Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1906-05-04
DOUBLE COSTS ASSESSED
OFFENDERS TRIED FOR TWO OF
FENsEs ON SAME DAY.

Resumed House of Correction Hear.
ings by Investigating Committee
Injustice to Prisoners from Distance.
Testimony favorable to the house Of
correction was brought out at Wednes'
days session of the Vermont state
penal institution investigating commit
tee, which is at Rutland to complete
the work begun over two months ago,
Gov. G. j. Bell being present at the
morning session. 1t was also demon.
strated that criminals who are taken
TO the institution from other parts
of the state get much longer sentences
than men who are arrested in the city,
owing to the extra expenses claimed by
the officers making the arrest man
arrested in Rutland for first offense
of intoxication usually has costs of
about So attached to his fine, while If
he is arrested in any other town in the
state and sentenced 10 the house of cor
rection there is the railroad fare to be
added besides the board that is neces-
sary during the time he serves at the
house of correction. A man arrested in
Bellows Falls and fined So and costs
would, according to these conditions,
receive "A sentence of just twice the
term that Rutland man would receive
for similar offense and equal fine.
Another point that was gone over
thoroughly was whether or not 1T was
right for a person arrested and tried
| in same court and on same day for two
separate and distinct offenses to have
costs for the two attached to his fine.
Superintendent d. l.. Morgan produced
mittimuses for the commitments of IL
prisoners. where the offender had been
tried on the same day and in the same
court for two offenses Whether or not
the officers had charged the state for
the double expense will be referred to
the state auditor.
One of the cases was that or
Matthew Garrity of Bennington, who
was arrested in that city Feb. ~ last.
He was found guilty of breach of the
peace and fined $25 and costs. He was
also found guilty at the same time OF
second offense of intoxication and
hned SIS and costs. j. III. Kelly and
Deputy Sheriff A. W. Russell of that
town each held mittimus for his com
mitment to the house of correction and
the man was taken 10 Rutland, costs OF
sl2 being charged in each ease.
Among the other cases there were
several instances where the same OIL
Ger held two papers and the prisoner
was charged the double amount. At
the time the members of the committee
had their first hearing in Rutland
y.
institution. Now there are less than lao
and the number of commitments per
month is gradually decreasing, accord
ing to Mr.. Morgan s statements We'd
nesday.
Philip Petrie, who gave sensational
testimony at previous session OF the
commission, charging gross immortality
of prisoners and alleging cruel and in
human treatment of the inmates by of
ficials, cannot be found. A subpoena
was issued by Attorney G. G.
Fits Wednesday night and efforts will
be made to locate him.
Oliver Snide of Springfield, former
prisoner. testified that during his stay
at the institution of nearly % months
he received very satisfactory treatment
being well cared for when he was sick.
He thought that none of the prisoners
were more harshly treated than they
deserved. He knew nothing of improp-
er relations between the male and fe-
male prisoners
Grin 5. Richardson of Worcester, an
other former prisoner, also testified as
to his satisfaction with his treatment
Henry Bowers, a prisoner from Mont
pelier. who is now serving his 37th
term. testified that prisoners were al
wavs well treated and that the food
is better now than it was years ago.
Bowers claimed that he had been ar
rested at various times when he did not
deserve it.
George McAnany of st. Adams, also
prisoner, claimed that he was sent to
the institution uniustly by the sheriff
at st. Albans and that he was not drunk
when arrested three weeks ago.
w. Borden, guard, denied all of
the charges which had been made by
previous witnesses. He said that he
had never slept on duty as charged and
that he could honestly say that he had
never abused a prisoner. de admitted
that he had fights with several of the
prisoners at different times, but stated
that it was only when absolutely nee
essary He never knew of any improp-
er relations between the male and te-
male prisoners, or between the guard
and the female inmates. 1.-The stories
of brutality and immortality told by wit
nesses are fabrications pure and sim
ple.' said the witness. j. Borden, an
other guard, testified along the same
| lines.
The principal feature of the investi-
CATION developed at the hearing yester-
day was the examination of the matron,
Mrs. Agnes Roberts. She declared that
women prisoners never reform while
| in the institutions They show no de-
sire to learn or to read good books, ana
it is the same old bunch which keeps
coming and going over and over again.
They pass the most of their time III
sewing and housework, but take no IN
terest in their duties. The average
number of women prisoners under the
supervision of the matron is 20
| John n. Woodfn of Rutland, presl-
| dent of the state board of prison dl-
rectors. was asked about the future
outlook of the marble shop. He replied
| that he had not been able to make any
contract for prison labor. 1t Will be
remembered that at session OF the IN
vestigating committee some time ago
the idea was advanced that it might
be well to let the prison labor to con
tractors. Mr. Woodfn also said that
the shop was sadly in need of new
rubbing bed but that there was no way
of getting it unless the legislature
makes an appropriation as no funds
are available for this purpose.
l.. 4l,u4 M linonsnd dan ].