Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-27
GOOD BEHAVIOR DUE TO
FEAR Of PUNISHMENT
Supt. La Dow Expresses 0p:n-
ion of Convicts From Expert
ence of Alice Beckett.

Fear Of punishment keeps straight the
prisoner paroled on good behavior is the
conclusion indicated by Robert v. La
Dow, superintendent of federal prisons
In passing upon the record of Alice
Beckett, colored, arrested Wednesday for
throwing pepper into a mans eyes and
then robbing him. She has a long record
Of offenses against society, having serv-
ed much time on conviction of crime dur.
ing twenty-three years. She has been
and transgressed again when her parole
period was expired and when she was
a free woman in every sense of the law.
On parole nearly twenty-six months
admitting her fear of going back to
prison to serve out the seven years yet
hanging over her, the woman has led
for time blameless life as domestic
servant, although not exactly conform
Ing to the requirements Of her parole In
regard to reporting her situation. July
Z, this year, with allowances for good
behavior, her time in prison expired.
hardly two months elapsed. When, Sep
TENDER 26, freed from supervision and
alarm over the prospect Of return to
prison for past crimes, the woman was
again in difficulty with the law.
Would Extend Supervision.
That federal supervision should not
only extend over the period of parole but
should be applied after the natural ex-
piration Of sentence with good behavior
allowances to the full limit Of the SEN
tence is the deduction in this case by
Supt La Dow. He would have the gov
eminent do all Of it's part in re-establish-
ing a criminal in society, and then would
h iafx do ifS "a vt \
special conditions, such as fnsanitary liv-
ing quarters, crowded homes and other
factors conducive to crime and per-
petuation Of the criminal instinct.
The Beckett woman has long criminal
record In 1890 she was sentenced to
five months In Jail for larceny. Two
years later she was given two years in
the penitentiary at Albany. n. Y, fol-
grand larceny. For the same offense
in 1899, she served two years in Jail.
The crime which gained her a ffteen-
year sentence resulted from going
through the pockets of man she had
ent.ced into her rooms. She was sen
fenced on July 1, 1908. With good be-
havior time. her sentence would have ex,
pired July this year. She was paroleo
May II. 1911, the government obtaining
a position as a domestic for her. con.
dtional to parole, on the theory of re-
establishing the criminal in society In a
normal condition. that of wage-earner.
The Beckett woman did not make hel
returns promptly as paroled prisoner
but was under constant secret surveil-
lance When she was delinquent N re-
porting an agent was sent for her. and
she was brought to Mr.. La Dow, who Is
president of the parole board Of the Tren-
ton. N. j.. prison, where she had been In
carcerated.
She declared to Mr.. La Dow her fear OF
prison, and said she was living straight
in the hope Of avoiding the rest of her
sentence This was confirmed by the in
vestigators watching her progress
With the time for good behavior, her
sentence expired July Z. It took only two
months, with the removal of government
supervision. to find her returning to her
old practices.