Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-04-26
CONDITIONS AT NEWFANE JAIL.
Sheriff Wright Believer In Prison Re-
form-6rattIeboro Lookup Unsavory-
improvements Planned.


Conditions as they exist in the county
Jail at Newfane were presented by
Sheriff George c. Wright of Westmin-
ster in the Brotherhood class of the
Congregational church Sunday, and
large class gave close attention to
very interesting talk. Sheriff Wright is
much interested in prison reform, sub
ject which the class has Deen consider
ing several Sundays, and as far as he
can he is putting his ideas into effect.
George L. Durham, teacher of the
class opened the discussion by speak
ing of his impression gained by visit
to the lookup under the town hall build
ing He and two others went there to
note the conditions. A foul smell per-
vaded the place. The closet was filthy
as the water was not running and seven
men had occupied the lookup the pre-
vious night. There was practically no
ventilation and the bedding was dirty
The selectmen burned the old bedding
some time ago, but the new is becoming
repulsive. There is no way for provid-
ing adequate heat in cold weather. Mr..
Durham thought the class as indivij-
uals should take the matter up with the
officials and see If some plan could be
worked out for improving the situation.
Selectman j. G.. Stafford, a member Of
the class, said the officials already had
the subject under consideration.
Sheriff Wright said he came as much
to receive suggestions as TO give them.
He said he had felt for several years
the necessity for a change in the man
agement of the prisons and penal In
stitutions of the state. A good example
has been set at the industrial school at
Vergennes, where the boys of all ages
are placed upon their honor and all but
the outer doors at night are left I'M
locked.
The jails, Mr.. Wright said, are the
largest hobo camps In the state during
the winter. 1t does not annoy the
tramps to be arrested in that season of
the year Sheriff Tracy of Montpelier
has made Washington county the BAN
ner county in the state In the matter
of prison reform. Conditions can be
made better in Windham county, and
that is what Mr.. Wright Is trying to
sheriff last July 1856 commitments had
been made for intoxication and % for
all other offenses. He believes that by
requiring more work of the prisoners
certain element would be kept away
and much expense to the state saved.
The prisoners are sentenced to hard la
Dor, but many of them know nothing
about hard work and in this county
there is comparative little for them
to do. Some of them are given work
in a mountain woodlot, and Sheriff
Wright said he hoped to arrange to
nave tHeIn 10 SOHle ol tile Stdlc iodu
work. He said that of the II prisoners
at the Jail is were out raking yards
and doing other work last Saturday.
They are placed upon their honor and
since July only one man has run away.
cement tank with steam connec-
ton has been built at the Jail, where
the prisoners clothing can be steamed,
and a bath tub has been put in. plan
will be adopted of charging rs cents a
day for the work of each prisoner, in
stead of so cents as now, and the extra
rs cents will be given 10 the prisoner,
which will give him a little more inde-
pendence. In the Newfane jail there
are upstairs five double beds and four
cells costaining two single beds eacn.
Down stairs there are five cells for 10
prisoners. This makes a capacity of %,
and at one time since Mr.. Wright came
into office "a were confined there.
Clarke C. Fits, who was attorney
general when the plan of making the
prisoners work was adopted and who
was one of the originators of the idea,
said the plan was experimental but was
giving good results. He approved the
plan to reward the men by giving then
a part of their earnings. Although they
doubtless will spend it for drink it is
better to have them come by the money
honestly than to steal it and then spend
it for liquor. He favored long sentences
for hoboes and giving the sheriffs the
right to parole if the men do good
work.