Evening journal., 1923-01-25
.X-CONVICT
PLEADS FOR
PAROLE BILL
CCOntlnued from First Page)

ness impressed everyone. He open
ed his plea with the remark, "Mr.
Warden and fellow prisoners" He
said he addressed the members OF
the General Assembly that way
because they are prisoners to a
duty.
lie added that he had had 25
years experience with stone and
steel although he does not look to
be a man much above 40 years Of
age.
Il have served in four prisons
The last time was for life. for some
thing which now believe is gen
orally admitted I was innocent Of
was convicted largely by circum-
stantlal evidence and past reputa-
ton"
The speaker said that most all
prisoners are sentenced for a den-
mite term and that II eventually they
are going TO be turned out. why not
turn them out a little earlier. he ar
gued and give them a chance to
make good. The only way. he said,
TO prepare a man for liberty is to
give him more OF it. He gave some
figures to show that about 81 per
cent. Of prisoners are known as re-
peaters, those who have served time
before. 80 back 10 jail for other or
fenses after serving out their terms,
while in states whore the parole law
has been tried not more than % per
cent. OF those paroled go back.
In conclusion. he said. that he
never knew NJ. $. Pummer per-
sonally but knew him for the work /
he was doing. He gave an instance /
OF how the Arizona parole law had /
reformed an aged prisoner who had .
served nineteen sentences. what !
more could ! say for this method,
only enact 1t IL you please he con
cuded.
There were about ona hundred
men and women. mostly from Will
and rural New Castle coun-
". in the delegation that attended
he hearing Among them
we're he Rev. W. A. Vrooman, sec
'etary OF the Prisoners AID Socie-
y; the Rev. Dr. AGuilla Webb. the
Rev. Or. Charles Bohner. Frank
Mitchell, representing the Whining
on Y. NJ. G.. A; Chief OF Police
George Black. Captain OF Detectives
Robert !. Benson. y. Frank Ball,
Iorace l.. Dilwor,h and Joseph =.
members OF the board OF
rustees OF the workhouse; Fred
rick S. Price. representing the will
ningt on Rotary Club Harry J. Har-
Tins. manager of the Hotel DUPONT:
Hiss Rletta Emerson, assistant pas
or OF st. Pauls NJ. r.. Church; Mrs.
Frederick Brlnghurst. representing
he Wilmington branch OF the State
federation of Womsn's Clubs: Mrs.
Donald S. Ashbrook, Mrs. Ethel Ball
stanlar, a. Victor Hughes, j. Ed
ward McNabb and John Mulvena,
members Of Wilmington City Coun-
Ill: Mrs !. T.. Pennewill. represent
ng the w. c. r. t.. Ensign John
,. Simpson OF the salvation Army:
,lrs. \. r. Goudiss, Mrs. A. V.
.esiie George and twelve other vo-
1en from the New Castle Women's
Tub; Mrs. william =. White. rep
esentlng the Washington Heights {
entury club; Ellwood Souder. rep
esentinE the Chamber of Com
lerce Miss Ellen Samworth. will
am F. Smaley, Mrs. Charles NJ
urtis. Dr. David a. Ward. superin-
,ndent OF Wilmington schools. and
ouis V. Eytinge. OF New York.
The hearing was before the revised !
.atutes committee OF the Senate l
nd the committee on crimes and !
OF the House. Senator !
ardesty presided over the joint c
caring. which was attended by !
ractically all members Of the Leg /
lature in addition 10 the commit a
.e members. Governor Denney was
n interested spectator and there 7
as a large gallery. !
william r. Smalley had charge Z
Z the program for the friends OF :
lie bill and introduced the speak
rs, t
In his opening remarks Mr.. Small S
Y said the parole bill had been APP J
roved by the Chamber OF Com g
.erce, Democratic party. Republican {
arty. Forward party, State Fed J
ration Of Labor. Rotary. Kiwanis. !
ions and Exchange Clubs. Social Z
srvice Club. Prisoners Aid Society,
ANY churches and numerous other s
He said he had heard
ut one voice raised against Il, but 4
id not specify who that was.
Letters were read from John $. 7
ossell. President of the Security :
rust and Safe Deposit Company, {
nd Robert p. Robinson, president r
Z the Central National Bank Of
advocating passage OF
ie bill
Mr. smalley said the parole bills p
but the spirit of Mordecai $.
hummer. He said that Mr.. Plum \
ler made of the New Castle County b
'orkhouse one OF the best penal in c
itutions in the world.
Mrs. william j. white, OF the {
'ashngton Heights New Century
lub, was the first speaker and stat s
/ the $50 members OF that club had d
endorsed the bill. h
Ellwood Souder, representing the /
Chamber OF Commerce. =
lid he knew personally OF the work t
Z the late warden and that he made
lie workhouse one of the best in s
itutlons in the country. He said '
othing could be more appropriate /
the memory Of NJ. S. Plummer v
ian the passage of this bill.
Miss Rietta Emerson, OF St. Paul's !
!, Z. Church, Wilmington. said the ?
700 members of that church favor
le bill and urged its passage.
Ensign John Simpson. or the SAL J