The Washington times., 1922-06-14
I RIG
HERE.
URGED.
Justice Mccoy Makes Report
! Public Following inspection
of Institutions.

Electrocution as expiation for
capital crimes in the District of Co
slumbia is recommended in the re-
port of the grand jury following its
inspection Of the District jail, Lor-
ton reformatory and the Occoquan
workhouse. The report was sub
mitted today to Chief Justice Wal
ter I. Mccoy, of the District Su-
ipreme Court.
Hanging Is Condemned.
The grand jury condemned in no
Suncertain terms the present system
OF hanging malefactors convicted of
murder in the crude though historic
gallows."
It termed hanging on the District
I gallows as a "gruesome and CHASTITY
| spectacle" and recommended that
the death penalty be by electrocution
"in a sound proof room,
! As to the District Jail. the grand
Jury found that the portion of the
institution housing the male prison
ers is overcrowded to such an eN-
tent as to "jeopardize proper super
intendence, discipline and health OF
the inmates, there being over 300
prisoners either serving sentences or
awaiting trial."
Relief for this overcrowded con-
dition might be temporarily relieved,
the report states, II more prompt
presentation Of cases to the grand
jury for trial were made.
Says Place Well Kept.
The institution, according to the
Jurors. appears to be as we'll and
capably managed as could be ex-
pected with the facilities at hand.
The interior of the building, includ-
ing the cells, kitchen and officers
quarters, is kept in a neat and
cleanly condition, and the grounds
are presentably maintained"
Concerning executions, the report
reads:
mo provision whatever has been
made for a separate room for the
execution of the death penalty and
the present crude though historic
gallows stands as a gruesome ana
ghastly spectacle at one end of
corridor which is used as dining
room.
The gallows also is In full view
of at least one-half the cells facing
this corridor. A view of this kind
to greet a prisoner on first awaken
ing, when he eats his breakfast, din
ner and supper, and when he retires
for the night is certainly no inspira-
ton.
Urge Sound Proof Room.
1--WE recommend that a suitable
and sound-proof room be provided
for the execution Of the death pen
atty, and that the code of the Dis
trict of Columbia be so amended as
to provide that the execution of the
death penalty shall be by electrocu-
ton"
{, Lack of sufficient funds is ham,
pering the work at Lorton, the grand
Jurors said. At every turn, the re-
port states, there is evidence of lack
Of funds with which to carry into
execution even the simple and whole
some things which would make for
The better care and uplift of the in
mates
1.-THE work which is being accom-
plished Is nothing short of mar
velous," the report continues, when
It Is considered that the majority of
the present buildings are nothing
more than wooden shacks. New per-
manent and substantial brick build
ings are being erected by labor OF
the prisoners, but at the present rate
of funds available for this purpose
the process Of replacing the wooden
shacks will necessarily be very slow.
Same Mt Occoquan.
"What has been said of the Lor.
ton Reformatory can about be ap.
piled to the Occoquan work house.
The cheap frame shacks are older
than those at Lorton, and in some
Of the buildings the floors are rot
ten, unsanitary and unsafe. There
Is great danger from fire, and Con-
gress should be impressed with the
urgent necessity of at once pro.
viding for fireproof buildings.
"As at Lorton, the prisoners are
employed in various lines of work,
especially that of brick making.
I'VE are much impressed with
the general scheme under which
the reformatory and work house are
operated, viz, that of employing the
prisoners In useful and instructive
work, and instilling in them the
knowledge that labor and industry,
even though to degree enforced,
10 necessary to their welfore. The
plan is also constructive, for It
will eventually result in a group of
well-built and permanent buildings
to better meet the needs of these
institutions, and which will be a
credit to the District of Columbia" ="
The report is signed by Eugene
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