The Springfield herald., 1903-04-24
State Peniten.iary Affairs.

Convicts in the state penitentiary
have been flooding the United States
with begging letters, but this abuse
has been summarily stopped by war
den Cleghorn. the order being part
OF new regulations recently promul-
gated by the head of the states chiei
penal institution. The convicts have
been carrying on wholesale business
of soliciting money to help them get
paroles. The ground upon which the
appeals to the charitable and gullible
have been based is that the clothing.
transportation and money given by
law to convicts discharged or par
doned were not vouchsafed to men
paroled In the language of Warden
Cleghorn: These begging letters
were discontinued within thirty min
utes after | assumed charge of the
prison"
This announcement was made at
the annual meeting of the State Board
of Charities and Correction April 18Th:
The boards annual election, held
during the afternoon, resulted in the
choice of the following;
President-Dr Eleanor Lawney.
Vice President-Rev. Thomas IL.
Malone.
Standing Committees - Industrial
School FOR Girls and State Home for
Dependent Children-Mrs. Decker.
Penitentiary and Private Charities
Father Malone.
Insane Asylum-Dr. D. II. Dougan.
Insane Asylum and Industrial
School for Boys-Dr. Lawney.
School for Deaf and Blind-Rabbi
Friedman.
Reformatory-M Enrich.
Soldiers and Sailors Home-Secre-
tary Hagar.
Reports from each institution con-
cerning the number of cases of tuber-
culosis among the inmates and the
stage of the disease were also consid-
cred.
BY unanimous vote the secretary,
Mr.. C. E. Hagar, was elected delegate
to the national conference of charities
and correction, to be held at Atlanta,
Georgia, May gig.
A copy of the parole rules promul-
gated by Governor Peabody was read
and discussed. These rules as now in
force are given below:
Rule / provides that when pris-
oner has served the minimum SEN
tence he may apply for parole
blank; rule 2. that upon receipt or the
proper application the warden shall
investigate the case, secure the physi-
clans statement as to the prisoners
physical condition and prospects, and
also statement from the chaplain.
The report of the warden. with all
papers, must be filed in thirty days
with the pardon board, thence to be
sent to the governor. Particulars Of
sentence in the case of each convict
sent up are requested from judges
and district attorneys for the informa-
ton of the warden. The governor may
sign paroles upon receipt of the
proper application and papers, and the
convict on parole must report to the
warden once each month for one year
after release, and thereafter once
every three months for the entire
term of his maximum sentence. The
paroled prisoner may not leave the
state without a permit from the gov
ernor and upon bond given TO the
warden. All communications touching
prisoners parole must be submitted
to the warden. and prisoners will not
be permitted to employ attorneys to
represent them before the warden.
The warden is also prohibited from
receiving statements of friends of pris-
oners pending consideration of appli-
cations for parole. The right of direct
appeal to the governor from adverse
decisions or recommendations of the
warden is recognized and granted, and
If prisoner at any time feels that
his case has not been justly consid-
cred or is being unduly delayed by
the warden, he may appeal to the gov
ernor to consider his request for a
parole.
Requests for parole, when denied.
may be renewed at the end of six
months. The warden is required to
keep full summaries of all cases in a
book adapted for that purpose.