New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-07
IN CLASSES AT SING SING.
PRISONERS DIVIDED ACCORDING TO
THEIR PREVIOUS RECORDS.
AZ IMPROVEMENT INTRODUCED BY WARDEN
sAeE-NEw MEN KEPT FROM coNTAMINA-
TON AND "oLD TIMERS" DIsGRACED
INSTEAD OF HoNoRED.

INSTEAD OF HONORED.
When Addison johnson. the new Warden Of
Sing Sing Prison assumed the duties Of his Of
Gee last Monday, he found the 1910 inmates of
the institution in a better condition and the
various departments under better management
than they were when Colonel Sage took charge
of the place as Warden Durston's successor.
At that time there were idle prisoners, be-
cause the laws did not prohibit prison contract
work, and the shops and workrooms were
crowded with convicts, who turned out various
articles which went into the markets in compe-
tition with similar merchandise made in the
factories and workshops OF New-York and New
England
When the new state Constitution went into
force this had TO be changed because contract
labor had been declared Illegal, and the authori-
ties found themselves confronted with the prob
lem: What shall be done with the 1.3Oo or l4oo
convicts to keep them out of mischief and 10
prevent them from degenerating in consequence
Of enforced idleness?" 1t was a serious ques-
ton and its solution required no little STUDY
Repairs were made wherever they were needed
the roads outside of the walls and the Walks
within the Enclosure were improved; but this re-
CURED only a short time. and gave employing II
10 only a few of the prisoners. while the major
ity had nothing 10 do They were Kept locKed
up except when they were marched out for
exercise and to the midday meal which was
eaten in the mess hall. The convicts became
rcstive. the discipline suffered. and the health
OF the convcts became poor. Letters came TO
Warden Sage by the hundred. imploring MIN
for work in the stone shed, on the roads, any
where. at anything only work and a chance 10
be GU; Of the small cells for few hours every
day. Men grew respondent, and many went
mad.
A relief came when Sing Sing was made the
source of supplies for other State institutions
for clothing shoes, bedding, brushes etc. ana
more men received employment when the state
ordered much OF its printing done there. Iheh
Mr.. Sage started his art classes. and gave the
convicts who had talent in that direction an
ornortunitv TO improve themselves in drawing.
carving and modelling. Step by step the idie
gangs were reduced in numbers. and the health
and the conduct of the prisoners became better.
The new warden found nearly all the convicts
at work and ne also found the classification
scheme nearly completed
When Warden Sage came to Sing Sing all the
conyicts. regardless OF their standing as Grim
irals were dressed alike. They all wore trou-
sers b,ouses and caps made Of coarse gray cloth
sifcation puts men who never served previous
term for felony in Glass A: those VINO nave
served one previous term in Glass b; men who
have served two or more previous terms lot
tel,,,v in Class c. and men whose conduct in
prison has been such as to make their presence
in other groups detrimental to such groups in
Class D.
C1ass A men wear the old black and gray
tl,1ty CTR
striped clothes Glass men wear 'helr stripes
in groups Of two Glass c men may he known ny
Their stripes in groups of three and the pad
men" who make up Glass d arc disgraced ne
fcra their fellows with the four-striPe garments
"One Of the chief purposes to be attained
said Mr. Sage. was to separate and Keep the
frst-terrn men from contamination by contact
with hardened criminals. Another result sought
was 10 deter criminals from committing crimes
that would return them to prison. heretofore
old offenders on coming back to prison were
looked upon as heroes by their felow-convlcts
They were the big guns the aristocracy OF the
D,ison community and il was the custom 10
give them their old places in the Industries ana
,n the administrative departments where their
former experience made them valuable They
loo.sI with contempt upon the raw and mex
perienced frst-termer"
While the frst-term man was bemoaning ms
fate and passing through the terrible ordeai
which comes with the first year behind the bars'
the old timer who entered with him was cheer-
full and well contented From the moment wheh
he entered the prison Office in charge OF the
police officer who delivered him into the CUSTODY
of the prison authorities. while giving his pedi-
gree. handing out the few valuables or trinkets
which he carried in his pockets while bathing