New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-06-04
Justice Martin
Lays Crime to
Prison Reform
Make Prisons Real Prisons,
Stop Sale Of Firearms
and Lawlessness Will
BE Halted, He Declares
Says Teach W Ork, Not PLAY
Baseball Game Between
High School and Convict
Teams Called Ridiculous

Baseball games between high school
teams and convicts at Sing Sing were
criticized yesterday by Justice Francis
Martin In the Criminal Branch Of the
Supreme Court. He said that the $50
called crime waves to some extent
come from this so-called prison re-
form" He urged that prisons be made
real prisons and not hotels and places
OF entertainment, that the sale Of FIRE
arms be stopped and that the Sullivan
law be enforced. II these suggestions
are carried out Justice Martin de-
clared that half the crime in New
York would be stopped within n year
There should be no change in the
administration OF the criminal law
said Justice Martin. The great diff
Guilty is that IL becomes lax at times
A stiff rein should be kept. II never
should 90 to such an extent that peo-
pie become hardened or callous. Peo-
pie should be humane at all times.
especially judges. But they should not
let any nonsense sway them from a
strong, vigorous enforcement Of the
criminal law.
Prison Reform" Reaps Crime
81 believe the so-ealled crime waves
have 10 some extent come from this
so-called prison reform. II is non
sense. The people are now rcaping
harvest from prison reform. Taking
people 10 Sing Sing and giving them
tennis games all day and moving pie
lures and all kind Of pleasures that
an ordinary poor man who IL robbed
on the street could not hope for is
wrong.
IL venture 10 say II they 90 two
things-rnake the prisons real prisons
and stop the sale Of firearms. and stor
these manufacturers advertising FIRE
arms on all sides; 90 back to the Sui
Ivan law and make IL felony TO carry
gun-that they vii! stop half the
crime in New York City within a year
There is no doubt about IL. II thcy are
going TO make Sing Sing a place Of en-
tertainment, IL they are going 10 start
an automobile school and attack any
body who opposes il. they are going to
have crime and plenty Of it, II they are
going to teach these crooks how 10 run
an automobile and how to make a got
away when they rob by making them
all experts with the automobile. they
will have plenty Of crime. and TIE PEG
pie themselves are responsible for IL.
Teach Prisoners TO Work
This prison reform nonsense has
been carried so far that il has become
ridiculous. These prisoners ought 10
he taught to do an honest days work
so that when they come out they will
be able to do il. instead Of being taught
idltness and lsziness.
The idea Of having baseball games
at Sing Sing and bringing in a high
school team TO play baseball with the
crooks OF Sing Sing Such thing
became so ridiculous II was laughable.
There is a whole lot Of il still going on.
That is the way to encourage crime. A
sensible and sane administration Of the
law and of the prisons will lessen
crime considerably"
The remarks were made when Justice
Martin sentenced Louis Smuckler.
twenty-five years old, Of 1929 Twenty
eighth Street. Coney Island. TO hard
labor in state prison for from five 10
ten years. Smuckler was convicted Of
manslaughter in the second degree by
jury. The killing took place during
a fight in a craps game on August IL
last year. Louis Lupowitz, OF $50 Hoe
Avenue, the Bronx. was stabbed several
times in the abdomen and later died.
Smuckler was identified as the man
who did the stabbing.