The Washington herald., 1908-01-12
CHICAGO PRISONS HIT
Twelfth Century Dungeons
Humane in Comparison
FINDS STARTLING CONDITIONS
Investigator Reveals Result of His
study, and Judges of Illinois
Courts Agree with Him-Say Rus
STA Treats Prisoners with More
Consideration Than Western City.

Chicago. Jan 11.-Subterranean dun
| geOns Of the Turks in the Twelfth cen
tury were characterized by Samuel j
/ Barrows OF New York as a model institu-
/ tions fer the detention Of criminals com.
/ pared to the Harrison street police
/ station of Chicago. Dr. BarrOWs. who
/ is the president of the international
Prison Reform Association. expressed
this opinion in an address before the
/ City Club Of Chicago at a long table
/ luncheon. He followed IL up by saying
that next to the Harrison street
station, the worst prison ne had seen,
including what he HAD observed in all
Of cOntinantal Europe, is the West
Chicago avenue station.
Within few minutes after Dr. Bar
rows had ceased speaking the City Club
members were told by Prof. Charles r.
Henderson Of the University Of Chicago
that they were all guilty of a crime
against civilization by allowing the
Cook County Jail 10 exist as IL is at
present. and he pleaded that every
member constitute himself a committee
OF one 20 go over there with eyes anC
nose determine the situation.
Complaints Made by Judges.
Furthermore, Judge Fred l. Fake
announced that the judges and the
policemen were subjected to almost as
many tortures as the prisoners at the
Harrison street police station and
municipal court
"All the odors IN the calender come
in there in groups" said Judge Fake,
and a visit 70 the county Jail viii ONLY
put one in training for the life-size0
odors that wander about Harrison
street station
Then as a grand windup, Judge
Sephens a. Foster said the police
station in Pullman was as bad, If not
worse. than any of them, and he had
visited practically all Of them IN the
city.
The one ray Of light in the stories Of
disreputable conditions in Chicago
prisons, aside from a splendid COM
pliment given 10 Supt John L. White
man and the house OF correction. by Dr.
Barrows came from Chief Justice
Harry Olsen of the municipal court
Judge Olsen told Of the plan for q
great central police department. build
ing. with a half dozen courts and
quarters for policemen IN IT,
Plea for Prison Reform.
Or. Barrows. who was introduced by
Judge Julian W Mack as the speaker
Of the day. made a plea with the club
for reform movement by which men
awaiting trial would be kept separate
from those who have been convicted
and for employment and better treat
ment of those only detained for trial,
the people whom the law presumes
innocent until they are proved guilty.
Here in Chicago" said DR. BaTrows.
"a mans punishment begins as soon as
he is arrested, even though he denies
ne has committed a crime and the
burden OF proof is on the prosecution.
Conditions are far better than this in
Russia. the country whose prison sys-
TEN seems TO have gained an unenviable
reputation. but which really is much
better than many Of those in the United
States
Il remember one prison I visited last
0NAtLiEE Ait 4sAHEtfit JAHN 0AAStfaN tA -
Petersburg. II was a detention prison.
where men were held for trial-a light.
airy building. where every man was
employed at his own trade where pos
sibIe And the best part Of 1t was the
fact that each man. was entitled 10
part Of the product of his labor and
he was able 10 send home what he had
earned for himself. so that his wife and
family would not suffer along with him
because he was accused of a crime.
had Conditions In County Jail
What is it here in your county Jail?
Men awaiting trial for their first
offenses are allowed 10 mingIe with
convicted felons, and their hands are
idle from early morn till late at night
giving them every opportunity 10 brood
over their misfortune and to plan new
crimes when once they have obtained
their liberty.
DR.. BarrOws strongly recommended
the enlargement OF the house OF cOrreC-
tion, that il might be able to take care
of all the cOunty's prisoners except
those actually awaiting trial for their
crimes. He advised the removal of the
John Worthy School to even a greater
distance from the city. and said the
Jail should be maintained for
the single purpose Of holding men
awaiting trial