South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-06-26
SAYS Elk -CONVICTS
OVERRUN JACKSON
Pastor Charges City is Dump
ing Ground" for ParOl-
ed Prisoners.

JACKSON. Mich. June -. - Is
Jackson. the seat OF the Michigan
state prison and where more than
100 inmates are being kept.
dumping ground" for paroled pris-
oners2 Jackson luncheon club
speakers. preachers. the press and
some Of the citizenry say yes
Prison oficials. including Warden
sIburt. just as emphatically say
no"
Said Harvey T. Woodfeld. former
resident OF the Jackson Chambe
OF CommercE. 20 members OF the
Kiwanls club - a luncheon. Mich
lean laws permit the scum OF the
earth 20 be dropped right here IN
Jackson. The convicts are dumped
down here in Jackson when they
come out OF the prison and the
PEOPLE ought 20 protest"
Pastor Uttcrs Protest.
Speaking straight from the shout
der. the Rev. r N. Rhodes. pastor
o. the First Baptist church. one Of
the largest churches In the city.
told his congregation that the time
has come when the state OF Michi-
gan had better readjust things.
Perpetrators of such crimes as
the Mallett Staying now are selt 10
the Mechanic street college. Nine
out If every ten there get post
graduate course in wickedness.
When they come out they are ten
fold sons OF hell. And Jackson gets
more than her share OF them" BY
Mechanic street college. the Rev.
Rhode meant the state prison.
Since 1859. there has been a law
tina every prisoner shall be sent
to the county from which he came"
declared John r. Hennigan, attor-
rcy-at-law. at Chamber OF Com
mercc rally THE law has been IN
1crpretcd as not applying 10 men
soft-headed way these ex-murderers
and ex-rapists have been sent 10
what are know as first friends. We
are said TO have 700 ex-convicts
here"
First Friends" Abolished.
The "Arst friend" method, where
10y the state parole board designated
free citizen TO be responsible for
q paroIed mans conduct until he
was finally discharged. has been
abolished. In It's place came what
s. known as the parole agent. Re
alone in each county OF the state
is accountable for the behavior OF
the inmate paroled.
Warden Hulburt. in defense OF
the parole system as now practiced
in Michigan. points out that a state
statute provides that a paroled pris-
Oner shall not live or remain in
the county in which the prison or
reformatory in which he was last
confined r. situated. without the ex-
pressed consent OF the officers or
board granting such parole" He
SAYS that he insists upon every re-
leased man being sent back 20 the
county which he claims as home.
Even when the wives OF inmates
move here. see that after the re-
lease OF the prisoner. they do not
stay I'm Jackson" the warden said
Warden Defends Method.
Ii Is the belief OF the warden that
there are less than 500 eliminates
~ Jackson. The exact figure IS
known only at the office OF the par
don board. Lansing. At the pres
ent time. Verl Kutt. Jackson under
sheriff and parole agent. has Il men
reporting 20 him monthly, accord
ing TO their parole conditions. All
others who have. been Iaroled 10
Jackson county have had their
parole stipulations expire. This
small number OF men. said a prison
ofHcial. proves how "baseIess the
charge that the prison uses Jackson
IS q dumping ground"
But say spokesman for Jack
son, ~ conditions are better now
they were rotten in the past" For
example the following conversation
can be related:
See that fellow there" said
Jackson resident 70 Chief OF Police
Hudson The chief nodded an
assent.
Well. don't exrect 70 see any
thing more OF him. I put my name
on his parole papers, and 7 hope
that ~ the end OF IT," the first
friend a said n bav-a Ge-f,roS