Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-19
o,-R YOUTHFUL CRIMINALS.

The Outlook should look out and be
mora particular in its statements. We
find in its issue for this week most IN
correct article on the Virginia penitenti-
airy. We do the writer of it the justice
TO say we believe he does not know the
difference between our county and city
tails and the state penitentiary. He states
that ii Is estimated there care now over
1900 children housed in the various peni-
tentiaries Of Virginia with adults"
The story Is absurd. Perhaps 5000 is a
typographical or clerical error for 3OO In
all the prisons OF the Commonwealth
there are not so many as 5000 persons
including men, women, and children
white and black.
Again. the outlook says virginia
never has separated the sexes in her pen
itentiaries. men and women boys and
girls being put into the same prisons"
This IS absolutely false. in so far as II
refers 20 the penitentiary. There the
women have an excellently appointed
ward walled off from the main prison
and they are worked in a department
separate from the men. The fact is that
while each woman has small cell to
herself the average number of men in a
larger cell is FIVE or six.
We have no excuse to make as to the
crowded condition of the mems prison
but 20 insinuate that the sexes are mixed
together in the Virginia penitentiary
shows either Grass ignorance or monu-
mental mendacity. In the Richmond gan
the sexes also are separated. and we pre-
sumo that the same arrangement Is maze
in all other sections of the state.
We agree with the outlook that re-
formatory for colored boys Is desirable
IN Virginia: but as 1t knows, farm mas
been provided for such a reformatory
and an organization has now been com
p,eted making it possible for the institu-
ton TO begin some of its work at once
while the fact is appreciated in Nir-
pinia that such reformatory Is in the
nature OF an experiment, the Governor
the Superintendent and Board Of Drec-
tors OF the penitentiary. and scores OF
our Judges and ministers of the Gospel
arc anxious TO see the experiment trleo
under the most favorable circumstances
And as n beginning. Governor Tyler has
agreed 10 pardon out of the State penl-
tertiary five OF the youngest and most
tractable colored boys now confined there,
upon condition that they shall serve the
remainder OF their term in the Hanover
Reformatory. The superintendent Of the
reformatory ]. II. Smyth (colored), ex-
United States Minister and Consul-Gene-
raj to Liberia. has the confidence Of the
public. He prefers making cautious be-
ginning in his work, and, therefore, would
rather inaugurate the refOrmatory with
five prisoners than with twenty-five OF
more
The Hanover Reformatory viii have a
large farm. the gift of Mr.. Huntington,
and is provided with buildings and work
shops sufficient for present use. IT will
begin operations in week OF two and
will have as its first subjects for reforma-
ton the five little negro boys whom the
Governor will take out of the penitenti-
airy.
II is hoped that from time 20 time the
judges Of our criminal courts will commit
10 the Hanover Reformatory colored
youths who come before them, and who
would otherwise be sent 20 Jail. We are
not quite sure whether the existing laws
are sufficient to warrant this disposition
OF these criminals, but IL II Is not we sup.
pose the Legislature. at its next session
viii amend them so as 10 pat the Han.
over Reformatory upon the same footing
approximately. as the Laurel Reforma
tory.