Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-01
WOMAN CR|T|C|ZES
CORRECTION GUARD
Mrs. M. /. Beck, Grand Juror,
Says He Tried to Conceal
lnsanitary Cells
QUOTES GIRL PRISONER

A guard at the House Of Correction
tried to keep the members Of the Grand
Jury who visited the institution from
seeing Corridor c." where refractory
girl prisoners were confined under what
| the jurors descibe as atrocious living
conditions, according to Mrs. NJ, L..
| Beck.
! Mrs. Beck. member of the Grand
Jury that visited the city's institutions
and scored the House of Correction,
lives ut 5400 Angora Terrace. and is
the wife of the chief accountant In the
general managers Office Of the Penn
sylvania Railroad.
The guard did not want us to enter
Corridor c. said Mrs. Beck today.
''He told US it was not in use, except
as storerpon. We insisted on see
ing It. and he told US he hnd no key.
We refused to be put off, and finally
he got the key. He said then few
women prisoners were confined there
as punishment for breaking the prison
rules.
I'VE had no objection to the punish
mcnt of women prisoners for violations
of discipline. What we did object to
was the sanitary condition Of the place.
Even in broad daylight 1t was so dark
they could not read. The place was
filthy, and did not look as though 1t
ever saw broom. There were no
chairs there. and all the prisoners could
do In the daytime. when the mattresses
were taken from their cots for airing,
was to lie down on the floor
y Running Water
There Is no running water in the
nd
conditions are exceedingly bad. 1t was
simply terrible. The report of the
Grand Jury does not exaggerate the
conditions we found. If anything, 1t
minimizes them.
THE House Of Correction, from its
name, is a correctional institution, one
designed to benefit and improve the
unfortuuateS sent there. 1t could not
possibly do 50, with such conditions as
we found. II is bound 10 make any
one who Is sent there worse instead OF
better.
'If it is possible to provide proper
sanitary arrangements in oil the other
penal institutions, including Moya-
mensing Prison, which Is even Older
than the Correction, do not see why
better sanitation should not be given
the inmates there.
| talked To one SOuH6 NpAIIuh "i'''''
shoes were OFF and who was lying on
the floor. We asked her why she had
not her shoes on. She said she had to
throw them at the rats which ran about
the place at night. I saw no rats, and
the Young woman admitted she waH
drug addict. so, perhaps, entire Crcdcnce
cannot be placed In what she said.
Would Improve Conditions
1--WE do not wish to criticize any
one, but we do want to improve con-
ditionS."
Mrs. Lydia Ront. 2125 South Doggett
street. another member of the Grand
Jury, agreed that conditions at the
House Of Correction were extremely
bad
II feel that Director Tustin would
remedy the defects we found there, " she
said. "if he could get the money. Con-
ditiOns there are deplorahlc. There Is
no running water for the inmates. Their
mnttrcsscs are taken away during the
day 70 be aired. 10 that they cannot
even SIT comfortably on their beds,
"ThA drug Addcts confined NJ tho
Correction are dull from the effects Of
the Drug with which they have sat
urated themselves, and which the ply
s!ciang are endcayoring to eradicate, but
that is no reason WIZ they should not
be kHI. in sanitary surroundings.
II n1 sure that money would solve
the pr" "Nicm.'