The Journal of Prison Discipline and Philanthropy New Series No 51 by Unknown

49 Pages·2021·0.26 MB·English

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Journal of Prison Discipline and
Philanthropy, March 1912, by Unknown

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most
other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of
the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at
www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have
to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook.

Title: The Journal of Prison Discipline and Philanthropy, March 1912
New Series No. 51

Author: Unknown

Release Date: March 5, 2019 [EBook #59014]

Language: English

Character set encoding: UTF-8

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOURNAL OF PRISON DISCIPLINE, MARCH 1912 ***

Produced by Wayne Hammond and The Online Distributed
Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was
produced from images made available by the HathiTrust
Digital Library.)

i

NEW SERIES
No. 51

THE JOURNAL

OF

PRISON DISCIPLINE

AND

PHILANTHROPY

PUBLISHED ANNUALLY

BY THE

PENNSYLVANIA PRISON SOCIETY

INSTITUTED MAY 8, 1787

MARCH, 1912

OFFICE: STATE HOUSE ROW

S. W. CORNER FIFTH AND CHESTNUT STREETS

PHILADELPHIA, PA.

OFFICIAL VISITORS.

No person who is not an official visitor of the prison, or who has not a written permission, according to such rules as
the Inspectors may adopt as aforesaid, shall be allowed to visit the same; the official visitors are: the Governor, the
Speaker and members of the Senate; the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives; the Secretary of the
Commonwealth; the Judges of the Supreme Court; the Attorney-General and his Deputies; the President and
Associate Judges of all the courts in the State; the Mayor and Recorders of the cities of Philadelphia, Lancaster, and

ii

Pittsburg; Commissioners and Sheriffs of the several Counties; and the “Acting Committee of the Philadelphia Society
for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons.” (Note: Now named “The Pennsylvania Prison Society.”)—Section 7,
Act of April 23, 1829.

The above was supplemented by the following Act, approved March 20, 1903:

AN ACT.

To make active or visiting committees of societies incorporated for the purpose of visiting and instructing prisoners

Official Visitors of penal and reformatory institutions.

Section 1. Be it enacted, etc., That the active or visiting committee of any society heretofore incorporated and now
existing in the Commonwealth for the purpose of visiting and instructing prisoners, or persons confined in any penal or
reformatory institution, and alleviating their miseries, shall be and are hereby made official visitors of any jail,
penitentiary, or other penal or reformatory institution in this Commonwealth, maintained at the public expense, with the
same powers, privileges, and functions as are vested in the official visitors of prisons and penitentiaries, as now
prescribed by law: Provided, That no active or visiting committee of any such society shall be entitled to visit such jails
or penal institutions, under this act, unless notice of the names of the members of such committee, and the terms of
their appointment, is given by such society, in writing, under its corporate seal, to the warden, superintendent or other
officer in charge of such jail, or other officer in charge of any such jail or other penal institution.

Approved—The 20th day of March, A. D. 1903.

Saml. W. Pennypacker.

The foregoing is a true and correct copy of the Act of the General Assembly No. 48.

Frank M. Fuller,

Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Office of the Pennsylvania Prison Society, State House Row, Fifth and Chestnut Streets

iii
iv

1

NEW SERIES
No. 51

THE JOURNAL

OF

PRISON DISCIPLINE

AND

PHILANTHROPY

PUBLISHED ANNUALLY

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF “THE PENNSYLVANIA PRISON SOCIETY”

INSTITUTED MAY 8th, 1787

——

MARCH, 1912

——

OFFICE: STATE HOUSE ROW

S. W. CORNER FIFTH AND CHESTNUT STREETS

PHILADELPHIA, PA.

2

SPECIAL NOTICES.

All correspondence with reference to the work of the Society, or to the Journal of Prison Discipline and Philanthropy,
should be addressed to The Pennsylvania Prison Society, 500 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pa.

The National Prison Association of the United States for the past ten years has designated the fourth Sunday in
October, annually, as Prison Sunday. To aid the movement for reformation, some speakers may be supplied from this
Society. Apply to chairman of the Committee on Prison Sunday.

Frederick J. Pooley is the General Agent of the Society. His address is 500 Chestnut St., Philadelphia.

Contributions for the work of the Society may be sent to John Way, Treasurer, 409 Chestnut St., Philadelphia.

FORM OF BEQUEST OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.

I give and bequeath to “The Pennsylvania Prison Society” the sum of .... Dollars.

FORM OF DEVISE OF REAL ESTATE.

I give and devise to “The Pennsylvania Prison Society” all that certain piece or parcel of land. (Here describe the
property).
3

OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY FOR 1912

President

JOSHUA L. BAILY, Philadelphia, Pa.

Vice-Presidents

Rev. HERMAN L. DUHRING, 225 S. Third Street, Philadelphia.

Rev. F. H. SENFT, 560 N. Twentieth Street, Philadelphia.

Secretary

ALBERT H. VOTAW, 500 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.

Assistant Secretary

Dr. WILLIAM C. STOKES, 500 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.

Treasurer

JOHN WAY, 409 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.

Honorary Counselor

Hon. WM. N. ASHMAN, 44th & Spruce Streets, Philadelphia.

Counselors

Hon. HENRY S. CATTELL, 1218 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.
Hon. OWEN J. ROBERTS, West End Trust Building, Philadelphia.

General Agent

FREDERICK J. POOLEY, 500 Chestnut St., Philadelphia.

Acting Committee.

FOR ONE YEAR

P.H. Spellissy,
Rev. R. Heber Barnes,Miss C. V. Hodges,

Fred. J. Pooley,
Dr. Wm. C. Stokes,
Rebecca P. Latimer,

William Scattergood, Deborah C. Leeds,
Dr. John Frazer,

Mrs. P. W. Lawrence,Mrs. Horace Fassitt,
Daniel Buckley,

William Koelle,
Joseph C. Noblit,
Joseph Hill Brinton.

FOR TWO YEARS

Charles P. Hastings,Charles McDole,
Miss Annie McFedries,

Isaac P. Miller,
Harrison Walton,
Rev. Thomas Latimer,

Elias H. White,
Mrs. Mary S. Grigg, Norris J. Scott,

John Smallzell,
William Morris,
Mrs. Lillie C. Mann,

John A. Duncan,
Emma L. Thompson,John D. Hampton.

FOR THREE YEARS

Rev. J. F. Ohl,
George S. Wetherell, A. Jackson Wright,

Harry Kennedy,
Henry C. Cassel,
Frank H. Longshore,

Mrs. Layyah Barakat,Albert Oetinger,
Charles LeFevre,

William E. Tatum,
Rev. Philip Lamerdin,Rev. M. R. Minnich,

Mary S. Wetherell,
Mrs. E. W. Gormly, W. Graham Tyler.

From the State-at-large.

FOR THE YEAR 1912

Rev. John Mueller, Pittsburg.
Capt. Nicholas Baggs, Abington.
Mrs. Sarah B. Mumma, Lancaster.

4

COMMITTEES FOR 1912

Committee to Visit the Eastern Penitentiary

P. H. Spellissy,
Frank H. Longshore,William Morris,

Dr. Wm. C. Stokes, A. Jackson Wright, Rev. M. Reed Minnich,
Rev. F. H. Senft,
Chas. H. LeFevre,
Dr. John Frazer,

William Koelle,
Chas. P. Hastings,
John D. Hampton,

Jos. C. Noblit,
John Smallzell,
W. Graham Tyler,

Rev. Philip Lamerdin,Chas. McDole,
Deborah C. Leeds,

Harry Kennedy,
Harrison Walton,
Mrs. Horace Fassitt,

Rev. J. F. Ohl,
Albert H. Votaw,
Miss Rebecca P. Latimer,

Wm. E. Tatum,
Rev. Thos. Latimer, Mrs. Layyah Barakat,

Geo. S. Wetherell,
John A. Duncan,
Mrs. Mary S. Grigg,

Henry C. Cassel,
Isaac P. Miller,
Emma L. Thompson.

Committee to Visit the Philadelphia County Prison

Jos. C. Noblit, Albert H. Votaw,
Mrs. Horace Fassitt,

John A. Duncan,Deborah C. Leeds,
Miss C. V. Hodges,

Isaac P. Miller, Mrs. P. W. Lawrence,Miss Rebecca P. Latimer.

For the Holmesburg Prison

Fred. J. Pooley,Wm. Koelle,Rev. Philip Lamerdin.

House of Correction

William Koelle,Deborah C. Leeds,Lillie C. Mann.

Chester and Delaware County Prisons

William Scattergood,John Way,Deborah C. Leeds,
Norris J. Scott.

Bucks County Prison

Albert Oetinger.

Montgomery County Prison

Nicholas Baggs.

Lancaster County Prison

Mrs. Sarah B. Mumma.

Western Penitentiary and Allegheny County Prison

Rev. John Mueller,Mrs. E. W. Gormly,Miss Annie McFedries.

Committee on Discharged Prisoners

Joseph C. Noblit,George S. Wetherell,Dr. Wm. C. Stokes,
Daniel Buckley, Mrs. Horace Fassitt.

Committee on Legislation

Rev. J. F. Ohl,
Elias H. White, Norris J. Scott.

Joseph C. Noblit,Jos. Hill Brinton,

Committee on Membership

Dr. Wm. C. Stokes,Elias H. White, Henry C. Cassel.
Geo. S. Wetherell, Isaac P. Miller,

Committee on Police Matrons

Mrs. Mary S. Grigg,Mrs. Lillie C. Mann,(One vacancy)

Committee on Prison Sunday

Rev. R. Heber Barnes,Rev. J. F. Ohl,
Rev. Philip Lamerdin.

Rev. H. L. Duhring,
Rev. F. H. Senft,

Editorial Committee

Dr. John Frazer,Rev. R. Heber Barnes,Albert H. Votaw,
Rev. J. F. Ohl, Dr. William C. Stokes,The President (ex-officio)

Finance Committee

George S. Wetherell,Isaac P. Miller,
Daniel Buckley.

A. Jackson Wright, Joseph C. Noblit,

Auditors

Charles P. Hastings,John A. Duncan,John Smallzell.

5

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING OF

THE PENNSYLVANIA PRISON SOCIETY.

1787
1912

The 125th Annual Meeting of “The Pennsylvania Prison Society” was held January 11th, 1912, at the office of the
Society, S. W. Corner Fifth and Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, the President, Joshua L. Baily, in the Chair.

Twenty-eight members of the Society were present.

The Minutes of the 124th Annual Meeting were read and approved.

The Report of the Acting Committee was read by the Secretary. The report was approved and was directed to be
printed in the “Journal.” (See page 6)

The Treasurer, John Way, produced a detailed statement of the receipts and disbursements for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 1911. (See page 15)

George S. Wetherell, on behalf of the Committee on Nominations, presented a list of nominations for the officers of
the Society for the term of one year, beginning February 1, 1912, and for the members of the Acting Committee
whose terms expire at this time. The President appointed Jos. C. Noblit and William E. Tatum as Tellers. The election
being duly conducted, the Tellers announced that a unanimous vote was cast for the ballot as proposed by the
Nominating Committee. (See page 3.)

On Motion Hon. William N. Ashman was elected Honorary Counselor.

To nominate officers at the next Annual Meeting, the President appointed Joseph C. Noblit, A. Jackson Wright,
Isaac P. Miller, Mrs. Mary S. Grigg and Mrs. Emma L. Thompson.

The following Amendment to Article VII of the Constitution, proposed at the last Annual Meeting, was read, and after
some discussion, unanimously adopted.

“The number of Members of the Acting Committee may be increased to not exceeding sixty, provided the additional
Members shall be residents of Pennsylvania outside of Philadelphia.

“These Members may be elected from time to time at any meeting of the Acting Committee, according to the
provisions of the By-Laws for filling vacancies, but the terms for which they are elected shall be for the unexpired
portion of the current fiscal year only. These additional Members will be eligible for re-election at the next Annual
Meeting, and their respective terms of service shall then be assigned so as to be co-ordinate with the terms of service
of the other Members of the Committee.”

The President spoke in acknowledgment of the honor of his re-election to the Presidency of this Society, the oldest
organization of the kind in the world. He congratulated the Society on the increased interest as manifested by the
attendance at this meeting and by the larger amount of contributions received in 1911 for the work of the Society.

Albert H. Votaw, Secretary.

6

REPORT OF THE ACTING COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR 1911.

In the year 1912, the Pennsylvania Prison Society will have completed a century and a quarter of its existence. It
seems opportune briefly to note some of the important features of the work of this organization during the last 125
years. We are fortunate in the possession of an unbroken series of records of the transactions of this body from its first
meeting in May, 1787, to the present time.

In 1787 the conditions of the jails in Philadelphia were unspeakably disgraceful. In one common herd there were kept
by day and by night prisoners of all ages, colors, degrees of crime, and the sexes were not separated. No bedding
was supplied and unless the prisoner had means or friends, he slept on the ground or bare floor. One loaf of bread
constituted the daily ration. Misconduct was punished by the branding-iron, the pillory, or by the lash. Intoxicants were
sold to all applicants who had money. The keeper reaped a profit from all sales made to the inmates of the prison. The
death rate was enormous. No effort was made to find any useful employment for the prisoners.

The Society early resolved that intoxicants must be forbidden and that some form of employment must be found. They
insisted on segregation of the sexes, and also began to press for individual separation in order that the penal institutions
should not become schools for crime. Within a very few years many reforms were instituted. The death penalty which
had been inflicted for a score of crimes was abrogated except for murder in the first degree. “Solitary confinement to
hard labor” is still a familiar phrase used by Judges in pronouncing sentence. In its early years, the Society consistently
and persistently urged the adoption of a system of employment whereby each prisoner alone in his cell should perform
his task in some industrial pursuit. It was never intended that the prisoners should be kept entirely secluded from all
human companionship, but that the officers should see them frequently and that concerned visitors, under proper
supervision, should be allowed to talk with them and endeavor to point them to the better way. This idea became
known among penologists as “The Pennsylvania System,” and was discussed widely, both at home and abroad. The
Eastern Penitentiary, on Fairmount Avenue, formerly Coates Street, was built upon plans largely suggested by this
Society. Doubtless the separate system was entirely carried out in 1829, when the prison was opened for the
reception of prisoners. But in the last half century, the number of prisoners has exceeded the number of cells, so that
the officers of the prison have not been able to carry out this system as originally planned. When this penitentiary was
first constructed, it was located on what was then known as Cherry Hill, an eminence in the Northwest suburban
district, and was surrounded by farming land. That penal institutions should be located in the country is, therefore, not
a new proposition. Now it is generally conceded that such institutions not only should be located in the country, but
that they should own and work a large tract of land adjacent.

The first prisoner was received Oct. 25, 1829. The first report of the Committee to visit the Eastern Penitentiary was
made to the Acting Committee on Nov. 11, 1829, and shows that there were two prisoners at that time in the
institution, one a white man from Chester Co., the other a colored man from Delaware Co. By June 8, 1830, the
number of prisoners had increased to 25. The following extracts from the report of the Visiting Committee, made in
June, 1830, will prove interesting to those who are familiar with the present conditions at the Penitentiary. “* * * The
best order prevails among the prisoners who are industriously, and it is believed, profitably employed. Each is supplied
with a soup-pan, washbasin, brush, fine and coarse tooth comb, spoon, knife and fork, and every week with a clean
towel. Each prisoner is required to keep his room clean and neat. * * * The food consists of half a pint of milk, mixed
in the same amount of hot water, bread made of rye and Indian meal (one pound) for breakfast; for dinner one pint
soup, three-fourths pound meat, one-third pound bread; for supper one pint Indian mush and a half gill molasses. * *
* No conversation can take place between the prisoners, and no communication from without be permitted. It has not
been found necessary to inflict any punishment so far, except in two cases: in one case where a prisoner had neglected
to keep his mess-pan clean, he lost two meals; in another case, a prisoner who neglected his work was for three days
deprived of his meat. The principal trades are weaving and shoemaking, trades which may be carried on in cells to
advantage. The health of the prisoners continues good.” The report is signed June 8, 1830, by the entire Visiting
Committee consisting of David Weatherly and James J. Barclay. Now after 80 years the supply of furniture is
practically the same, a table or stand being added. Sanitary arrangements have been vastly improved, and the addition
of a superior grade of homemade wheat bread and coffee to the bill of fare has made a more palatable menu.

Some forty years ago it was written that every advance in the amelioration of convict prisons systems of discipline
began in Philadelphia. In the discussion of these problems The Pennsylvania Prison Society took a conspicuous part.
In 1856 the first published criticism of the contract system, under which the labor of the prisoners was sold for profit
and to meet the prison expenses, issued from Philadelphia. The criticism was received with scorn and ridicule.
Thoughtful students of humanitarian measures began investigations in one State after another, with the result that at the
present time scarcely one State in the Union maintains such a system. But while Pennsylvania has led the way in many
measures to reform the criminal and improve his condition, some States have made more rapid progress in these
directions. Many States offer greater opportunities in their prisons for industrial employment than we can show in
Pennsylvania. Most of the States have preceded us in the adoption of a Parole and a Probation system for adult
convicts.

PROBATION, PAROLE, INDETERMINATE SENTENCE.

7

8

In 1909, the Legislature of Pennsylvania enacted a law providing for Probation for some classes of adult offenders,
and also for a Parole of criminals sentenced to the Penitentiaries of the State under the conditions of an Indeterminate
Sentence. Under the Probation Act, the Courts have power to suspend the imposition of the sentence and to place the
defendant on Probation on such terms and conditions as the Court may deem proper.

The Parole Law applied to the sentences of criminals sentenced to the Penitentiary on and after June 30, 1909. Two
Members of The Pennsylvania Prison Society were very active in framing this law and in securing its passage. The
Legislature of 1911 amended this law so as to render almost nugatory some of the provisions of the law with regard to
the Indeterminate Sentence. The Chairman of our Committee on Legislation has ably discussed this subject in an
article published in the Journal which was issued in November, 1911. The following statistics, furnished by Parole
Officer, John McKenty, of the Eastern Penitentiary, show the operation of the law to the end of the year 1911.

Number paroled since the law was effective
128

Number returned for failure to fulfill requirement
15

Number not reporting
3

Number of those paroled who have received final discharge 10
Number on Parole December 31, 1911
100

Percentage of success
85.9%

These figures compare quite favorably with the results reported from other States in which this system has been for a
longer period in vogue.

THE EASTERN PENITENTIARY.

Reports of the Members of the Acting Committee, appointed to visit the Eastern Penitentiary, show that during the
year 1911 6405 visits to prisoners have been made. Many unreported visits have gladdened the prisoner in his lonely
cell. Several of our members participate in the Gospel services on the Sabbath.

One of the prisoners remarked to the Secretary that in his opinion the work of visitation was the most important
function of the Society. This has been the most effective part of our work from the first. Some of the men’s blocks are
not visited so often as would be desirable. The women’s block is said to be over-visited. Several organizations have
the privilege of sending visitors to the twenty-seven women now incarcerated, and while visitors are welcomed at
suitable times and under proper conditions, yet it is readily recognized that these prisoners of the women’s block
should have sufficient time to attend to their regular, but not onerous, duties as assistants in various lines of domestic
employment.

Under the management of Warden Robert J. McKenty, the administration is to be commended. The discipline is firm,
but kindly, and so long as the privileges granted are not abused, there is allowed a large amount of freedom within
reasonable limits. Hence, in this institution, the visitor may note an unusually contented and orderly body of convicts.

RELIEF FOR PRISONERS WHEN DISCHARGED.

The expense of supplying needy prisoners with clothing at the time of their discharge from the Eastern Penitentiary has
been almost entirely borne by this Society since 1896. For the six years prior to 1896, the Legislature appropriated on
the average of $2490.00 annually to the Society, which thereupon assumed the expense of providing outfits for the
prisoners at the time of their release. In 1895, the Governor refused to sanction the appropriation. No legislative grant
of funds has been made since that time to the Society. Our late Honorary Secretary, John J. Lytle, who at that time
was the General Secretary of the Society, with untiring energy solicited contributions from benevolent citizens to
supply the prisoners when released with presentable clothing. His whole heart was in this work and nobly did he
discharge what he deemed to be his duty to administer the charity in which our Society had been, up to that time,
assisted by the State. We are still providing an outfit for discharged prisoners, although this aid is supplied by
legislative appropriation practically in every other State of the Union. I append to this report a schedule showing what
provision is made for prisoners at the time of their discharge from the various State Prisons. (See page 38.)

During the year, 1911, the Secretary has furnished 370 men at the time of their discharge from the Eastern Penitentiary
either with entire outfits, or with sufficient attire to make them presentable.

The following list shows what garments have been given:

Coats
293

Vests
294

9

10

Pants
294

Dress Shirts
243

Underclothing (pieces)
474

Hats
332

Suspenders, pairs
326

Neck-ties
314

Collars
41

Total number of garments2611

A few of the women on their discharge have been furnished with suitable articles of apparel.

The administration of this charity is attended with peculiar advantages. It is an important duty to visit the prisoners near
the close of their time of incarceration, and to learn from them with regard to their hopes and fears. Then, if ever, they
need sympathetic attention. Many of them have friends or homes ready to receive them, but there are others who need
more than a suit of clothes and a parting word of good wishes. We endeavor to find employment for such as these
unfortunate ones, and, while in many cases we have succeeded, there is a remnant who are not strong enough to face
the temptations of the outer world. Shall we not send such as these to a farm under control of the State, where they
will have opportunity to work in the open air, and be retained in some kind of semi-detention until they have made
good?

WESTERN PENITENTIARY.

Two members of the Acting Committee, who reside in Pittsburg, have reported various visits and some Gospel service
in the Western Penitentiary.

In response to an inquiry with regard to the provision made for the prisoners of that institution at the time of their
discharge, Warden John Francies writes as follows:

A. H. Votaw, Secretary,

The Pennsylvania Prison Society,

Philadelphia, Pa.

Dear Sir:—

Replying to your inquiry of Dec. 20, 1911, permit me to reply as follows:—

1. With regard to money to prisoners on discharge.

This depends upon the distance the prisoner is going. If within a radius of fifty miles, $5.00 is given. If outside the
radius of fifty miles, $10.00 is given.

2. With regard to clothing to prisoners on discharge.

The prisoner is given $10.00 worth of clothing as provided for in appropriation by last session of Legislature.

3. Clothing supplied.

Suit complete, and furnishings, viz.: hat, shirt, shoes, hose, tie, collar, etc.

Yours very truly,

John Francies, Warden.

At the last session of the Legislature of Pennsylvania, authority was granted to remove this prison from Allegheny City
to some large tract of land amid healthier surroundings, and we have learned that a site has been selected about eight
miles from Bellefonte in Centre county. Full opportunity will be afforded here to test the out-door treatment.

Chaplain Miller, of the Western Penitentiary, has kindly furnished the following statistics with regard to those paroled
from that institution:

Whole number paroled
100

Number returnedd
15

Number not reportingd
0

Number of those paroled who have received final discharged
1

11