New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-04
WORK OF THE PRISON GUILD.
TOUCHING STORIES TOLD By MRS.
BEEKMAN DE PEYsTER. PRESIDENT.


MEETING OF THE Observation-Disclosures
DUTIES OF THE ASSOCIATION.
The member. OF the Prison Guild met In the
house Of the president. Mrs. Beekman DE Peyster.
at No fOl West Eighty-Hrs.-st. the EndicotO, yes
terday Mt II o'clock a. m.
Mrs. Beekman De Peyster relates mary touch-
ing stories OF the work Of the guild among the
prisoners One OF the most interesting is that
OF a man who. though noted criminal, Is wei
born and has good social connections In the city
He had been In prison before. but when MRS. De
Peys,er met him In the Tombs he had peen ar
rested on n charge for which there was prac-
tlcally 40 evidence to convict him. When n man
has the reputation Of being a cr,ok he Is watched
by the police and Is liable to arrest for crime
that he has not committed II he Is anywhere In the
neighborhood under suspicious circumstances
when Mrs De Peyster saw this prisoner she was
impressed with the belief that In spite OF moral
weakness he had many redeeming qualities and his
emotion when she said. II am very sorry for you
showed clearly that he was far from being a
ha rdened sinner. She interested Miss Anna T. SIN
clair the court representative OF the guild. IN him.
His relatives discovered and gave their AID IN
working to save him. The charge against him was
felony. 1t seemed probable that, In spite OF lack
OF evidence. jury might convict him on his past
record. A plea of misdemeanor determined on.
The plea accepted by the Court. and he re-
ceived a sentence Of one year In the pententiary.
instead OF the long term in State Prison that he
had feared.
On his giving his word of honor that he would not
try 10 escape the Warden gave him the position or
runner" which permitted him a large measure Of
liberty He has faithfully kept his pledge, and has
been model prisoner On the expiration OF his term
In few days he Will go to a good situation that has
been secured fer him the West. and begin life anew
His friends confident that he will keep faith with
them
The greater part OF the work OF the guild is not In
connection with old offenders. but with young men
ana women who have been arrested for hrst Of
fierce. Some are young people from the country who
nave fallen beneath the temptations OF the city;
others are boys and girls who have been reared In
pernlclous environment. They readily touched
by the interest and sympathy their visitors and
promise to try to lead better lives. II girl has been
committed fer first offence. her trial is fastened II
record Is carefully investigated II Witnesses to
former good character are found the sentence i the
innocence established she is sent to her relatives or
Otherwise cared for.
them and s ths f9si possible
for them One of the dicues is the opposition Of
ola companions. They sometimes meet their released
'oh. now you are going to be goody soody," The
young men especially are sensitive under such jeer
70 be in fair way to do well gives his protectors the
slip and returns to his Old life. One poor lad who
De Peysr Sys se 6 Sa @ sag
to stand being laughed at for ben softy and pioas
and al that" Indeed you are mistaken" was the
Tbaf how b Understand ecs well and know it hard
When talking with prisoners we do not harp
do we meet them If we were looking down on
them from spotless heights. Mr. Johnson. one OF
give voluntary help to the guild, told a story one
SUNDAY ofternoSn to the boys that affected them
ada: in OF the rural districts he met fine
apparent that he was well educated and accus-
TONED to refined society. After some conversation
he had persuaded his father to give him his share
'H om Fs the he had
lower ard lower ill he became social outcast.
forest until, far off he saw light. He followed it
untli ne came to cottage, and looking through the
lie s fn af ony h n IT, nS he
had SO knelt, an innocent child He was touched
solved TO turn from his evil ways, and in the
whom we call fallen women often REFORM Mrs
Of n seldom f a i Sp who So haze sa long
| OF these have been reclaimed But with the young
leading lives o:das Who " would d'G prcSablV
aned fq BY se to ss If they had not
| them are weak. not vicious; and IT, when they try
about and see only the averted faces Of those who
| cal themselves good; and hear the haunting or
fsY of the evil who can wonder that they
20 You find tina: drink is the cause of many fall
ures among the women as wei. as the men? o."
Yes. 1t IL often the beginning of the woman's
| wrongdoing, and afterward she drinks more to dull
recollection and remorse. saw pathetic case OF
| intoxication In woman few days ago. She
| brought into the Tombs screaming and very vio-
! lent, Though she was hardly In a condition to BIO
reasoned with. spoke to her gently hoping to
quiet her. and asked her what her trouble was and
If could help her. 'BegOne wild YOU. and mind yer
own business, was the only answer she would give
| But when had left her she began to wiring her
must be kept here ali nght9 What Win Become oDn
ny pGST 70 S Som said to her Mrs
her away" Bring her back, bring her back" she
called out She was sober enough to explain that
band was at work. Just then We heard that a man
was outside, crying and begging to be let in 1t
proved to be the husband. who had returned from
work and card OF the arrest of his wife He was
respectable looking man; he was crying bitterly
and declaring that she the best woman in the
world. We understood that she was not a con-
| ing woman who was excited by the taste OF liquor
Finally bail procured for her, and man and
wife went off together
MANY of the women who are committed are af
fectionate mothers. Since began the sewing
class last April n number of women have made
clothing for heir children and II is n comfort TO
them to know that they are doing something for
their little ones. others sew for themselves for
fellow-prsoners. The garments that made are
sewing class Is always glad receive donations of
| partly worn clothing. or muslin and flannel 10 be
made up.
"'rhe care OF wives and children Of men who have
been arrested Is one of our departments. Some
TIRES the man has been n good provder and the
wife, though Woodworking. has not been accus-
toned TO money. If the husband Is convicted
long sentence we have to try put the wife In
the way of sef-support. In some we have
rent 10 provide fuel food and clothing espe-
ciay milk for the little The suffering of the
innocent through the guilty Is one of the pitt
! full aspects of the work OF the Prison Guild"
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