The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-12-31
FEAG|N SUB NJ | rs
REPORT ON CHURCH
FAITH OF C0Nv|CTS
Figures Given on Occupation,
Education and Sentences
of 1908 State
Prisoners
STATE CAPITAL BUREAU |
THE AGE-HERALD :
Montgomery, Ala, Dee. 80

Of the 1858 conN1ctS In state prison
at the end OF the fiscal year, Sep
TENDER so, 1889 professcd to be mem
bers Of the Baptist church, according
to a remarkable compilation of facts
regarding state convicts made public
Saturday by William Feagin, state
warden general. The Baptist church
has more than two times as many
representatives behind prison bars as
any other denomination. The Metho-
dist church coming second with 6s7.
The Catholic church has 60 Chris
tion church %, Presbyterian is AMI
Episcopal 2. Fourteen others gave
various denominations, while 1919
were not affiliated with any relig
ious organization.
But this report does not show
bad record for members of the Bap-
fist church when it is known that it
has the largest organization of any
other religious denomination in this
state, with the Methodist church
second. Therefore. tho records do no
more shan indicate that there's so
much good in the worst of us, and so
much bad in the best of u.s."
Nearly one-half fthe total prison
population was engaged in mining
coal when the report was compiled.
the statement showing that lao
were stationed at the coal mines.
The other convicts were devided as
follows: Construction. 373 saw mill,
It's; farming. servants and in hos
pital, ISL; cotton mill, 2o2; capital
convicts, IA.
Young men between the ages of
Fl and 20 seem to be the worse Of
tenders, the records showing that ~
of the total are between those ages.
All in all, young men care less for
the observance of the law than old
men as 1,S43 Of the 1858 convicts
We're less than 80 years old.
Mostly Young Men
Those 20 and under. totaled 526,
those between Fl and 25.t 777: those
between % and 30, $40. When 80 is
reached great decrease In the num-
Der of convicts is shown, those be-
tween 80 and 35 being 365, those be-
tween IS and 40. 267, those between
40 and IS, 1856. those between 40 and
so, III, those between so and So, 1871,
those between 55 and 50, SO, and those
above 60, So.
Although the indeterminate SEN
tence has been on the statute books
less than four years, 1.4T4 convicts Of
the total serving indeterminate SEN
fences, thus indicating that the state
but Is constantly shifting and chang
ang, all convicts completing their
terms and new ones taking their
place..
The records showed that l,10S or
more than one-third of the states
prison population cannot read and
write and that 234 convicts had been
sentenced for previous offences,
2,187 now serving their second sem
fences, 81 their third sentences, II
their fourth sentences and two their
fifth sentences. Only SIG reported
that they were not employed at the
time OF their arrests.
Killed In Coal Mining
Another interesting fact which
showed hazards of coal mining Is
that 80 of the "a state convicts who
died during the past fiscal year were
killed by falling rock, explosion or
live wire. 1t might be thought that
the worries of convicts would cause
many to take their lives but the
records showed only one suicide in
the penintcntiary during the year.
In the past twelve months 1,13S
persons began sentences in state pris-
on and Of that number violation of
the prohibition law was the leading
crime sending 376 persons to prison.
Burglary was second with eos and
grand larceny third with 179. The
two degrees of murder and man
slaughter gave tho state 119 con-
victs. Life sentences were imposed
on 81 persons.
Convfcts by Counties
Six persons were given sentences
of ono year. II they only known
they could have obtained their
liberty because a person cannot be
sent to the penintentiary for a sen
tence of less than one year and one
day and in recent years several con-
victs although legally convicted.
have obtained their liberty as a re-
suit of error of the court in impos-
ing sentences.
Winston county has only one state
convict. Jefferson naturally has the
greatest number, 1872. Mobile is sec
ond with 234 and Montgomery third
with 100. Greene and Winston
counties have the distinction of not
sending a single convict to the PEN
itentiary during the last fiscal year.
Jefferson naturally lead again with
lis, while Mobile and Montgomery
tied for second place with so.
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