The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-12-23
PRISON INSPECTORS REPORT.
Condition of Maine Houses of Correction
and Their Occupants.


Augusta, December 22.-The annual re-
ports of the inspectors of prisons and jaiis'
warden and officers of the state prison have
been completed.
The inspectors say the interior Of the
buildings at the state prison are in perfect
order Discipline has been well maintained
and solitary confinement the only punish
ment resorted to, is seldom inflicted. Recent
events, declare the inspectors, justify them
in again urging immediate action on the
proposition to provide a matron for the
female department of the prison.
The Revised Statutes provides that each
convict at the time of discharge may receive
S.. This section should be amended SO as to
allow at least enough to pay travelling ex-
penses home and an amount, not less than
So, be left discretionary with the warden.
Hon. Samuel II. Allen, the retiring
warden, makes his final report as manager
of the prison as follows Convicts in custody
November 80, 1895, ISL; committed since, 80;
total, 21o; discharged on expiration OF
sentence, Al :; pardoned, Q; deceased, q; total.
45 number November 80, 1885, 165; largest
number during the year, 1865; smallest num-
Der utifluS tuc cttA, IL, u'OAa5o oeeAAJ AAoah-
Der, 1876; whole number committed since
establishment of the prison, S342.
In the insane department there were nine
teen patients November 80, 1885, of whom
ten were convicts and nine not convicts.
There were admitted during the year two.
who were not convicts and removed two,
one of whom was not convict and one
who was, leaving the number November 80,
1896 as nineteen, the same as last year. This
makes the total number OF convicts in the
prison 177
Cumberland county contributed twenty
one convicts; Hancock, eight; Aroostook,
seven; Penobscot, six; Knox, three; Frank
lin, Kennebec, Lincoln, Sagadahoc and
York, two each Androscoggin, Oxford
Piscataquis and U. S. District Court, one
each; the remaining counties one.
Thirty seven were natives of Maine; ten Of
other states; twelve foreign born.
Five were sentenced for life; eleven fol
three years; five for five years; nine for two
years; eight for one year and six months
Ave for one year; two each for two years
six months and three years and six months
one each for fifteen, ten, nine, eight, six,
four years and six months, and one year
and ten months.
The prison inspectors report on the jails is
as usual worth reading. They treat each
jail separately.
: : The Oxford county Jail is new up-todate
structure. The jailer takes great pride in
keeping everything in first class condition.
Too much liberty has been given the
prisoners in the corridors OF the York county
jail, resulting in poor discipline, with fire.
quent attempts to escape. We trust in the
near future this evil will be remedied.
The number OF prisoners in jails of Maine
November 80, 1896, was 516; November 80
1896. SO; whole number for 1896, 61o5; males
597S; females, 226. OF these the tramps mum
bered 7T3; poor debtors, 1876; foreign birth
s4s; escaped, 2; retaken, 70; committed fol
drunkenness, 3049; for selling intoxicants
ITO; for non payment of fines. 1888; numbe
under 10 years of age, 50; sentenced for on,
month or thirty days, 1928; for two months
4s3; three months, 1O5; six months, 60; min,
months, 81 one year, 20; for two years O.
more, 8; pardoned, /; deaths during til,
year, s.
In eight counties, Androscoggin, ARGOS
took, Cumberland Hancock, Kennebec
Knox, Penobscot and Washington, tn,
prisoners wear prison suits.
The highest price paid for board is il
Franklin and Oxford counties, $3.50 pc
week and the rates range from that dow1
to S1.75 which is paid in Androscoggif
Aroostock, Penboscot and York counties.
Prisoners labor in Androscoggin, ARGOS
took, Cumberland, Knox, Penobsoot, Waldo
and York counties. In Androscoggin ant
Penobscot they are leased. The largest mum
Der committed for selling intoxicants was Ii
Kennebec, IS. Androscoggin committed 9
for this offense, Cumberland, 30 and Penob
scot, %. The number committed for drunk
enness was rs follows from the severa
counties: Androscoggin, $50; Aroostook, 76S
Cumberland, oss; Franklin, %; Hancock, 20
Kennebec, 21o; Knox, 80; Lincoln, ~; OK
ford, 8; Penobscot, 757; Som erset, 10; Wash
ington, 81; Waldo, IS; York, 11G.
Androscoggin had 1872 tramps; Cumberland
1893; Kennebec, IL; Penobscot, 80.
Androscoggin had 3S poor debtors com
mitted; Aroostook, 49,; Cumberland, 80; Ken
nebec, rs; Penobscot, %.
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