The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-19
LITTLE CRIME IN WAsHIyoToy.
Not Enough Criminals to Make . Peniten-
tinry Profitable There.

uhry Frouthbic lhcres
wAsHISoToS. Nov. ls.-one OF the posts. tho
last one. OF the scafYold on which Mrs surratt
was hanged Ia still pointed out to people who
60 over to the Arsenal on Four-Rnd- half
street There were others who paid the PENALTY
with her at the same time for the same crime.
but the Washington guide never mentions
their names It's always Mrs surraa who Is
remembered.
The trial was In the Arsenal by court martial
The new generation asks why' Tho old gem
GRAFTON replies: Because Washington was
under martial law at the time Lincoln was
assassinatoi and all those connected with the
conspiracy who were captured were arrested
ny soldiers then stationed in and about Wash
inRton. The stranger Incidentally asks whore
Ms. Surratt and her 90 cons pirators were i'm
the &hese Ii. %as
,ngton renl!en.inryI The answer brings out :
the not Tier. s' Do
tiary In Washington. There are only the Jail
and the workhouse for offenders and law
breakers.
When a man or woman commits murder.
or any crime the penalty OF which 10 term In
a penal institution. tho criminal. unless con-
victed ~ murder In IN" 'rst deHrae. Is sent to
any state prison which will receiya him The
ment al Sing Sing. or In Ohio. or Virginia. or
any other state which will accept the prisoner.
the District Of Columbia paying the board.
was torn down after the execution Of Mrs
Surrat and her a'compices. Tho reason, as
told by Washington people. 10 that II iian't
pay. There werr never enough criminals hero
at one time, charged with the crimes which
are punished IN the peni;entiary. TO warrant
the expense ot such a prison. IL IL case where
boarding is cheaper than keeping house
THIS Is equivalent 10 saying that there IL not
much crime In this city. And this IL true. and
is In harmony with the boast OF thernsient OF
the capital that II Ia an exceptionally moral
tract tho Vicious. True. there L. an No class
which Il lurAd into cities near nv when elcc-
tions are held. ns was the case me Ither day
when a gang ~ repeater. was shipped TO Phil
man and the hous breaker are unknown here.
The bulk o' tho offences are petty,
Tn. Washing'onisn IL social. He dimes at
$3.50 7. NJ. 40 that he may 90 OUT for the even
ms and he comes tack At all hours, riding or
walk ing aa may suit his pleasure. regardless
Of atmospheric conditions. and aiways with
knocsowns mr." rarely seen in the columns Of
the Washington nnp'rs There was time
when Washington hal an unenvIable rsputa-
ton caused by socIal scandals, II l. said that
scandal there hns r~en n plenty. hut even In
this line tn canital Of the United States has a
better record han any European capital.
inSton il has been atcsntua,ed by the charactor
Conspicuous ones. The assassin 81 the latter
was tried In the Court House and executed in
martial law governed at the time OF the ussas-
sinai on Of Lincoln. the criminals in that act
would have been housed VII h the petty crImi-
coincilents may read with interest that thu
boncr Of Guileau, taken from their place Of
int"rmcnt under the Kitchen Ioor Of tho Jail
the night after tn. execution; found their way
which Booth escaped on the night OF the
assassination at Fords Theatre.