The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-29
REFORMATORY NEEDED
FOR TOUTHFUL COLORED CRIMT-
NALS.
Jails and Penitentiary Unfit for Correcting
Such Ofenders-Only Marking
Them Worse,

TO the Editor OF The ilmcs;
sir.-Now that the momentous question
Of the presidential election is settled. and
the excitement is subsiding in a manner
very creditable TO people Of an parties.
We have time TO think Of affairs in our
own bliliwick.
Since our conversation about the peni-
Tertiary and prisons generally in our
State in the spring. / have visited some
Of the county iails The only drawback
TO my delightful visit 10 Richmond was
the knowledge / obtained about the hor-
rlblc condition IF the cells I'm the pcniten-
tiary and the dreadful scenes / witnessed
in the city JAIL which linger i'm my mind.
How ptiful seemed the condition OF the
wrctchcd criminals. some of them chill
dren in years. when one contrastod such
pictures with that of the wcll-to-do
classes, assembling so often I'm the
churches when the gospel taught by Him
who said, 81 was Ia prison and ye visited
me-"
How often amid the scenes Of peace
and plenty offered an every hand 10 the
visitor TO the fine city on the James.
came TO my mind the words. "Oh, Chris
tians TO your cross of hope a hopeless
hand Is clinglng.'
/ went twice TO the jail in Charlottes-
willie during my attendance at the School
.r .-ods but both times was refused
admittance by the jailer. The second
time / had taken the precautiOn 20 secure
% permit from the judge, but the jailer
though civil 10 me personally treated
the document ! presented with scorn and
contempt Before l left the city / inter-
viewed the judge again. and expressed
my sympathy for his want Of influence
with prison pOtentatc. This time
asked for a permit for some ladies'. Of
ncers ina the local branch OF the w. G. T.
L.. which he gave me. / carried II TO
tho ladies, and one of them promised TO
20 TO the Jail and see II she could sue
coed where / had failed. As ! was about
10 leave town. did not hear the result
Ii conversation with the TALLER and his
family ! learned that there were several
negro men In the wards, number OK
negro boys, most Of them under fifteen,
and one white woman. II was the white
woman | particularly desired 10 see as
she was not an Old offender, and 1t SEEM
ed possible that friendly aid and counsel
after this sad experience might save her
from continuing a life OF degradation.
The ladies Of ". G. T. L promised 10
try to find respectable employment for
her.
In Culpeper, i'm Harrisonburg, and in
Jvnchburg. / have visited the jails FOR
some years, and never before has any
objection been made 20 my doing so. IN
some cases / am sure good has resulted
from our visits.
After long years Of experience I'm con-
nection with our state prisons two facts
are very forcibly impressed on me. one
.. IS that "A great deal Of harm Is done, and
the Commonwealth put to great deal
| of unnecessary expense, by giving repeat
ed trials TO criminals convicted Of serious
offences. / could cite many instances 10
prove my statement on this subject. out
as everybody IN Virginia knows 1t Is true.
and such cases could be quoted from
nearly every county in the State. 1t seems
useless 10 do so.
The other point emphasized by my
prison acquaintance IS the urgent I'M
portance OF a reformatory. on the plan
OF the one now in successful operation az
Laurel. for the young negroes, so often
sent 10 Jail for breaking the laws.
In very many cases nothing could ba
expected of the colored child. but tina.
after years OF restitution, neglect and
ignorance. he would reach the criminal
! class.
The penitantiarv IL eraHded with s'i"A