Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-11-04
REPORT CLEARS
PRISON HEADS
Lax Methods Investigators
Find Nothing to Condemn.

A report "whitewashing'' the manage
ment OF the State prison OF charges OF
lax methods and poor discipline was
made today by Demarchus c. Brown
and Amos W. Butler of the Board Of
State Charities.
The two members Of the board made
an investigation following the escape or
John T. Vaughn. a life prisoner, who
was later re-captured. Their statement
follows:
1t has been brought to the attention
OF the Board Of State Charities that
| statements IN effect regarding lax meth
DDS. poor discipline and inadequate SUI
peryision OF prisoners at the Indiana
State Prison have been extensively cir
culated. Therefore. a committee OF the
Board Of State Charities composed of
! Demarchus G. Brown. chairman, ahd
Amos W. Butler, secretary. on Oct 81
and IS. 1920, visited the State prison and
made inquiry as 70 the truth Of these
statements.
LIFE PRISONER
MADE 'ERUSTT'
From the evidence obtained It was
found in brief that there was life pris-
oner, John Z. Vaughn, who escaped from
the pumphOuse at the water works where
be was employed as cook for himself
and two other rusty prisoners who
operate the plant. A newsboy from the
nclghborhOOd went with him Both were
found and Vaughn was returned TO the
prison. Our information is that the
boys father. who lived in Chicago, came
after him and took him to his home
there. Vaughn Is a, life prisoner who
mas been at the prison thirteen years
The prison management chose him for
the position It the pumphouse because
ne nau sept the rules and proved trust
worthy IN every position In which he
had been employed, including that OF
c1retaker Of the front grounds outside
the prison wall. In our opinion thsre
Is no foundation in fact for the genersliz-
auons made regarding lax methods poor
discipline and INADEQUATE suneryision
Besides, the three prisoners who were
empioNed at the pumping station were
regarded as among the most reliable men
IN the prison population. There are
Diners chosen for reliability who are
principally employed upon the large
prison farm as gardeners. farmers, dairy
men, shepherds and Transfers They
are under the authority Of three officers
ana are not unguarded, neither de they
roam at viii
HOLD INDIANA PRISON
DISCIPLINE GOOD.
From a personal knowledge of the dis
cipline in a number of the better pris-
ons in the United States. we are prepared
to say that the discipline at the Indiana
NN"eC tASou Is EooQs Ilat tue methods
are in accordance with standard prison
IDEAS; that they are the basis OF
the merit system.
The merit system in use in the Indiana
state Prison has been developed through
the past twenty years. 1t has Shown
It's value ana is now employed In all the
better prisons OF the United States. 1t
implies confidence and trust as the pris-
oner shows he merits it. All this Is uuon
the basis of careful watching and test
ing. Prisoners are not selected indiscrim-
inately for outside employment, but are
chosen for demonstrated fitness and al
most always the faith reposed in them
has been shown to be well placed sell
dom one escapes. or the average prison
population OF 900 for the fiscal year end
ing September so, 1890, the record shows
but four escapes, one of these from in
side the wall, and one of these prisoners
was returned. The excellent discipline
too, is shown By the small number OF
reports for violation OF rules and the
great reduction in The number OF punish
ments in recent years, the good order
maintained, and the efficiency In In
dustry.
The passing OF the system OF contract
prison labor here, which this board has
favored, is a cause of qualification and
Il further evidence of the progress being
made at the Indiana State Prison
The system that has been applied in
this prison has demonstrated its Falue Dy
experience and has commended itself to
others and is approved by all experienced
Ia prison affairs who know the facts.