The Detroit times., 1915-08-07
I lng Sing Warden Says
Humanity Improves
Discipline
'C1NYICTS TREATED
AS HUMAN BEINGS
PfISon Is Conducted
Along Lines of Good
\ Business

NJ ~, r<E ~ =
trhomss Mott Osborne. millionaire
IA sooctoLoei6t and prison reformer.
N a1oto1 tor dismissal ~ warden o
y 1T eJnG prison. according TO au
G33SSlnG friction between Governo
Wkitman. and the prison head. Tn
W. I,nlked presa yesterday sent star
069roopOudent to Ossining to see hoy
f1e oct and to find out from Osborn
& kI1ee1f what he thinks about expert
81 ~ LOWELL MELLETT.
(xfef Correspondent United Press.
y -oeoININ0. N. ". Aug. 6.-Ths
Gk1oe The moment In Undertaking ap
u ~ q be Sing Sing prison. Here's
al6thpF rake:
foosne prisoners in Sing Sing veal
jid. SCOTS.
Some wear tan shoes.
4 PRISONER are allowed to talk
I lnIk ont loud and even at the table
Prisoner are allowed to attend
Il ~ funerals Of their mothers and
wives.
y PRISONERS get 20 much time out
Y q 6onrp that they look like other
tYeqOae.
xbore are other charges, but none
90 serious as these.
n 4heoo seem to be those on which
Ynf6on Osborne b scheduled for
II llGnloRaI. Warden Osborne il the
z $3.50 Thomas Mott Osborne. million
Il ~ with I mission. VINO spent a
1901 = prisoner in Auburn state
i 1lGua f0r experience"
Aokod for An interview, he said
4 ~ ~ sxcused. but he adj
Va lost q tn. charges we're
'|;Ssks; TT really isn't 20 much here
m saDw," he said. 'it's simply
II ~ 1o6w York h AndiEg Il harder
- noge states 70 reconcile itself
& o ~ things:
f} " The conduct Of . prison
1UGlness institution.
M ~ tfgntunest - meu
pan Aslhss. with the idea q
e 3 fk6m q 6oc5sfy Improved
W q harmed BY the time
Fl Deat. here q tha stats's ex-
l TIE basis Of the present
ury against our methods ID
i believe that ron WI and
& Ne effort 70 operate Sing
IS rig 1he linss Of good bust
ii u causing the most dis
6etion IN some quarters. Treat
b - Oeaa aecently u good business
n Ne Increased the output OF our
~ Dutrial plants here 20 per cent
" For quite y while after our ad
s. ~ 1Istration began We were the sub
h ~ q al sorts OF nattering pub
y, much Of II inaccurate, most
4 % sympathetic. Now. however
IN u the success Of the reform
NJ t1aoed TO be Interesting Blu
~ ~ u III failure--alleged failure
Hpuld sayl-are interesting.
)Copsequcnt.y. many stories ar
81 W Item of escapes and attempted
bpes.
IA ! matter Of fact there hav'
- but three escapes and one al
ut. That n somewhat under tn,
og Paee for many years past.
4 Either through mistaken kind
& - or through inability to under
~ \ what we're trying to do. mucl
~ been written to Indicate a reigl
M q entilnentalifm at sing Sing. A
81 = Aaflsy Of fact. consider sent
III 8k1lIty only degree better thai
A nutA1jtx. There's no sentimentalit
Gb0af the Welfare league. 81
th<cueh q session OF the prisoners
y 0Na court and you'll find that out.
"a II through such q sessio
49, ~ Ito prove his case. Half
Ee 1oe risoners, charged with vic
4 1e1toA 81 various prison rules. wer
g. otousht before board Of Ave othe
n re1ooo6rs. Few courts ever wer
y motos thorough and painstaking 8
v der nGorts 70 get ~ the facts. Fe'
eoo1tt Ger dealt out more ev,
$500 Justice. Mercy was the qua
Nv noot evident What there wa
y eu9 stlvm the warden. who. sittin
= 0lfEslhs principal keeper and tn
m 111cor n court Of appeals, hear
~ esses Of those prisoners VIII
81 thW had been too severely deal
- ~ their fellows. 40
Z xhGt talk about lack Of disciplin
49, he said afterward. "The prii
IS - <eo themselves keep twice q
8 q - : watch on the conduct of on
kbee - the strictsst guard coul
< olpv keep. And In our FIRST fou
- only about half 40 man
~ vers reported for disciplin
l ~ arst four months OF tn
- oharsp that the men talk /
~ - hat proves itself. Tn
co ~ the slcksnihs silenc
- chsraotsrise Sing Sin
= - nrst things one notice,
WoA0ar rsst period they no
1T they play or watc
- ootnin otner exercise.
o ~ ,that nuch les