Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1909-04-08

sus recently showed that In the work.
house on Blackwell's Island there
were 1925 men and 579 women serv-
Ing terms ranging from five days to
six months, all for trifing offenses.
In the Harris Island institution
there were 653 men and thirty-seven
women, and at Riker's Island asa
males were housed. Besides, there
are scores Of prisoners committed to
the workhouse who have been trans
ferred to the different detention
prisons scattered throughout the
greater city to do the cleaning. Ac-
cordtng to the figures of the Commits
sioner Of Correction obtained recent
ly, there was a grand total OF 3014
prisoners at present regularly COM
mitted to the workhouse.
From all over the State the same
reports are received-crovded pria-
ons, thickly tenanted warehouses; and
an ever increasing demand for admis-
sion to almshouses.
The o~vercrowded condition OF penf-
tent1aries and prisons in New York
State is not peculiar to this State.
Special dispatches subjoined Indicate
that similar conditions prevail i'm
many other States. New York prison
officials attributed it to two circum-
stances-the hard times and the In
fux of undesirable aliens.
Courts Less Lenient.
Observation-Disclosures County and
State reformatory and prison institu-
tons are crowded at the present time
as they have not been for years. The
authorities attribute this condition to
the establishment of juvenile courts,
leading to the arrest and conviction
Of many petty ~lawbreakers who here
tofore have escaped with a repri.
mand. Besides, they say, the courts
of late have in very many instances
imposed sentences where previously
they have put the accused on proba-
! ton. The probation plan has not
worked out as satisfactorily as it was
hoped.
Hard Times Blamed.
Philadelphia. - For the last flva
/! years the penal institutions of Penn
sylvania, both State and county, have
been inadequate. The crowded con-
ditions in the Eastern P~enitentiary.
in this city, were relieved somewhat
a few days ago when a score of Fed
eral prisoners were removed to the
new Government prison at Atlanta.
The hard times have been the cause
Tor an increase In petty crime, but It
is not believed that there is any
greater proportion Of alien criminals
than formerly.
Maryland Like New York. :
Baltimore, Md.-All the pena. IN
stitutions of the State and city are
more crowded than ever before with
minor offenders. It is attributed by
the officials largely to hard times and
the presence of foreign undertakes.
In a report to the Governor recently
it was stated that while there m
fewer cases due to the enforcement of
the ~anti-cocaine law, there is a large
increase in police court cases. The
State p%enitentiary has mor in
mates than it has had at any time
within five years. One of the city po-
lice magistrates last week let OF q
number of petty Offenders, saying he
did not want to add just now to the
number Of prisoners who are crowd
ing the city jail. The House of Cor
, rection is filled to ~overflowing with
offenders committed from all parts OF
| the State. Bay View Asylum, the city
almshouse, is SO packed with paupers.
sane and insane, that vigorous pro-
, tests are being made against the con-
dttions prevailing there.