Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-09-01
Death Penalty Barbarism outdone.

The testimony produced during
last weeks hearing of the state prison
investigation, though embroidered
with falsehood and contradictions,
had nevertheless a warp of truth sur
ficient to condemn the present system
Of prison management and the fitness
of its officials.
II the moral standards of rape
fend and murderess have prevailed
against the prison rules this year,
similar moral conditions may have
flourished in the prison during years
past If scissors and wire nave
opened prison locks this year, their
usefulness has probably not been I'M
recognized in the past. If prison
officials and TRUSTEES" have been aid
ing and shielding one another this
year in their shameful schemes OF
spite and lust, other conspiracies as
degrading to the prison life and dis
cipline have doubtless existed unde-
tected in former years. All these
things and more have been testified
to before the investigating commit
tee.
Superintendent Cakes may not have
been guilty of dishonesty. but the
vilest conditions and abuses have ex-
listed under him. Warden Harpin
may not have conspired to cause the
removal of his superior officer but II
not. he was guilty of the grossest
negligence. The present superintend-
ent gauges his duty in protecting the
people of Vermont from loathsome
criminal according to the money he
thinks the state can afford TO spend
for such protection. He has not back
bone enough to assume responsible
ity which he knows belongs to him
and say no when other state officials
choose to say yes without authority
Neither he nor Sheriff Peck has
stamina enough to own up to an I'M
fortunate situation, but both prefer
to evade the truth and contradict one
another like angry scrub-women.
Vernon Rogers and Mary Rogers
are the least blamable of the persons
involved in the prison scandal They
were only acting out their known ma
passions have led her to murder and
a man who has assaulted a little.
girl into prison and leave them alone
together with only two locks between
nd y>yire al
with which to open these locks. and
what will happen? Just what did
happen. of course.
The people of Vermont have been
suffering a great deal in their feelings
of late. over the possible infection of
the cruel and barbarous death PEN
atty. We thought we had become too
highly civilized to keep so savage
and un-Christian measure in force.
Yet only one or two of our murder
ers have, for many years, been
claimed by it. These have been sent
how guilty who knows?-to meet an
all-wise.. perfectly just Creator. The
rest have lived out their lives, unless
pronounced insane, in this unspeak-
able place, the state prison. The
moral damage they have suffered we
can only conjecture. Which have
been more humanely treated?
Are the people of Vermont alto
gether blameless in this matter of
prison conditions? Have we been
careful and conscientious in the
choice of men whom. by vote or in
fuence, we have put into state ser
vice? If not, we are responsible, along
with those directly involved for these
evils which must develop unden a
system marked by lax discipline and
careless supervision. The state BUSH
ness is our business and if we want
it done wisely, economically and up
rightly we must see that the right
methods are employed by the right !
kind of people Thanks to our two
committees, we can no
longer plead entire ignorance of
prison affairs.
The next legislature, representing, |
of course the advanced civilization of
the state. will have work more urg-
emily pressing upon its chafed sensi-
bhities than the adjustment of the
death penalty, inhuman though it is. !
Our advanced civilization has real
lied, with amazement. that the death |
penalty is not the most cruel or bar
barous punishment which Vermont |
has been infiicting upon her criminals. |