The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-28
INCIDENTS OF PRISONS
MRS. ELIZA TRAsK HILLS TALK AT
THE FIRST BAPTIST.
Prisoners Used to Settle an Election
i'm Boston-IDcrease in
Criminals.

Mrs. Eliza Trask Hill, of Boston, who for
a quarter of century has been engaged
in the jail and almshouse department of the
work of the Women's Christian Temperance
Union, made an interesting address at the
First Baptist Church yesterday afternoon.
during the course of which she gave many
interesting conditions she had noted during
her work. Mrs. Hill said that there are in
Massachusetts twenty-six penal Institutions
in which about 5000 persons are confined,
of which four-fifths are men and the re-
mainder women. Mrs. Hill told of her first
visit to the reformatory where of LOO in
mates. 600 were boys under eighteen years
of age. She was greatly impressed with
the deplOrable conditions that made it pos
sible for so many boys to be started on the
downward road so early in life, and as
she looked at them she realized that many
of them were there, not by their own faults,
but on account of the faults of their par
ents. AS she was about to leave the insti-
tuition her attention was directed to a boy
of thirteen, very small for his age. who had
Just been brought in. He was crying bit
tery.
Prompted by the mother feelings" said
Mrs. Hill, Il pressed the little fellow to my
IL.
How came you here?' / asked him.
Well it was like this he said Father
was at Deer island and mother was i'm the
house of correction 1 wandered through
the street and when night came 1 crept into
a barn. 1 was so hungry next morning
saw the bananas on the stand. l did not
know it was stealing. and 1 took some L
was eating them when the cop got me-
My boy l replied, continued Mrs Hill,
you were afraid of the policeman and
were afraid to come here, but 1 want to
tell you that il you listen to the chaplain,
If you obey the rules and do the best you
can, you will come out of here q good man,
in spite of father and mother That boy
was In a better home than he had ever had
before. But the criminals are not all from
the Sums, they are not all children of
fathers and mothers addicted to intemper-
ance. Many men and women confined in the
penal institutions are the sons and daugh-
tiers of mothers who wear the white rib
bons."
ONE BOYS CASE.
Mrs. Hill related the story of one prisoner,
showing how hard men who have been con-
victs find it to lead better lives when they
are discharged, and illustrating what may
be accomplished by an institution like that
with which she is connected.
Many years ago." said the speaker.
when had a school in Pittsburg, if l had
been asked who was the most promising
pupil 1 would have unhesitatingly pointed
out bright lad. Wille's father and mother
were good, Christian people. He was bright
and studious, and seemed the least likely
of any to stray. On removing to Boston
lost sight of him. One Sunday |, with other
women, visited the Charleston states
prison, where we were permitted to hold
services each Sunday. As ! stood looking
into the faces of six hundred men | failed
to see one that was familiar, and 1 was
glad 10 know that | was not acquainted
with any of the families who were suffering
because these men were confined. A few
months later the servant ushered a young
man into my parlor He sank into chair.
Sitting in another part of the room, l real
lZed that here was an extraordinary case
and advanced to him with word of kind
ness You do not know me- said he. AL
though L tried to be calm as possible
and conceal my feelings, | was greatly
shocked when he told me his name. 1t was
Willie. Then he told me his story. He had
left Pittsburg for Boston, where he fell
among bad companions and was arrested
for obtaining money on false pretenses.
After being confined in the prison under an
assumed name he decided that he would
continue his career of crime One Sunday
on going to the chapel, instead of the chap
lain he saw seated on the rostrum twenty
women-the most beautiful women l ever
speak he recognized the voice of his old
teacher. Memories of his father and
mother, his brothers, his sisters and his
innocent home life came flooding back over
him, and that night in his cell conviction
fell upon his heart, he saw how his life had
been wasted, and he resolved to do better
told me, his time expired and he was dis
charged. / had an aunt in Boston, he
told me. and | resolved to go to her. She
been?" she asked coldly. You had an as
sumed name and thought we would not
know, but we have learned that you have
been in prison. You can come in, but l
would not advise you to stay long Your
uncle will be home to dinner soon and
ton" Aunt" l said. Il did not come 10
you for money or food; these the law has
provided My mother is in heaven. came
to you for Christian sympathy l will go.
! would not have treated dog as you have
treated me-" Then 1 went to sister. She
had retired, l heard her say: II am glad
Willie has come to u.s. but hope the neigh
bors will not know where he has BEEN
NO ONE TO EMPLOY HIM.
Then the young man went to Connecticut.
where he had old chum and schoolmate.
who took him in and cared for him, but he
was too proud to be burden and returned
to Boston, hoping to find employment When
he applied to business men for work the
first question they asked was: where have
Sou DSSh-WLO was your last employer
When he frankly replied that he had just
been released from the States prison he
was met with the cold words 1--WE don't
want any jailbirds. We can get plenty of
honest men to work for u.s. And so he had
dr1fted on, until at last in his despair he
had resolved to commit some crime to again
secure a home with the States criminal
wards Sitting on a curbstone in his ex.
tremity. he glanced up and saw a rift in
the clouds and in it the face of his old
teacher.
so, here 1 am, asking you for advice.
What SIN l to do?"
Mrs. Hill said that she quickly found that
he wanted employment the electric cars
IT happened that she had some influence in
that quarter. and promised to secure him a
place. The young man had never had a
mark against him for misconduct and has
tho entire esteem and confidence of his en-
ployers.
While there are many things to discour-
some encoura ging things"
She spoke of the work that the white rib
bon women do. when murder has been
committed, sometimes l receive letters from
people saying: Now is the time to flood the
Jail with flowers. Mrs. Hill' and then they
tell me about the prisoner, who he is what
he has done. and where he is to be found
And then / think: 'Ah. if they but knew
what our work really ISL IL is not our
thought to flood the jais with flowers, but
TO Hood them with practical Christianity,
with that which will show to the unfortu-
nate that God has not forgotten them"
The w. G. Y. u, she said. took no part I'm
obtaining pardons. and this the prisoners
~ NCaResst fnsNI