Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-01-07
EDITORIAL.
RAINEY ON JAIL DELIVERIES

teresting observations on jail deliv.
cries in the last issue of the Dawson
News, of which he is editor and own
er. Says Editor Rainey:
THE frequency with which notori
GUS, desperate criminals are breaking
out of prison all over the country
suggests that something must be
wrong with the methods of guarding
Leniency on the part of jailers
wardens and guards is suspected Of
being the chief contribution to the
prisoners opportunities for escape
That might be the result of certain
contempt for the job which prison Of
ficials and employees would feel as
result of being too familiar with
the task. IF that be true probably
1T would be better practice to vary
the monotony of the routine existing
in Jail or penitentiary. The con-
vlctlon that something should be done
TO minimize the chance for escape is
made positive by the great number of
deliveries.
Prison service has an effect on
Jailers, wardens and guards. 1t eth
er hardens of softens them as a rule,
and this is the day Of ultra reformers.
A good deal has been written and
said about the honor system and hu-
name treatment of criminals. No
doubt great many inmates of pris-
ons are worthy of trust, but SO many
condolences have been betrayed that
the result is encouragement of the
idea. With criminals whose offenses
against society have been mild, and
whose terms of Incarceration are
short the honor system might work
to advantage when sensibly applied |;
as to its application in the case of
desperate characters such as safe
blowers, highwaymen and other des-
peradoes any effort in this direction
seems to be foolish in the extreme.
If the arch criminal gets no oppor--
tunity to escape he will not regain his
freedom, and it is the duty of every
responsible person connected with the
prison to see that no such chance is
possible.
The newspapers have printed
within the last few weeks reports of
criminals escaping from prisons here
In Georgia and in number of other
states. Some of the men who won
their way to.freedom had perpetrated
crimes of such brutality that they de-
served no leniency whatever, and yet
without it they could not have escap-
ed. Why, then, should any leniency
whatever be shown? One Jail deliv-
cry suggests to prisoners in another
prison that they make dash for lib
erty. Somehow inmates of prisons
get reports of escapes. When there
are waves of crimes with frequent
successful attempts made to break jail
prison officials ought to be doubly
careful in guarding the prisoners for
whom they are responsible. Beyond
a doubt if proper precautions are
taken by prison officials prisoners
cannot escape from modern, strong
ly built prison. 1t should be impos
sible for anyone to smuggle weapon
to prisoner, or TO give him tools with
which he can work his way to the out
side world. Prevention lies, of course
in careful searching, which evidently
has been neglected in great many
cases. Criminals who have outraged
society and been put behind prison
bars ought to be kept there until theil
full terms are served"
THAT YAM CONVERT AGAIN.
A COUPLE of years ago there APP
peared in the Times Recorder
reference to letter which had just
been received from young ex-sol
der of Sioux City, Ia, who was Their
in the commission business, inquir
ing where he could obtain Georgis