The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1898-03-07
FEDERAL PRISON AT RALEIGH.
Long Needed National Penitentiary
Established in the South.

The south at last has a government Dris-
on, and no more federal prisoners will be
sent to Columbus. O. Judge Newman has
issued an order to the effect that in the
future all prisoners convicted in this dis
rriCt shall be sent to the pcniteHtiarY in
Raleigh, n. c.. instead of the government
Usnitentiary at Columbus, O.. where they
have been sent in the past
judge NcNn1an's order was based on an
order of Attorney General GrigSs, issued
two days before. which constituted the
state renitentiary at Raleigh southern
branch Of the government. nenitcntiary
Attorney General Gr;ggs does no, state why
the change is made hut Il was matter
OF necessity. The federal prison at Co
hmbuS, O., is oVcrcroWded and ii is al
most Impossible to care for any more
conVicts here.
The establishment o. the southern prison
is just what Che people ard the officials
of the south nave been ClamCring for many
years. Hundreds of southern men CON
victed of minor offCDScs against the gov
crnmcnt have been sent to Columbus for
terms ranging from one to three years, and
before thcir terms have expired they haV"
fallen victims to the severe and rigorous
climate of the north. Lewis RodWine the
wcll-kncwn Atlanta man, was one of the
prisoners who came near to death IN the
Columbus prison because OF the climate
there. In nearly every case the cOnVicts
return 10 the south at the expiration OF
their terms with badly impaired health.
Judge Newman has contenled that pris-
on should be established here in the south
"a a measure of humanity; that the ray
ages of the climate of the north upon the
S! stems Of the southern prisoners was a
far greater punishment, than the law or
the courts ever contemplated. Raleigh IS
far superior on account of location TO
the prison at Columbus, @. The southern
offenders will he treated better because Of
the fact that they Will not have to endure
such a severe change in the climate. All
Of the government prisoners who will be
convicted at the term of the United States
court which begins next week. win be sent
10 Raleigh instead Of 10 Columbus. The
penitentiary at Raleigh is a very excellent
prison. 1t * substantially built and tn"
tOnvicts are allowed all comforts consistent
with their condition. Inc order ISSUED ny
Judge Newman yesterday was as follows
''The honorable. the attorney general.
having on April q, lNSS, dcSiS mated the ON"
pcuitentiary, at Columbus, O.. as the place
of confinement for all prisoners thereafter
convicted in said district and il having
been in due form shown to the court thar
the honorable, the attorney general Of The
United States. did on February %. 1888. Re-
woke said designation and IN lltu thereof
DESIGNATED the North carolina penitentiary,
at Raleigh. y. c.. az the place of con
tinemcnt for all prisoners hereafter con
victed in the United states court of said
district and sentenced to imprisonment III
a penitentiary. il is, therefore, on motion
of the United States attorney for said dis
trict ordered that the North Carolina pen
itenUary at Raleigh. \. G.. be. and the
same is hereby designated as ;he place
of confinement for aH PRISONERS hereafter
convicted in said Cougt and sentenced to
Imprisonment in pnit"ntary In open