Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-06
rEyIrEyrIARY MANAGEMENT.
A Reply to Published Charges VIII
BE Made Soon.

until ne does so no Official nOllce VIII
be taken Of the charges OF cruelty prac-
tlced upon inmates. which were made by
a convict in a letter published In the
New York Journal few days ago The
charges made in the journals article
are. in brief. that the men are com
PEELED to subsist on the crudest fare, are
crowded TO the point Of sufocation In
their cells. are whipped numerically for
slight offences. are robbed OF earnings
for extra work. and are given no chance
to earn early discharge under the con
ditional pardon" act.
Ii is probable that the reply VIII con-
slst Of a statement from the superin-
tendent. to which may be added state
nent from seven ministers Of the CITY,
who recently investigated the conduct oil
tho prison.
The letter Of the convict was smuggied
out Of the prison in some way, and after
being refused publication in the city
papers, which knew the charges 10 De
false. was placed in the hands OF one
of the ministers OF this city. who showed
it 10 several Of his brethren OF the cioth.
The result was that seven OF the cleIsy
began an investigation into the charges
made. and continued # by consent OF the
Governor ard at the invitation OF the
board. Their report has never peeh MA
public. but il is understood that II VIII
be reduced 10 writing. and VIII eHoheidle
the penitentiary management. IL Is s'd1cu
that the ministers wish a chapialh az.
pointed and paid by the State 10 conduct
a. H. ,,onirentiarv Ser
vices are now conducted on alternate
SUNDAYS by the ministers OF TINS cUy.
Ministers OF the Gospel have the rlsht
under the law to 80 into the prison at
, any time. Att. o,+,,
I'm a recent article in the Central res
byterian of this city on The pehitehu"rg
and It's management, says
"rropcrly accredited Christian WorNf fos
are given all needed oPPoI SSeti'itters Of
work among the cJnViCts' .llI ~ -, On
/ the Gospel nave the rght by law ~
in at any time TO visit the ~ ,,ii Iannot
/ has Deen found that many persons -,
/ he trusted with the prisoners, loI , ai+5
/ take advantage Of their lhterCou, So ~
l tbrn, TO talk about the mana seiii'nI "a
! fbo institutlOn and unW1sciy tdhe ~
with the prisoners against nc d".,.,,,t
/ anc so cause trouble, some llil05 - a.
! iny almost 10 rebellion. SuDh peDP.S'
| no,,rse md the doors closed against lhcli;
/ mn when earnest Christian Hlci a., CD
! women show that they can De tiu91b ~
/ thai their visits are intonuou .t"'SS,,rs
no spiritual welfare Oh lhe PiisOnO -,
/ they are pIacucdly sN'"
/ the institution ~ a,,.horities give
every opportunity possible TOT pupll nr,S -
vices on Sunday. Every eunu"f 5rntestant
/ ,i,,ster In the afternoon lheIe - "a
! Sunday school taught by Cnilsllans 80 r.
and women from Richmond 10 .HS - a.,
| vices all the convcls nv - rreference
except those who profess PiD,,ioL g.
| f0r he Roman catholic service "h'0H ."
| beld after the Sunday school t,.. ODD
~, conuection with these services 49,, 49,
I'm other ways these en- SUI ~ GO Tto-
circulate large quantities Oh ISlE,oIin ,,,t,n =
| VI 81. ri or,onf, the conVcts. Twice uuI''-2
/ Inc last three years the Blple DoSiGiy n,
| Virginia has furnished every H. vyord
the penitentiary with a COPY VI ~ se,rcafi,y
~ cd In this work they We're tlca'I
! - H.. the authorities Of the prison.
aiovII1 ~ ,yo+ however convey the ldea nc !
~ conI.cts nave all the religious anVah.
| toes that they ought 10 nav. 20, az
! 10 show that the aulngi S,-o,,,, the con-
| posed 10 religious Work aIiioHe ''0
Vlg1 Tbere are great needs at the pepi lell
+iory which the authorities III CnS1 ~, =
cannot supply. one OF goc nc - man Of
ialH ,,'bo would labor with them gay
80 ,,, for the salvation or their soui9
and the elevation OF their lNSa' -
al 80
NY ,V,ttcr Great need is a chapel. lhelS
~ cbanel connected with the pi4sol..
rTbe authorities have Itteu up W ~
ronrn they have at thell ulspos9l Ia - ~
religious services. But IL - N@ 18th ts
itnIod noorlv-ventilated room Wn.oi. -
p.t'Oi0Ira rde enough for one hdI OF w.
, ,,,isouers at a time, so liat VI ,, -
Inc prisoners each atteiu Otit' t,@ sun
he services. one halI SOC goes 90. 70 IN 10 the
~ school, the other hall soss eseUI,dav
. preaching service. liz
The order is reversed ..,.ort,ios cannot
euunlv. but must be supplied py sne "a
tiiast,lre or else a voluntary ehoi' ~. ~
,ort of the Christian people OF tnu
60 Are there not enough Hucl%
hearted stewards OF COO 70 pihGi''u abatel
/ -. thousands needed 10 Duud VIE 0Ii tf,
- nrovide for the salary OF ING my
aiiu ~ a., / esielature will not maxi
IL. IT, ',,1caesarv provision? Let the I'M
-, ,eonIe 81 the state take the nla. .
Sn hand Let them use thelI I'M, ~
With the members OF the ~ ,,,,,r.,,-isfor
f,I,ce them TO make suitaple PIDl s.,o, I,
~ ,h, eniritual welfare or the coiNi~ =
~, ealing i'm this. let them pus 1li -
hands i'm their own pockets ea, iH Inc
me means necessary, mus AutiiH.i,'+s ard
Ss,,ioflr's Injunction as TO Nisl'l.s "a, - u
' - unto those who are IN pIlsoh
oeiccre of the penitenuary cnarac'el
49,. ,ha Journals article as seh5aIlo.,U
~, 1c,,oid of truth. II is true that tii'
ions are not what an epicuFe "ou',
ohoose bur the food is Wholesome az, az,
,n,ndant. The drinking water - -
h,.dront water. The bread is better coo,
"a now, than ever before, improyelne ~, ~
Ia,,ino been made in the oven ne ~ IT,,
49, far better than the law preserves. : :"
/ ocsoe served is sweeteneu' VI ~
~,,,.ts,roent is inflicted In cases -
,eeanront violations Of the rules necesSi
80 tbe government of the prison W
s,,ob nunishment does not verge upon w
noint of inhumanity recited In the 1o e,
i,oi erticle. 1t is pointed oui In reIerenO'
80 The charge that the cells are oNel
So,'-5ed that the matter OF addiuohi
, e..',rtore is now a subject OF earnest >"
d,,ir, ON the part of the state Leslsla
,,re which debated the question OF a.
onnronriotion for the purpose az Hs "a
ssseion The board will recommend liz
,,,roirtment Of a prison chaplain.
50 far as conditional pardohs are ~
a,,es about 100 of them have pee
-.o,,ted since the act was passed, ana tll
$50 tom of the law seems to nave I'LL
rived discipline and lessened me Cur
poral punishment. As 10 anybody penn
r ,.rohhed Of earnings" for extra work, IN
s,,stem Of keeping accounts makes II pra'
ticalIy impossible
r,,r I.yD-GRA BBEpS ACT.