Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-17
The Race with Crime.
baltimore Amerlcan.l

In discussing the career Of Wesley
BOYER. the cOlored man who was hanged
in Baltimore county last Friday, Warden
Bailey. who has charge OF the city jail,
made n strong argument in favor OF the
plan Of indeterminate sentences. Boyer
had been a criminal from boylpod. Time
and again had he been arrested. convict
ed. and sent to prison for various viola
lions OF the law. In his case the punish-
rnent brought about no good results.
There was no reformation about IL. Just
as soon as one term in prison ended an
other violation Of law would follow. ana
back he would go for another term This
continued until his criminal career ended
IN a deed the penalty for when was
death. Nor are cases like this hard 10
find. Our prison records are rull OF tnem,
and IL Is no wonder that the peno!ogists
and crlminologlsts OF the world are de-
voting no little study 10 this problem OK
dealing with crime.
AT a recent meeting OF the national body
| OF Charities and Corrections one Of the
| principal discussions was on this topic,
| growing out Of paper on THE Race
| with Crime" written by one or the
| ablest American thinkers. The ground
was taken that under our present sys-
| TEN OF criminal punishment the peace
| ful and law-abding elements OF every
| community were hNNN NSHPNSHNss -
| danger from the criminal element. X
! NOT I'm terror from II. Houses have 70 DO
| locked. barred, and guarded 20 keep out
| robbers. watchmen have 20 be employed,
| and increases i'm the police forces arc
| constantly demanded. Men who arc
thieves and robbers are. az the end OK
a prison term. turned loose upon tho
community. and Immediately return 10
their old occupations OF making living
TDttHs 70
truth in this. although IL is hard 20 be-
IIeve that crime Is increasing In this
country more rapidly than the increase
I'm the population.
Warden Bailey Is convinced that the
Man OF lndeterminate sentences contains
sound common sense and promises prae.
: tical results. The main idea Is to send
the yiolator Of law 10 prison without
fixing the length OF his term, that 10 DO
determined by his conduct during ms
rceration and the promises M
makes toward reformation. The judges
: OF this are 20 be his prison keepers
: those who are thrown in daily contact
> with him-thelr action 70 be approved
| bv tlfe isdge who sentenced MIN. II
This wav. a criminal who gives no prom
. 10 ~ yeforrn would become, 10 all In
). fonts and purposes. a life prisoner. ever
Though the crime he committed Nigh
NOT be one OF the worst on the calendar
Sentiment in favor Of the system Is un
doubtedly growing in this country. en-
General trial OF II at no distant da
is very probable. Its advocates CLAIR
tbat II would not only protect societ
= against the depredatIous OF Ir9fessson'
|; Criminals. but would also assist IN
&c convict who showed sincere desir
> and determination 10 reform. Empt,
! ING upon the community conviets VIII
D ,to,ab they may have satisfied the las
te are still criminals. cannot tend To :.
/ Snce crime. The plan OF indetermlna'
D. eenterces seems % have some vey
n strong arguments in its favor.
q SsiSAo