The morning times., 1896-10-10
PRISON REFORM HER WORK
Mrs. H. L Spaoner Tells of Her
Efforts for Conyicts-
Abolition. of Dark Cells and Solitary
Confinement Is Her Chief
Endeavor


Mrs. II. /. Spooner, OF Boston, chairman
OF the Massachusetts, prison reform
Committee. spent u few hours IN this city
yesterday, before returning TO Baltimore,
" here she Is engaged ~ the Interest of
many PRISON Reforms or hich she lis the
promoter, principally the abolition OF cor
porai punishment aud solitary cunfine-
ment In dark ccliss
MIS-. Spooner isiweli knewn throughout
the North Tor her Widespread interest in
prison reforms, but more especially fas her
work brought her inIO prominence in her
own State OF Massachusetts, where, as
sisted by large Committee, many val
u,luie reforms La We been u stituted. Through
her efforts dark solitary confinement has
been entirely abolished in many OF the
largest state peaaI institutions notably
the Massachusetts Reformatory. House or
Correction. and tile prison at Deer Island.
In speaking yesterday OF the results ac-
coDptished IA Mas ssachuaetts by herself
and the commlttee, Mrs. SpooDer said:
The Administrations OF the past five
years in my state haye wrought many val
uabie reforms in It's prisons aud penal in
situations generally, yet We do not claim
H! nat tHe methods fiua pursued are worthy
: TO be models Tor others.
Both Cows. Greenhalge and wolcott have
ieeu untiring in tLeir zeal in behalf Of
tJTlSDb ftiOt uho thc pIdCliCtti IcbuitS al Z
gratifying In the extreme. We believe that
these Miadle-Age dungeons have already
existed too long. and they are rapidly be-
ing swept into Oblivion. Such meth cd 8 have
been productive, of nothing better than i'm
i,ecility. Prison reform can make no head
way while this tarbahty exists.
Men must not lie sent to prison to lose
their health, hut tn he reformed, and come
out to mingie with u.s."
iS rx,x nn1 . ~,
interest Of the cause she represents, and
has secured from Warden-Jo ohm Weyler OF
the Marylapd Suite .Ienitentiary his ac-
| ltiesceIce In her Ideas, and as conse-
aueuce the cells Of the new penitentiary
NOW In course OF Construction will be well
lighted.
MTs. Spooner wa s surprised to find the
whipping post still feature of Mary
lands criminal methods, and in speaking
of the m after said:
Il am shocked that In this humane age
corporal punishment is still permitted. /
capnut see how the ''kingdom" can come,
us Is asked in daily prayer. while one man
is SO degraded as to apply the Lash to an
,tEcr mans Lack. even though that man
be a wife beater. Itonly makes two W wrongs
in place of one, ana encourages the man to
gO on with the same work when he gets
outside.
to retain bis spirit after the lashing, re-
turn TO the world to beat, not only his
wife and children, but any one else who
does him an injury. The system Is en-
tirely degrading.
with trIs exception" said Mrs Spoon
or, in talking further in respect 10 the
success OF her work in Baltimore II find
the Maryland penitentiary compares fav-
orably with those or other States claiming
ever. is there OF this happy state in any
prison where those machines OF torture
known as dungeons exist, the sO-caIed
dark solitary confinement. or that relic
OF barbarism. the whipping post. I am
happy at the results of my efforts here,
aud owe great deal OF gratitude to
Warden Weyier for the kind treatment
given me"
Mrs. spooner returns to her home in
Boston within a week, but during her sta V
has gathered circle OF ladies' aud gentle
men about her who will press reform
work III Maryland along the line of her
ideas in the future.