Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-09-13
'UF[RS' ON INCREASE
LARGER NUMBER OF coNvicTs
At FORT MADISON PRISON
THERE TO STAY.
INcREAsE ALSO SHOWN
ON OTHER CHARGES


tained - Death Penalty Apparently
Doss Not Halt ajority Of
"Lifsrs" Convicted Of Murder.
Fort Madison. Sept. ia rough
summary from the books Of the prison
at Fort Madison produce interesting
and somewhat discouraging data re-
lating to the number Of inmates serv-
ing sentences of life. They lead to an
Inevitable conclusion that the death
penalty does not deter men from COM
hitting murder in the first degree. AND
q salient fact is that the number OF
men serving life sentences is increas-
ing with astonishing rapidity. Since
the minimum sentence provided by law
for murder in the first degree is life
sentence, the indeterminate sentence
law has but slight bearing on that
crime. tho 1t does have a bearing on
murder in the second degree; on rape
and burglary in the night time with
DANGEROUS weapon.
Must Impose Maximum.
Under the law judges must IN al
most all cases impose the maximum
penalty, leaving to the board of parole
the proper adjustment Of the time to
be served. In cases Of murder In the
second degree 1t is discretionary with
the trial Judge to impose life or
term OF years, and where the greater
penalty Is Imposed after constderate
Judgment, the board Of parole seldom
and but with reluctance interferes with
II. Sentences for burglary In the night
time with a dangerous weapon are rare.
In rape, however, there Is a diner
ence. Those cases have increased the
number of life men in both the peni-
4entiary and the reformatory. So far
AZ the penitentiary Is concerned, the
board Of parole does not let such SEN
fences stand. In fact in the last two
years it has committed to fitting terms
exactly the same number OF lifers re-
ceived for that crime in the same time.
Yet for all Of that the truth remains
that life prisoners increased hfty-t"o
per cent in the last eight years.
There were admitted to the peniten-
tiary to serve sentences of life during
two years ending June 80. 1915, eleven
for murder in the first degree. seven
for rape. and one for burglary-a to-
tai Of twenty-five. During the same
period there were seven serving life
for rape previously received who were
committed to terms varying from ten
to twenty yea1s-an exact onset 70
those admitted during that time. And
incidentally It may be stated. that dur
ing the same time there were ten .corn-
mittments for incest.
On the fifth of February. 1907, the
wear the indeterminate sentence law
went into effect. there We're confined n
the 4penitentiary on life sentences
twenty-five for murder in the second
degree. two for rape. and two for OBJ
structinE railroad trains. The total Is
twenty eight.
AS a contrast. there were IN prison
on the fifth day Of September. 1915
fifty-three for murder in the first de-
gree, twenty for murder in the second
degree. thirteen for rape, and two fol
burglary in the night time with a dan
gerous weapon. The total Is eighty
eight.
Lifers on the Increase.
From these figures it will be seen
that in the eight years embraced by
them, the lifers for murder in the first
degree have increased thirty-one, for
murder in the second degree eighteen,
and for rape eleven, the total increase
for all life sentences being exactly
sixty. or slightly less than SO per cent.
The increase Of the entire prison
population during the period OF eight
years ending June 80. 1915. was 1SS
ner cent. The average increase OF
lifers for the eight year period ending
Sept. 5. 1915, was seven and one-half
a year; for the entire prison popula-
ton for the same period ending June
80, 1915. It was twenty five-the 1ifers
at this date being fraction less than
II per cent Of the entire population.
There IL q marked difference in ad-
missions during the first Ave and the
last three years Of the eight-year
period. Tho first five show admissions
to have remained about normal. In
fact tho average was but 169, while for
the last three years there was de-
cided increase, the average Jumping &C
1873 for that three years only. It Is
evident then that for the years ending
Juno 80, 1s13-14-15, there was great
and decided increase IN crime in the
state Of Iowa.
Population Also Increased.
But these three years are not alone
responsible for the increase in the
grand total. Tho the receipts for the
first five years remained normal. the
population continued to increase. Al
tho end Of the first year. June 30, 1903
1t was 430. At the end Of the fifth
year. 1912, It was 512. and at the end
Of tho eighth year $40.
Under the underestimate sentence
law All convictions OF murder in the
first degree must go to the peni-
Tertiary. That accounts for the wide
difference in tho number Of lifers fol
that crime and for other crimes. Rape
under the indeterminate sentence law
Is life sentence; but persons be-
tween the ages Of sixteen and thirty
years convicted of rape - may
warrant, in the discretion Of the court
be committed either to the reforma.
tory or penitentiary.
Ninety mine per cent Of all cases Of
rape are statutory. Most Of them arr
attended by mitigating circumstances
Many arc committed by boys and
young men, soft Is reasonable to be.
lieve that II the penitentiary has OF
hand twenty inmates serving life fol
rape, the reformatory has as many
more. Thus It Is easy to see that thu
number Of life prisoners in the STATE
Is increasing rapidly from that caus,
alone.
MAXWELL Schools Open.
Special to Times Republican.
Maxwell. Sept 13.-Maxwell's pubic
AZ - H.