The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-01-06

| falcation they employed expert ac'
countants to examine the books and ac'
counts, and energetic measures were
taken to locate and apprehend young
| Woodbridge, He was arrested at New
Haven November 13, 1893; was bound
over under $4,000 bonds for trial in the
Hartford county superior court, on the
following day; and at this writing nc
is in Hartford jail awaiting final dis
! position of the case. Upon the an
nouncement that a shortage had been
| discovered the Warden's surety acting
voluntarily and displaying fine sense
of honor, placed at the disposal of the
directors the full amount of his bond.
The exact size of the defalcation can
not be stated until the expert eXanli-
nation of the books for the full period
of young Woodbridge's official service
has been completed, but it is hoped that
the state will not lose a large amount.
The position of clerk at the prison is
an important and responsible one, and
| the directors recommend that leEisla-
| ton vesting in them the authority for
| his appointment and removal and re-
quirng him to give bonds be enacted.
WARDEN'S REPORT.
In his report to the directors, Warden
Woodbridge states that on October l.,
1897, there were 446 convcts in the pris-
on. During the year 294 convicts, in
Guiding two females, were received. The
total convicts confined during the year
was 740. The total number discharged
during the year was 227, leaving 5l3
convicts in the prison on October l, 1898.
This is an increase of 81 over the pre-
vious year. and the warden shows that
the actual annual increase in commit
ments in five years was 80 20.
The warden states that as whole
there has been less sickness among the
convicts the past year than in previous
years. There were ten deaths-9 in the
main prison and one in the insane ward.
Of the nine, six We're from consump-
ton. The death in the insane ward was
a life convict, SIS years old, who, when
transferred from Middletown, was in
the last stages of paresis. THE contin-
ued low death rate speaks louder than
words for the care and treatment of the
inmates the sanitary condition of the
institution and the ability shown by
the medical staff in the administration
of their department"
THE insane ward work room has
been used by such inmates as were
competent in the manufacture of brooms
and husk mattresses for use in the in
stitutiOn.'
The warden notes the hearty coop
Grafton of the Protestant and Roman
Catholic chaplains to promote the spir-
itual welfare of the prisoners, and says
nd
Ole Sunday schools continue tG be held
in the same room, at the same hour
each Sabbath. The Y. M. c. A., and the
Catholic Prison association, both Of
Hartford, supply the teachers as here"
tofore."
Under the care of Chaplain Hall the
library is highly priced and utilized by
the inmates. 1t now numbers about
4, 600 books.
The method of grading prisoners has
been continued during the present fiscal
year, with beneficial effects upon the
moral character as well as the conduct
Of the prisoners, and aids materially in
the punishments and in i'm |
proving the discipline of the institu-
ton" There were IS first grade prison
ers at the close of the year. During the
year there were ITO first grade prison
ers. 1t was found necessary to reduce .
to other grades only two for violation .
Of rules.
In referring to the second and third .
grades the report says: During the
year there have been but SO reductions
from the second to the third grade, the
IS reductions being applied to 81 men.
This is quite decrease over the
changes in this grade during the pre-
gious year. The repeated reduction of
convict is due to his incorrigible nature.
Ordinarily one reduction is sufficient to
the prisoner of the benefit of
4 strict compliance with the rules"
The punishment were much less than
n former years, which Is partly due to
he influence of the grading system.
The percentage shows a decrease in the
lumber of punishments of 11.S9, as
with the previous year.
The cost of food, Notwithstanding the
Increase in the price Of many staple
remains the same as the pre-
yious year.
The cost of clothing has been very
mall during the year. and the inmates
make all the uniforms worn by them
elves and the officers. The introduction
f electric lighting, with an incandes-
ent light in each cell, the warden
hnks has improved the sanitary con-
ition of the prison. The warden is Of
he opinion that the prison should have
Is own water plant, and thus avoid the
anger of a breakdown in the present
ystem, and he thinks water could be
Implied to the prison at very much
ess cost and with much greater bene-
t.
There are ten United States prisoners
4 the prison.
The sum of $160.32 was realized above
he expense of keeping pigs.
The warden urges the purchase of
efficient farm land to raise all the
reduce required for use in the inst- -.
ltion. With the exception of last year, j.,
lere has been profit from the rented
md for the past four years.
Warden Woodbridge sincerely thanks
he societies and clubs who gave en-
at the prison for the bene-
t of prisoners.
Referring to the escape of Convict
atom, the warden found that the Off
ers were in no sense responsible.
The parole system has worked very
lccesfully, and the four prisoners
3roled during the year have lived up
,nnection the warden recommends the =