Part 2

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 returned 15 Number not reporting 0 Number of those paroled who have received final discharge 1 Number deceased 2 Number now on parole 82 Percentage of success 85%

PHILADELPHIA COUNTY PRISONS.

The Committee appointed to visit the Philadelphia County Prisons have been diligent in this service and the reports show that 6100 visits have been made to the prisoners at Moyamensing and Holmesburg.

The General Agent, FRED. J. POOLEY, has assisted several hundred at the time of their discharge with lodging, clothing, railroad fares, and with articles to sell, while they are awaiting more permanent employment. He has given help to a considerable number in securing situations. The Door of Blessing has indeed proved to be true to its name in giving help to the women at the time of their discharge.

GENERAL AGENT.

Our General Agent, FRED. J. POOLEY, has found a large field for service at the Central Police Station at City Hall. He makes a special object to have interviews with those who have had a preliminary hearing before Magistrates, and who have been committed for trial before the Judges at City Hall. More than a thousand letters has he written in behalf of those who have been arrested in the last year. Very often he secures the release of young prisoners by promptly communicating with parents or relatives, who assume responsibility for the offender. Thus many first offenders are turned from the error of their ways by this timely attention, and escape the schooling in crime which they would inevitably receive by further association with hardened criminals. The work requires to be done with the utmost tact and discretion, and several of the Magistrates have borne testimony to the efficient service of our General Agent. He has presented a more detailed report, an abstract of which will be printed in the “JOURNAL.”

COUNTY PRISONS (OUTSIDE OF PHILADELPHIA.)

Members of our Acting Committee have reported visits to the prisons in Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Monroe, Lancaster and Westmoreland and other counties. With the passage of the proposed amendment to our Constitution, providing for additions to the Acting Committee, it will be possible to secure workers in other counties of the State, who, we trust, will be of material assistance in collecting information, and also in co-operating with us to secure measures to ameliorate some of the evils of the present system. There are very few county jails in the State whose construction and management may be regarded as creditable. Some of the officials are doubtless doing the best they can with the means at hand. But the great majority of jails throughout the State have made little progress in the last half century. “No prison without employment” should be our campaign cry. It ought not to be impracticable for a number of the smaller counties to unite in the management of a prison farm to which petty offenders should be sent. Such a farm should be self-supporting.

It should not be forgotten that the State of Pennsylvania has at least two institutions which for some years have illustrated the value and efficacy of farm life for prisoners. One is the Huntingdon Reformatory, the other is the Allegheny Work House at Hoboken.

AMERICAN PRISON CONGRESS.

Since our JOURNAL for 1911 was issued so late in that year, it gave opportunity to include in its contents an account of the Proceedings of the American Prison Association, which met in Omaha, Nebraska, in October, 1911. This report was prepared by the secretary of the Society, who was appointed Delegate to the Association. DEBORAH C. LEEDS was also present at the sessions of this body. In 1912, the Association will be held in Baltimore, Maryland, and we hope a considerable number of the members of our Society will attend its sessions.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

By motion of the Acting Committee passed in June, 1911, DR. WILLIAM C. STOKES was appointed Assistant to the Secretary. His duties have been to assist in the clerical work of the office, and especially to endeavor to increase the amount of funds collected for the use of the Society. Since his appointment, the office has been kept open during the greater part of the business hours of each day, and we have felt there was an important service in having the office accessible at all time to members and visitors. Since June 21st, a Register for Visitors has been kept, and the record shows that 417 visitors had registered to December 31st from 35 States. A few foreign visitors were received. Many of these visitors appear to appreciate information about the work in which we are engaged, and they generally accept some of our publications. We believe this opportunity to present some features of our work will prove of some value.

OBITUARIES.

During the year 1911, the Acting Committee lost by death three of its members.

On Eighth Month 18, our beloved Honorary Secretary, John J. Lytle, passed away from his residence at Moorestown, N. J.

On Second Month, 15, Miss Mary S. Whelen, formerly a very active and efficient member of the Active Committee, died at her home in this city.

On Seventh Month 1, Robert P. Nicholson, a new, but deeply interested, member died, as the result of an accident.

Appropriate notices of these valued members appeared in our JOURNAL of October, 1911.

THE SCOPE OF OUR WORK.

In 1787, the labors of the Founders of our organization were confined to the prisons of Philadelphia. It was but a few years when they found it necessary, in order to accomplish certain reformatory measures, to petition the Legislature for some changes in, or additions to, the penal code. As time passed their interest extended beyond the limits of Philadelphia, but it was almost a hundred years after the founding of the Society that its name was changed from “The Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons” to “THE PENNSYLVANIA PRISON SOCIETY.” Our interests are State-wide, and in furtherance of this, the Membership of the Acting Committee has recently been increased by the election of other interested citizens residing in counties outside of Philadelphia, thus enlarging the sphere of our influence. For many years, the Society has had the valuable services on its Acting Committee of two members from Pittsburg and several from counties adjacent to Philadelphia, but closer relations with the prison work in all parts of the State are much to be desired.

Our Master said, “I was in prison and ye came unto me.” In the spirit of the Master, let us endeavor to impress in the name of humanity, all well-disposed people everywhere to lend a helping hand to their brothers and sisters who have been overtaken by a fault.

On behalf of the Acting Committee, ALBERT H. VOTAW, _Secretary_.

DEATH OF ROBERT B. ADAMS.

Robert B. Adams, a former member of the Acting Committee of the Pennsylvania Prison Society, who resigned in the autumn of 1911, on his removal from the city to accept the Secretaryship of the Y. M. C. A. at Rochester, N. Y., died Jan. 18, 1912, after a short illness from pneumonia. He was a genial man of broad sympathies, and his loss will be felt by a large circle of friends and by a host of unfortunates by whose ministrations they had received help and inspiration.

REPORT OF TREASURER.

JOHN WAY, _Treasurer_.

IN ACCOUNT WITH

THE PENNSYLVANIA PRISON SOCIETY.

GENERAL FUND.

RECEIPTS FOR THE YEAR 1911.

To Balance on hand, January 1, 1911 $869 40 “ Members’ Dues 265 00 “ Contributions 5,111 50 “ Income from Investments 1,976 12 “ I. V. Williamson “Charities” 630 00 “ Interest on Deposit Balances 33 79 “ Life Memberships (2) 100 00 “ Loan to Discharged Prisoner Repaid 2 50 “ Legacy from Estate Anna Eliza Porter 476 25 --------- Total $9,464 56

PAYMENTS, 1911.

For Clothing Discharged Prisoners, Eastern Penitentiary $2,107 12 “ Appropriation for Prisoners Discharged from Philadelphia County Prison 990 00 “ Salaries 2,957 05 “ Expense of “Journal,” 1911 461 11 “ Traveling Expenses, Secretary and Agent 115 76 “ Sundry Printing, Stationery, Postage 786 19 “ Office Expenses, Incidentals 112 83 “ Rent, Janitor Service 193 00 “ Subscription National Prisoners’ Aid Association 25 00 “ Annual Fee American Prison Association 5 00 “ “ “ Associated Committee of Women on Police Matrons 3 00 “ Investments: Legacy, $476.25; Memberships, $100.00 576 25 “ Balance on Hand, December 30, 1911 1,132 25 --------- Total $9,464 56

STATEMENT OF BARTON FUND.

Received from Income from Investments $102 90 Overdraft December 30, 1911 80 69 ------- Total $183 59

PAYMENTS.

Paid for Tools for Discharged Prisoners $70 14 Overdraft January 1, 1911 113 45 ------- Total $183 59

HOME OF INDUSTRY FUND.

Received from Income from Investments (net) $24 50 “ “ H. S. Benson Legacy (net) 196 00 “ “ Caroline S. Williams Est. (net) 123 42 ------- Total $343 92 Paid to Treasurer, Home of Industry $343 92

Respectfully submitted, JOHN WAY, _Treasurer_.

We, the undersigned, members of the Auditing Committee, have examined the foregoing account of John Way, Treasurer, compared the payments with the vouchers, and believe the same to be correct.

We have also examined the Securities in the hands of the Agent, The Provident Life and Trust Company of Philadelphia, and find them to agree with an accompanying schedule.

CHARLES P. HASTINGS, JOHN A. DUNCAN, _Auditors_.

Philadelphia, January 10, 1912.

GENERAL AGENT’S REPORT 1911.

To the Acting Committee of The Pennsylvania Prison Society:

With the close of another year, your General Agent takes pleasure in making the following report:

Regular visits have been made to the Eastern Penitentiary and all the prisoners received at the institution during the year were visited, and with the consent of the officials I have written letters to relatives of many of the prisoners, some of whom had not written home for years.

Regular visits have been made to Moyamensing Prison and to Philadelphia County Prison at Holmesburg. Over 6,000 prisoners have been visited and more than 600 assisted with room rent, board and lodging, railroad tickets, tools, car-fare and employment, etc.

Your General Agent has made daily visits to the Central Police Courts and to the cells at City Hall. During the year, 1911, 1,238 letters were written by him to relatives and friends of those under arrest, by whose assistance or advice, bail was secured in many cases, and in other cases a discharge was obtained. During the month of December, 181 letters were written at City Hall, as follows:

Letters sent to prisoner’s mother 44 “ “ “ “ father 17 “ “ “ “ sister 32 “ “ “ “ brother 24 “ “ “ “ wife 26 “ “ “ “ aunt 8 “ “ “ “ uncle 2 “ “ “ “ husband 2 “ “ “ “ friend 26 --- “ written during December, 1911 181

I will mention a few of the cases to show the importance of the work of the Agent at City Hall.

No. 1.--A young man from Martinsburg, W. Va., arrested for being on the streets without a home; the Magistrate held him for ten days to give me an opportunity to look into the case. I learned that he had been from home eighteen months. I wrote to his family and obtained his discharge. He wrote on his arrival home:--

“My dear friend Mr. Pooley:--

“I arrived home safe last evening at 6.30 P. M., and was met by my father at the station. My father, mother and sister welcomed me at home and even my little dog also. I just arrived in time, thanks to you, for my folks were about to move to Mexico City, Mexico.

“Thanking you for your great kindness to me, “Very truly yours,”

No. 2.--A young man from New York left home without consent of his relatives--found himself stranded in Philadelphia--was arrested and given ten days in County Prison. I wrote to his mother, who came on to this city and obtained his discharge.

No. 3.--Case of a woman arrested for spending her evenings in Broad Street Station. I questioned her closely and found that because of an unkind word with her sister, she left home and spent her evenings in the Station, not having anywhere else to go. She told me who she was and where her sister lived; I visited the sister, who was delighted to know her sister was found. We obtained her discharge and she went home.

No. 4.--Two young men charged with larceny from a department store. At the request of the Magistrate, I investigated the case and found the young men were from New York City; at once a letter was sent to their people; father came on; the charge was withdrawn; the boys discharged and their father took them home.

No. 5.--A young man from Louisiana arrested for stealing; said he had nothing to eat for three days; was committed for court; said he would not disgrace his family as his father had a nice business in the South, but he would not tell his address. During his conversation, he told me his father came to Philadelphia twice a year to buy goods, and mentioned one of the places where he bought them. I went to the place he mentioned and found his father was then in the city; I left a note asking him to meet me. He did so, and was deeply touched to learn where his son was. He at once went to the prison and took an attorney with him, and when the case came to court his son was discharged, and he went home with his father.

No. 6.--A young man from Massachusetts charged with robbing, who told me he had not written home for six years. I wrote to his father, who was delighted to know that the lost son had been found. When the case came to court, the young man was discharged and he went home with his father.

The cases mentioned are only a few of the many, but they indicate the character and importance of the work of the General Agent at The Central Police Station.

While visiting the cells in the Central Station, City Hall, I always feel a great responsibility resting upon me. I feel that a word spoken in kindness and love may awaken thoughts of the days of innocence and inspire them to endeavor to regain what they had lost.

The officials of the City Hall have been very helpful to me in doing all they can to help along the work. I deeply appreciate their kindly services.

“Sabbath Reading” has been distributed weekly through the personal efforts of our late friend, John J. Lytle. The subscriptions to this useful and appreciated magazine will expire in March, 1912, per annum. Something over $100 is needed to renew the subscription and I trust that way may open for the continuance of this benefaction.

Thanks are due to many of our friends for magazines and papers for the prisoners.

During the past year Emlen Hutchinson, Esq., Chairman of Board of Inspectors, Philadelphia Prison, has kindly sent me $80.00 for the purpose of sending home runaway boys, a donation of great usefulness.

Respectfully submitted, FREDERICK J. POOLEY, _General Agent_. COMMITMENTS TO MOYAMENSING, PHILADELPHIA COUNTY PRISON.

White White Black Black Total Males Females Males Females Committed 1906 17,085 2,180 3,106 1,005 23,376 1907 17,090 1,854 2,999 965 22,908 1908 17,497 1,740 3,267 916 23,420 1909 13,228 1,247 2,443 767 17,685 1910 13,518 1,138 2,547 706 17,909 1911 13,576 1,053 2,815 843 18,287

The Philadelphia County Prison, Holmesburg, was opened as a penal institution on December 28th, 1896, since which time, 12,767 men had been received to December 31st, 1911.

F. J. P.

ENFORCE IDLENESS OF PRISONERS

The law of Pennsylvania limits to thirty-five per cent. of the whole number of convicts, those who may be employed in any of the trades; as a consequence, the greater number of them are consigned to enforced idleness. No punishment could be more severe, and if punishment is the chief object of our penal system, it is certainly secured by Pennsylvania law. It is a system, however, which belongs to an age long since past, when the reformation of the criminal had little or no consideration.

It is proper that an evil-doer should suffer punishment and that society should be protected from his evil ways, but humanity and Christianity alike require that at the same time that he is subject to the restraints of the law, the wisest efforts should be made for his improvement and reformation, the correction of his evil propensities, and the formation of good habits, to the intent that when the prison gates are opened to him he may have a fair chance to become an upright and useful citizen.

This end cannot be attained by keeping the convict in idleness, the most fruitful source of immorality and mental and physical degeneracy. This law of enforced idleness is not only cruel and inhuman, as to the convict, it is improvident as to the State, for the convict, if employed, could not only earn a large part, if not the entire cost of his maintenance, and thus relieve the community of this burden, but he would be able to lift another and greater burden which must rest somewhere, the support of his family during his imprisonment.

Under the present system the guilty convict is not the chief sufferer. The severity of the punishment falls heaviest upon his family--the innocent wife and children.

UNWISE AND VICIOUS.

Is it not surprising that legislators who are responsible for this compulsory idleness do not see its unwisdom and viciousness?

Instead of permitting the convict to earn his maintenance by his own labor, a fellow-laborer outside the prison walls is taxed to support him in idleness, an idleness which only intensifies whatever criminal propensities he possesses, instead of curing them, and increases his capacity for depredations upon society when the prison doors are open to him.

In other words, for every man within prison walls who does not earn his maintenance, some man outside has to earn it for him. The Divine decree, “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread,” is reversed in the case of the man who eats his bread in the sweat of some other man’s face.

JOSHUA L. BAILY.

THE PHILADELPHIA COUNTY PRISON AT HOLMESBURG.

The Philadelphia County Prison, located at Holmesburg, between the Philadelphia and New York Railroad and Torresdale Avenue, about 6 miles north of the City Hall, and known as the new jail, was erected some 15 years ago. It occupies a plot of land containing about 21 acres. The wall which encloses the buildings sets back from the outer line of the property about 30 feet, so that the acreage of the interior is about 18 acres. The stone walls are 35 feet in height above ground and 12 feet under the surface, so that the entire height of the masonry is 47 feet. The wall is 6 feet wide at the top and about twice that width at the base, and entirely enclosing four sides of the tract. The cost of this wall, including labor and materials, was $835,000.

In the center of the building is a rotunda 80 feet in width and about 70 feet in height, surmounted by a lantern. From this center six one-story corridors, or blocks, radiate like the spokes of a wheel. These vary somewhat in length, but average about 330 feet, and there is an average of about 70 cells in each. The floor space of each cell is 8×18 feet and the ceiling height is 13 feet, surmounted by a skylight. Of these corridors, A, B, C, and D are occupied by white prisoners, and two of the corridors, E and F, by colored. The number of prisoners at this date, February 1st, 1912, is 715, about ninety less than at this time last year. About 60 per cent. are white and 40 per cent. colored. All the prisoners are men. All women convicts are sent to the Moyamensing Prison.