Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-15

write numbered 255: illiterates. H'; nv
moderate drinkers numbered l.S; il ,.,'a''
perates. 80; total disclaimers Nv
arc the claims OF the accused. g.,
The trade ana occupations are as iv'
lows: Laborers, Sl6; preachers, !; pVon
keepers, 2: BARRIERS. S; tobacco "olNe,a
26: undertakers, 1; painters. 3; merchan - =
2: plumber, /: soldiers, 2; oysterneh' :.
| cooks =: dral,sman, i; engineers
miners. 6; moulders, 3; farmers. 10; horse
traders. 2 ,
CONDITIONAL PARDONS.
Conditional pardons were granted t'
Al white men, 40 colored men, ana eo'
| ored women. ., ...,,.,
Full pardons were granted to Fl wnit'
men. 20 colored men, ana eoio'e'
women. ..
Five negro boys were ordered sent &c
the negro reformatory, III 'aho'N'
county. By Governor Tyler.
The terms for which the prisoners were
sentenced ranged from one year, OF whlcn
there were So: l26 for years; ~, years
50. 5 years; p 10 years; IL Is years. j. q
years, and two for life.
NO IDLE MEN.
In the report Major Helms says there
are practically no idle men In the prisoh'
The report says:
'"The Davis Snoe Company readily en-
ploys all the able-bOdied men with satls-
factory terms-i. G., those having over
one-year sentence-whle the short-term
men. and those disabled, are detained
in the prison but a short while before
being sent to the farm. To furnish the
shoe company with the requisite NUMBER
not less than 1,2J0 must be kept at the
institution. The contract with TINS com
pany-both from a health and financial
standpoint-has proven so satisfactory
that through the sanction of the Governor
and your honorable board. / have
deemed it expedient 10 extend the lease
until the year 1913. Never before has the
institution shown such a cash balance
to its credit. nor has the condition OF
the prison been better.
THE CROWDED CELLS.
"The lack of cell room and the faulty
system Of sewerage is a constant menace
to the health of the inmates, and
were it not that the prisoners were
kept so much Of their time out Of their
cells. this lack of cell room and bad
sewerage would doubtless largely in
crease the death rate. Should we at
any time be so unfortunate as TO be
visited by an epidemic of smallpox
which has been constantly threatening
all this past year, our work would be
Immediately stopped for months. or
longer In tAIs event the prisoners would
be forced TO confinement, both day and
night, in the cells, and dire consequences
might result. l would strenuously urge
the Importance of the Legislature maxi
ing such appropriations as will enable
the Improvements TO be made according
to the plans TO be presented.
"rhe cost of maintenance, number of
escapes, cost Of transportation, and
health Of inmates are clearly shown in
the accompanying tables.
POOR FARM SHOWING.
This has not been such a successful
year with the farm, from financial
standpoint, the heavy freshets followed
by drought, so retarded the working Of
the land that the crops were much short
ened. 1t still serves. however, an excel
lent purpose in its support Of the super
fiuous men from the prison.
Il advocate the purchase of the land
adjoining, owned by Mr.. Tucker, believ-
ing it to be for the advantage of the
State.
CONDITIONAL PARDONS.
For the first time in some years our
report shows much decrease in our num-
Der from the year before. This is ac-
counted for largely by the conditional
pardon law. This law has worked well,
but l renew the recommendations made
in my last report as To amending the law
i'm two particulars: First that the law
should not apply to those with sentences
of less than two years; and, second, that
THOSE who have kept the prison rules five
years continuously, just prior 10 their
time Of Application. should be allowed the
privilege of the law.
IL would also suggest this change in
the general law: That when a prisoner S
time expires on Sunday, he may be re-
leased on Saturday. 1t so often happens
that prisoners, when released on Sunday.
are detained in the city the whole day. by
reason of the trains which they must
take not running on Sundays. They are
left here frequently without a cent in
their pockets; or if they have it when re-
leased FROM the prison, are robbed Of it
by the sharks before Monday morning.
THE discipline has been well main
tanned through the efficient services OF
my new corps OF officers and guards, 70
whom / extend my sincere thanks. My
thanks are also extended to those who
have so diligently labored for the moral
welfare of the unfortunates, and i'm this
connection l would recommend legisla-
ton requiring the appointment of a chap
lain at a fixed salary.