Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-09-08
BUDDING Says V|RG|N|A'S
PRISON MUCH IMPROVED
But Superintendent Wood Declares
No Changes Have Been Made
in Operation.
MAsTIN SUPPORTS WARDEN
Head of State Board OF Charities
Declares No Innovations Have
Been Put Into Effect Since Recent
Investigation.

From Washington Yesterday came a
statement by Il. r.. budding, president
of the Prisoners Relief Society. that
marked Improvement in conditions at
the Virginia State Penitentiary has
peen made since his investigation sew
eral months ago.
Superintendent j. T. Wood of the
state Penitentiary. declared yesterday
that to his knowledge the conditions
at the prison are tho same as they
We're previous to Duiding's investiCa-
ton, and that for the past ten years.
since he had occupied the position of
superintendent Of the institution. every
effort had been spent toward making
the lie AZ the prison as equitable as
1t could he made.
The laws of Virginia he continued.
nave not been changed since last
March IN respect to dong away with
any OF the instruments of punishment.
nut that no had not had occasion to in
met any podl' punishment since then.
Mnstin Supports Wood.
DR.: j. T. Mastin. superintendent of
the state Board OF Charities and Cor
mere mad been no need OF marked
improvements at the prison. and sa id
his reports show there had been none
Or Mastin said that eight months
prior to the investigation of conditions
ut the state prison there had been only
three hoEginES administered TO pris-
ooners. and that since then there have
been none. He thouht probably this
was what was meant by budding
In eNistencc At the prison are sys-
TENS inauSuratcd by Superintendent
Wood that have proved invalua bic in
it's management, tho officers state. one
OF these is known as the reward sys-
tenn \ blue cap is given to pris-
3ner in recognition of good conduct
during certain period of probation,
and this admits him to baseball games.
moving picture shows and other en-
ailments among the convicts.
prisoners that come into the insti-
were admitted when the state had
whisky" superintendent Wood said.
Fhcy appear TO be worse criminals
ans! are not easily reformed. Many
crimes were committed in tho days
when whisky was sold while the pris-
oncr was under it's influence.
Men Hardened Criminals.
But now ii is quite different. The
criminals that arc admitted new seem
TO be more or less hardened and ad :
Micted to evil, and there is little rcfor-
nation in them"
The superintendent said that he has
always favored and had distributed
the best food TO the prisoners lie had
never placed prisoner on bread and
water rations or placed him in dark
confinement with such menu 10 fol-
low Tor Il certain number OF days, he
asserted.
one OF the amusing things that has
been discovered is that the negro pris-
oners have not forgotten their love for
been used to adorn themselves before
taking up abode at Superintendent
Woods hotel"
On an allowance OF 10 cents a day
by the state. the same negro convict
saves HouSh to buy now and then a
pair OF bright tan shoes with brass
buttons. yellow stitching around the
so!es' high heels and raised blocked
toe. This is their pride. the superin-
tcndent said. and some pay as high as
IS for them.