The Republican journal., 1907-01-17
THE STATE PRISON.
Interesting Figures From Warden Norton
and Chaplain Plummer

ana Cnapldln RUNNER
The annual report of the warden of
the Maine State prison shows that the
number of prisoners, i'll the prison at
this time is 17S, of which number 81
were received during the past year.
During the year one prisoner died, 81
were discharged by expiration of SELL
tence and two were pardoned by the
Governor and council. The highest
number in prison during the year was
1888; the lowest number in prison during
the year was Ill; the average number
in the prison during the year was 179;
and the average number Of>non-con-
victS in the insane department was 10.
The largest number of prisoners were
committed for breaking, entering and
larceny, compound larceny, larceny,
robbery and manslaughter. One per-
son was committed each for the crimes
of administering poison with intent to
kill and murder, assault and battery,
assault and battery on all officer; as
sault with intent to commit rape; as
sault with intent to kill and murder;
breaking and entering with intent to
commit larceny; breaking and entering
in the night time with intent to com
NIT larceny; criminal assault on fe-
male child; highway robbery, perjury,
rape, receiving stolen goods, sodomy,
smuggling and violation of the bank
ruptcy law. Two persons were COM
mitted for the crimes of murder, as
sault with intent to kill and breaking
and entering, forgery and breaking and
entering.
During the year two persons were
sentenced for life, one for 16 years,
two for 10 years, three for eight years,
two for six years, eight for five years,
three for four years, three for three
years, II for two years and three for
one year In the occupations the la
borers and the teamsters lead Six of
the cOnvicts were between Is and 20
years of age, "a between 20 and 25
years, seven between "a and 80 years,
six between 80 and 80 years, five be-
tween IS and 40 years, two between 40
and As years, three between 45 and SO
years, and one was "a years old. Forty
eight of those committed during the
year could read and write and six
could not read or write; 35 did use in
toxicants and 10 did not; eight did not
use tobacco while AS did use tobacco; Al
were married at commitment and Is
were single; AZ were serving prison
sentence for the first time. Thirty of
those committed were natives of
Maine.
The largest number of convicts were
committed from Cumberland county,
with PenobScot second and kennebec
third. None were committed from the
counties of Hancock, PiscataquiS, Saga
dahOc or Washington. Five United
States prisoners were received during
the year.
The report of the financial condition
of the prison shows that the actual cost
to the State of maintaining the prison
was $1,7l4.S2. The total gain of the
prison for the. year was $25, 1850. The
total expense account shows an expeG-
diture of SIS, 1882 These expenditures
for the year include cost of subsistence,
clothing, medicine, library, chapel, fuel,
lights, stable, electrical department.,
clothing for discharged prisoners, trans
portation of convicts, amount credited
to prisoners for good behavior, lover
S50oG everything, in fact, except the
pay OF officers in charge. This shows a
net gain of SO, 1878. The pay of Of
ficers of the prison and other expenses,
not included in the foregoing statement,
amounted to 900 which was paid
from the appropriation by the State.
Subtracting the $1O,1951S from the
81, 10000 leaves 81, 714.s2, the actual
cost to the State of maintaining the
prison.
The report of the chaplain, the Rev.
&. A. Plummer, says, in part:
''The men are allowed the reading of
weekly papers and magazines, which
they receive as subscribers or through
the kindness of their friends. An un-
usually large number of the men are
subscribers for some paper and maya.
zine. We continue the issue ON Tues
day evening of two magazines bound
together, one of late copy, the other an
old number. These are passed from
cell to cell in regular order, each man
having the book one week. Each copy
is in constant use full year and often
a few weeks longer
But few additions have been made
to the library during the year. Many
of the books We're old when | took
charge of the library. | found large
number OF good books which had been
thrown aside, worn out. Many of these
| repaired, SOMETHING'S getting whole
book from two or three COPIES But
many of these books cannot be used
much longer. They are literally worn
out. A few hundred dollars could be
proftably used in replacing some of
these books and in providing new pub
locations. Each man who reads is al
lowed the use of two books each week.
''The privilege of receiving letters
from relatives and the friends of other
years and of writing one letter each
week is improved by most of the men,
and is of inestimable value in retaining
a love for home, and cultivating prop,
er regard for the feelings and rights of
others. One cannot overvalue these
principles or their influence in leading
men to an honest effort to live worthy
life. | continue the custom of writing
letters weekly for those who cannot
write, but have them compose and
write their own letters as soon as they
can be taught.
Religious instruction receives our
first and most earnest attention. In
personal interviews as we'll as in pulpit
discourses this is the ultimate end in