbody connected officially with the In
u,on and sn Ss as s Tss Inc
Tba Warden Yl, took the young by the hand and
said 81 am old enough to be your aiSers , Want
n treat YOU we'll and want you to get out OF mere
possible dent wans yO What S you have
done. and il you have any trouble anywhere come
and viii be your 6 f5sGd by ,b,. evidence Of
kindness. made an excellent record In the prison
d dGr He is now successful business man
in Western city. and possessed or large ior'p ha
! has been dead about four years and large crayon
portrait OF him hangs conspicuous.y on the wall VI
! the young mans business once
THE PLACE IS BEYOND REFORM.
Sing Sing Prison. as a penal institution, does not
! need to be reconstructed-it needs complete de-
strction II is badly located and its sanitary cond-
tion can never be permanently improved because OF
| that fact Furthermore It's cells are too small IL
humane consideration and regard for decent COM
| fort are to be taken into account. AS one walks
along the stone floors and looks INTO these mar
| row slots In mass OF stone masonry MS neaLt 10
touched by the thought that they are the nao "a
many years But many have in and have gone
out-whether for better or for worse Is not always
o2n ave by the feet of the prisoners until
surface Of the stone has the concaye appearance OF
ping into one OF these cells. should place his right
shoulder against one wall ne would DC uha I, 20
]
into oppositon with the wall the other side. The
ventilation is bad the odors OF cooking minge WIN
the fumes of disinfectants. and these ascend
ing to the several galleries or the cellhouse render
Tho atmosphere almost unbearable Accommodation
such as these may be altogether suitable. and In
deed too good. in many cases. for the lower grace
| OF criminals; but surely the democracy OF prison
discipline should not be so strict that 1t VIII nos
admit OF helpfulness to those who need neip ana
who perhaps would manifest their appreciation
Of proper reformatory influences wnen an .nex
should once more come 10 take their place ahunt
| their fellowmen and begin the world anew BUT
beyond this there is the imperative demand ana .ne
ever present duty that the State shall AT east pO
vide healthfu retreats for those VINO come unuet
the law within its protecting care wnether .ne ~
sons so committed shall be Indicators or iuhatcss
THE CONDUCTOR WAS GLAD TO Stop THEM
A voung woman who boarded a crowded cable
cor tho other afternoon evidently was believer