The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-01
PRISONERS on PAROLE.

1 T.
I PRISONERS ON PAROLE.
Several days ago The Times-Dis-
1 patch printed q letter from Mr.. w. D.
i Patteson making number of timely
| suggestions as To the treatment of
4 prisoncrs on parole, the most helpless
and forlorn of alt human creatures.
| duty 1t would he to communicate with
/ the directors of the penltentiary and
ascertain which of the inmates of thai
| institution are entitled to conditional
or parole pardon, for which the Gen
eral Assembly in it's wisdom has made
| provision, and to obtain employment
for such of their number as might
be worthy of such consideration Mr..
4 T. W. Gillian, of Lynchburg. writes
| that, in his opinion. "a cheaper and
| far better plan than that suggested
jby Mr.. Patteson would he: Let the
ISuperintendent of the penitentiary pub
lish the first day in every month the
names OF all prisoners who are en-
| titled TO this privilege dhe privilege
of parole). stating the crimes thes
committed their Occupation before
they were sentenced. and their former
homes" Mr. Gillian adds:
| II believe this would he great
| help to the prisoners as we'll as great
benefit to farmers and people gen
orally who want and need help on the
farms and in business. / have no
doubt but what your paper, as well
as great many others In the State.
would gladly print this list to aid the
prisoners to find employment and to
lhelp farmers and others wanting help
to get it. Tt would cause your paper
| to increase in circulation as your sub
scribers would see every month the
names of parties wanting employment,
and have no doubt but what every
prisoner entitled to this parole could
| find profitable employment in this
way. | believe the state pays the
| prisoners railroad fare to their for
mer homes. ana the farmers and otli-
ers would gladly furnish transporta :
| ton to the prisoners to their Cthe
| farmersD homes. and pay them good
wages in order to get help, for / tell
YOU, Mr.. Editor. farm help is extreme
1 ly scarce in this state, and greatly
needed in order to save the crops
/ 1t is very important, of course. To
save the crops but 1t is far more
important to save tho men. The pur
pose OF the parole is to make good
citizens of such prisoners as have
commended themselves. by their indus
[ try and obedience to lawful authority.
a. ,rI,e
4 Times Dispatch and other newspapers
in Virginia would print the list of
4 names as suggested by our I.ynchburE
!. correspondent If the authorities of the
weuld be cruel thing to do. The
idea of the law Is not to advertise the
Iprisoners or the offences for which
they have made the rcparation de-
manded by the law but to help their,
on their feet again When they arc
released from prison, they put aside
the stripes of the convict for the garh
of the citizen. II would destroy their
chances OF ever regainng their foot
hold should they he labeled as ticket
of-leave men or identified as those who
have passed through prison to free
4 dom. We are sure that our Lynch
4 burg correspondent will realize. upon
/ reflection. the hardship snch publicity
who have paid the penalty for thei,
Imisdolngs
There is already in Richmond an or