Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-09
PRISON FARM CRITICIZED
u. B. in REPORT AFTER PROBE
Charities Board Finds Superintendent
Not Temperamcntally Fitted
')s,t.,a for His Position.
RECOMMEND NEW SYSTEMS
Claim Records Not Sufficient to Per-
nit Thorough 1nvcstigation-Fou
s teen Whippings This Year Attrii'-
IISS.uted Largely to Idlcncss.

ministration" of the State Prison Farm
is mot abreast With the times a
supplementary report on conditions in
N-irginia's penal institutions made by
tho State Board OF Charities and Cor
rections to Governor Davis. points out
that State Farm Superintendent Par
IRISH has neither the tempcramental nor
sociolosic al training which fits one for
Office OF warden.
This report also states that there is
too much idleness at the state Farm
and that such a condition leads to law
1essness. There are no recreationai
facilities, according to the report, and
records show tina; fourteen persons
have already been punished by whip
ping during the present year. This
situation. the investigators attribute
largely 10 lack OF occupation or enter
Sunday. which permits them TO onSaE"
in gambling and other disohcdi"nccS,
Poor Record system.
e There is an inefficient system Of rec
ords at the State Farm. according To
the report. and it is recommended mat
records as TO the physical condition. al
tention by doctors, punishments ami
other Information he compiled and
nlaintained as IL is difficult, TO conduct
satisfactory investigation or learn
the true facts OF conditions without
= Speaking of the charges mad. by
John T Holt, former prisoner, who
stated that he had not received proper
medical attention ana had Witnessed
much cruelty at the institution. the
report OF the Board of Charities says:
THE evidence advanced did not sus-
tain Hollis charges. but tended 10 snow
that he was hypochondrlac. with Il
tendency TO see in everything some
thing inimical to himself llowever: !,
should be noted that in the ahStnc"
of adequate records OF men treated 10y
the physician and Of the conduct of
persons and of punishment admins
n
certain facts: as matters now stand We
have only the word Of the convict
against the testimony of the manage
ment. Moreover, the board felt it rr;,.
sonable 10 suppose that the men would
hesitate to tell wha, they knew. IN
view of what had so recently happened
to prisoners who heretofore testified
as to conditions at this institution"
Proper Spirit Lacking.
= Regarding the executive officer OF the
State Prison Farm the rerori reads:
not abreast with the times. 1t IL eN-
ceedingiy difficult. If not impossible: TO
find a man who combines the uualti-
cations of A competent farmer and an
expert prison warden. In going over
the prison. the board was impressed
that the feeling OF the prisoners to-
ward the management Was nor such as
to create spirit OF contentment and
cooperation.
prisoners in the institution could. in
his opinion. be reformed. the SUpcrin
tendent replied: i do not know how !"
answer that: l don't think there is
much reformation about the majority
OF them. Mr. Parrish has been en-
ployed az this institution a. guard, SUI
perintendent and assistant superintend
emit Cor twenty-five years 1t goes
without saying that one who has been
in prison work so long without having
arrived al any conclusion as - tn"
possibility OF reforming prisoners. or
who ! 50 p"ss.mIst!c ri+w as TO
ackp, dse That me majority Of such
n If -,r la. 2 i'm
il not an upto- date prison manager.
While Mir. Parrish may be good BUSH
ager the Board Of Charities feels
obliged 10 state that in its opinion ne
has neither the temperamen,al mar
sociological training which rts one for
Office of warden"
Other Recommendations.
Other statements and recomme nda-
tuns follow:
Many OF the men ara no, constant
~ employed. The population at the
me OF the inspecton totaled 2o7;
.e-hoGied SO. In tuberculosis huspi-
~; 81; in general hospital. 80; par
TALLY disabled. -. Necessarily a large
proportion OF these men live in idle
ness, Many o: me partially disabled
could cS DO soms Wort Employment
no, HELPLESS G.@fsonF who live in idle
a nssS f IN nS[ 4:%2ns aTT dtseon;en,d
lawlessness If ait these are Ia re-
main AZ the farm, suitable Industries
other than farming, should he intro
duced.
There are no recreational facilities.
The books snow ;nat there have been
fourteen persons punished 10y whipping
during the present year. az the eight
pnnishmenis during the month Of
March. four We're punished for gam
bling tcrap shooting and playing
cards.. Most OF the gambling occurs
on sunday The men are confined in
the cell building under lock ana KEY
all day long on that dty. except when
they are q church. There is nothing
10 break "monotony but gambling
The law provides that The hoard
o. directors Of the pou;teni!ary IS
hereby authorized and directed to arr
range certain forms ~ rcrreai!on for
ihe prisoners. and snail arrange so
that the prisoners during their lcisur.
hours shall have an Opportunity 10
take nari IN games ana attend leo
lures, take exercises ana take part in
other forms OF amusement as inav he
provided ~ Inc board tActs of As
s"mh'y, l:ls. chapter sou, section S
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