Part 1

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NEW SERIES Nos. 47 and 48

PUBLISHED ANNUALLY

BY THE

PENNSYLVANIA PRISON SOCIETY

INSTITUTED MAY 8, 1787

THE JOURNAL

OF

PRISON DISCIPLINE

AND

PHILANTHROPY

JANUARY, 1909

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 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_.

NEW SERIES NOS. 47 AND 48.

THE JOURNAL OF PRISON DISCIPLINE AND PHILANTHROPY

PUBLISHED ANNUALLY

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF “THE PENNSYLVANIA PRISON SOCIETY” INSTITUTED MAY 8TH, 1787

JANUARY, 1909

OFFICE: STATE HOUSE ROW S. W. CORNER FIFTH AND CHESTNUT STREETS PHILADELPHIA, PA.

THE

PENNSYLVANIA PRISON SOCIETY

(FORMERLY CALLED THE PHILADELPHIA SOCIETY FOR ALLEVIATING THE MISERIES OF PUBLIC PRISONS.)

Place of Meeting, S. W. Cor. Fifth and Chestnut Sts., Philadelphia.

The 122d Annual Meeting of “THE PENNSYLVANIA PRISON SOCIETY” was held First month (January) 28th, 1909.

The meeting was called to order by the President, JOSHUA L. BAILY, at whose request the Vice-President, the REV. H. L. DUHRING, D. D., took the chair.

The Secretary, JOHN J. LYTLE, being absent on account of illness, ALBERT H. VOTAW was appointed Secretary _pro tem_.

The Minutes of the 121st Annual Meeting were read and approved.

The Treasurer presented a report which was satisfactory. (See page 15.)

The officers and the members of the Acting Committee for 1909 were elected. (See pages 3 and 4.)

GEORGE S. WETHERELL, on behalf of the Acting Committee, presented a draft of proposed amendments to the Constitution of the Society. This report was referred to the Acting Committee for further consideration.

The Nominating Committee presented the following resolution:

“In recognition of the long, faithful and unselfish services of JOHN J. LYTLE as Secretary of ‘THE PENNSYLVANIA PRISON SOCIETY,’ the Nominating Committee recommend that he be elected Honorary Secretary....”

The resolution was adopted unanimously by a rising vote.

ALBERT H. VOTAW, _Secretary_.

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 Congress 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 at the Eastern Penitentiary and at the Philadelphia County Prison. 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.

OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY FOR 1909.

PRESIDENT

JOSHUA L. BAILY, 30 S. Fifteenth Street, Philadelphia.

VICE-PRESIDENTS

REV. HERMAN L. DUHRING, D. D., 225 S. Third Street, Philadelphia. REV. F. H. SENFT, 360 N. Twentieth Street, Philadelphia.

TREASURER

JOHN WAY, 409 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.

SECRETARIES

ALBERT H. VOTAW, 300 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. FRED. J. POOLEY, 300 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.

COUNSELORS

HON. WM. N. ASHMAN, Forty-fourth and Spruce Streets, Philadelphia. HENRY S. CATTELL, 1218 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.

THE ACTING COMMITTEE

John J. Lytle Moorestown, N. J. John H. Dillingham 140 N. Sixteenth Street, Philadelphia. P. H. Spellissy 120 S. Eighteenth Street, Philadelphia. Dr. Emily J. Ingram Telford, Pa. William Scattergood West Chester, Pa. Mrs. P. W. Lawrence 1338 N. Thirteenth Street, Philadelphia. Mary S. Whelen 1520 Walnut Street, Philadelphia. William Koelle 1209 Girard Avenue, Philadelphia. Rev. R. Heber Barnes 600 N. Thirty-second Street, Philadelphia. Dr. William C. Stokes 2003 Arch Street, Philadelphia. William T. W. Jester 412 Spruce Street, Philadelphia. Deborah C. Leeds West Chester, Pa. Mrs. Horace Fassett 220 S. Twentieth Street, Philadelphia. George R. Meloney 4809 Springfield Avenue, Philadelphia. Joseph C. Noblit 1521 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia. Miss C. V. Hodges 2102 Master Street, Philadelphia. Rebecca P. Latimer 4131 Westminster Avenue, Philadelphia. Rev. Floyd W. Tomkins, D. D. 1904 Walnut Street, Philadelphia. Rev. J. F. Ohl 826 S. St.Bernard Street, Philadelphia. Harry Kennedy Eaglesville, Pa. Layyah Barakat 236 S. Forty-fourth Street, Philadelphia. William E. Tatum 843 N. Forty-first Street, Philadelphia. Mary S. Wetherell 2036 Race Street, Philadelphia. George S. Wetherell 2036 Race Street. Philadelphia. Henry C. Cassel 2316 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia. Albert Oetinger Warminster, Pa. Rev. Philip Lamerdin Olney, Philadelphia. David Sulzberger 316 Race Street, Philadelphia. Mrs. E. W. Gormly Pittsburg, Pa. A. Jackson Wright 2141 N. Camac Street, Philadelphia. Frank H. Longshore 2359 E. Cumberland Street, Philadelphia. Charles H. LeFevre 827 Race Street. Philadelphia. Mrs. E. M. Stillwell 1248 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia. Solomon G. Engle 648 N. Thirty-ninth Street, Philadelphia. Charles P. Hastings 2304 N. Twenty-second Street, Philadelphia. Isaac P. Miller 409 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. Elias H. White West End Trust Building, Philadelphia. John Smallzell Haddonfield, N. J. John D. Hampton Twenty-ninth and Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia. John A Duncan 257 S. Fifty-first Street, Philadelphia. Jonas G. Clemmer 2209 N. Franklin Street, Philadelphia. Charles McDole 812 Race Street, Philadelphia. Samuel B. Garrigues 1719 N. Twenty-eighth Street, Philadelphia. Harrison Walton 1706 Columbia Avenue, Philadelphia. Rev. C. Theodore Benze Erie, Pa. Rev. A. J. D. Haupt, D. D. Pittsburg, Pa. Arthur Buckler 2209 Tulip Avenue, Philadelphia. Mrs. Mary S. Grigg 1235 N. Thirteenth Street, Philadelphia. C. Wilfred Conard Lansdowne, Pa. Henry W. Comfort Fallsington, Pa.

COMMITTEES.

_Visiting Committee for the Eastern State Penitentiary_:

John J. Lytle, Rev. Philip Lamerdin, Charles P. Hastings, P. H. Spellissy, Harry Kennedy, Solomon G. Engle, John H. Dillingham, Layyah Barakat, Isaac P. Miller, William Koelle, Rev. J. F. Ohl, Elias H. White, Rev. R. Heber Barnes, William E. Tatum, John Smallzell, Dr. William C. Stokes, Mary S. Wetherell, John D. Hampton, William T. W. Jester, George S. Wetherell, Jonas G. Clemmer, Deborah C, Leeds, Henry C. Cassel, Charles McDole, Mrs. Horace Fassett, Albert Oetinger, Samuel B. Garrigues, George R. Meloney, David Sulzberger, Harrison Walton, Joseph C. Noblit, Frank H. Longshore, Arthur Buckler, Rebecca P. Latimer, A. J. Wright, Mrs. Mary S. Grigg, Rev. Floyd W. Tomkins, Charles H. LeFevre, Albert H. Votaw.

_Visiting Committee for the Philadelphia County Prison_:

Fred. J. Pooley, William T. W. Jester, Mary S. Wetherell, Dr. Emily J. Ingram, Deborah C. Leeds, David Sulzberger, Mrs. P. W. Lawrence, Mrs. Horace Fassett, Mrs. E. M. Stillwell, Mary S. Whelen, Miss C. V. Hodges, John A. Duncan.

_For the Holmesburg Prison_:

Fred. J. Pooley, David Sulzberger.

_For the Chester County Prison_:

William Scattergood, Deborah C. Leeds.

_For the Delaware County Prison_:

Deborah C. Leeds, C. Wilfred Conard.

_For the Western Penitentiary and Allegheny County Prison_:

Rev. A. J. D. Haupt, D. D., Mrs. E. W. Gormly.

_For the Bucks County Prison_:

Henry W. Comfort.

_For the Erie County Prison_:

Rev. C. Theodore Benze.

_For the Counties of the State at Large_:

Fred. J. Pooley, Deborah C. Leeds, Mrs. E. W. Gormly. Layyah Barakat, Albert H. Votaw,

_For the House of Correction_:

Fred. J. Pooley, David Sulzberger, Layyah Barakat, Deborah C. Leeds.

_Auditors of Acting Committee_:

Charles P. Hastings, Dr. Wm. C. Stokes, John Smallzell.

_Editorial Committee_:

Rev. J. F. Ohl, Rev. R. Heber Barnes, Dr. Wm. C. Stokes. John Way, Albert H. Votaw,

_On Membership in the Acting Committee_:

Dr. Wm. C. Stokes, Albert Oetinger, Charles P. Hastings. George S. Wetherell, Elias H. White,

_On Finance_:

George S. Wetherell, David Sulzberger, A. Jackson Wright. Joseph C. Noblit, C. Wilfred Conard,

_On Discharged Prisoners_:

Joseph C. Noblit, George S. Wetherell, Dr. Wm. C. Stokes. Mrs. Horace Fassett, Mrs. P. W. Lawrence,

_Auditors of the Society_:

A. Jackson Wright, Elias H. White.

_On Police Matrons in Station Houses_:

Mrs. P. W. Lawrence, Dr. Emily J. Ingram, Mary S. Wetherell.

_On Prison Sunday_:

Rev. H. L. Duhring, D. D., Rev. R. Heber Barnes, Rev. J. F. Ohl. Rev. F. H. Senft,

_On Legislation_:

Rev. J. F. Ohl, Joseph C. Noblit, Rev. R. Heber Barnes. David Sulzberger, Elias H. White,

JOURNAL OF PRISON DISCIPLINE AND PHILANTHROPY

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SECOND YEAR.

1787. OF 1909.

THE PENNSYLVANIA PRISON SOCIETY

ANNUAL REPORT OF JOHN J. LYTLE, GENERAL SECRETARY.

In submitting this, my Eighteenth Report, covering the last two years, I realize that I have much cause for gratitude. For a large part of this time, I have been blessed with health and strength to continue my labors among the prisoners of the Eastern Penitentiary.

I have been an Official Visitor at this institution for fifty-six years, and for more than a score of years I have given my entire service to this work for which I have felt that I had a special call.

While providing prisoners at the time of their discharge with a respectable outfit, it has also been my earnest desire to point them to the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. I have also continued my visits to the cells of the prisoners, and I have felt that a blessing has attended my efforts. While I can never know the result of these labors, I have worked in faith endeavoring to minister to both their temporal and spiritual needs. Many have confessed to me that their imprisonment had been to them a blessing. Arrested in their career of crime, they had resolved to lead better lives in the future. I have not doubted their sincerity, and have encouraged such to seek Divine help. It is right to protect the community, and the law-breaker must suffer the penalty for his crime, but while he is incarcerated it is our duty to avail ourselves of the opportunity to instruct him and to plead with him to follow better ideals. Indeed, I have felt it a great privilege to sit beside a prisoner in his cell and tell him of the “old, old story of Jesus and his love.”

From careful inquiries, I am satisfied that the most of the prisoners can trace their downfall to indulgence in drink and the social evil.

THE EASTERN PENITENTIARY.

At the Eastern Penitentiary several thousand visits are annually made by the members of the Acting Committee of the Pennsylvania Prison Society. This Committee is composed of clergymen and laymen, men and women. To each block one or more visitors are assigned, and it is believed that the interviews held by these with the prisoners, either in their cells or at the cell doors, are productive of much good. The lady visitors of the Committee are all assigned to the women’s block. Here a Bible class is held every Sabbath afternoon; and the matron is also earnestly and constantly interested in the spiritual welfare of those in her care. On every Sabbath morning, at 9 o’clock, service is held in each of the corridors under the direction of the moral instructor, the Rev. Joseph Welsh. The speakers are supplied by the Local Preachers’ Association of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Protestant Episcopal City Mission and the Lutheran City Mission.

The total amount expended by the Society during the last two years for the use of prisoners at the time of their discharge was $5,152.54, and for tools $93.30.

The following are the statistics of population at the Penitentiary during 1908.

White Colored Total Males Females Males Females Number remaining from 1907 925 12 280 8 1,225 Committed during 1908 524 4 137 8 673 ----- -- --- -- ----- Total population 1,449 16 417 16 1,898 Discharged during 1908 318 5 92 3 418 ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- Remaining December 31, 1908 1,131 11 325 13 1,480

THE DISCHARGES WERE AS FOLLOWS:

By Commutation 357 ” Order of Court 8 ” Time expired 20 ” Pardon 9 ” Order of Huntingdon Reformatory 9 ” Death 15 --- Total 418

Average daily population for 1908 1,371 Largest number in confinement during the year 1,486 Smallest number in confinement during the year 1,225

PHILADELPHIA COUNTY PRISON

There are two County Prisons in Philadelphia, under the same Board of Inspectors, one at Tenth and Reed Streets, known as “Moyamensing,” and the other at Holmesburg. The former is used chiefly for prisoners awaiting trial and for those serving short terms for minor offenses; the latter, for those who are sentenced to longer terms.

Cleanliness and good order prevail in both institutions, but both are overcrowded. “Separate and solitary confinement” may be a part of the sentence, but the insufficiency of the accommodations renders it impossible to carry out this provision of the law. Since there is abundant room for additional buildings at Holmesburg, it is unfortunate that the county authorities do not erect as many buildings as may be needed.

Frederick J. Pooley, the Society’s Agent at the County Prisons, also considers it very unfortunate that those awaiting trial, some of whom may be found innocent, have their minds contaminated by listening to the stories of the older criminals. When released from prison they are the more easily induced to enter upon a criminal career.

Mr. Pooley visits Moyamensing three times a week and Holmesburg twice a week. He gives special attention to those who have been committed by magistrates for short terms. These he interviews as soon as they are committed, and when he feels assured that anyone is being wrongfully or unduly punished, he takes measures to have him released. He regards the untried department as an especially fruitful field of work.

OTHER PRISONS

Among other prisons visited by members of the Acting Committee are the following: Chester County, by William Scattergood; Delaware County, by Deborah C. Leeds; the Western Penitentiary, by the Rev. A. J. D. Haupt, D. D., and Mrs. E. W. Gormly; Erie and Warren Counties, by the Rev. C. Theodore Benze.

THE DOOR OF BLESSING

The door of Blessing, at 4220 Chester Avenue, was founded and is conducted by Mrs. Horace Fassett. Its object is to provide a home for women discharged from prison until they shall return to their relatives or be put in the way of earning a livelihood. During 1908 forty women and one infant were admitted. Thirty of these women were from the County Prison, two from the Eastern Penitentiary, one from the House of Correction and three were sent by magistrates. Of the whole number five were returned to their homes in other states, seven to their homes in Philadelphia, twenty-two left to take positions and four to look for work. Only six are known to have resumed their former evil life. The Door of Blessing is indeed what its name implies, as many of the women who have been its inmates are now leading orderly lives.

THE HOME OF INDUSTRY

The Home of Industry, Seventy-third Street and Paschall Avenue, Mr. Frank H. Starr, Superintendent, is doing for men what the Door of Blessing is designed to do for women. It provides food and shelter, gives employment at broom-making, for which regular wages are paid, and seeks to bring all who seek it under the saving power of the Gospel. Its success in reclaiming men has been very pronounced.

* * * * *

From the minutes of the Society:

ISAAC SLACK.

Born 1832. Died 1907.

The subject of this sketch was born in Cumberland County, England. About the time of the Civil War he came to America and located in Philadelphia.

He joined The Pennsylvania Prison Society about the year 1886, and subsequently became one of the most interested and active members of the Acting Committee. Though without educational advantages in his early life, and therefore self-taught and self-made, he had a remarkably clear insight into many of the social problems of the day, and knew how to give his convictions and conclusions forceful expression when occasion demanded.

His largely attended funeral brought together many friends unknown to his immediate family, to whom he had been a confidential adviser, and whom he had befriended in many ways.

The Society, the prisoners, and others have therefore suffered a genuine loss in his death, and it is with sincere sorrow that we record his demise.

With the earnest desire that the work of The Pennsylvania Prison Society may continue to grow and prosper, I submit this report.

JOHN J. LYTLE, _Secretary_.

SUMMARY OF THE WORK OF THE ACTING COMMITTEE.

With the exception of two months in the summer, meetings of the Acting Committee have been regularly held every month since the last number of THE JOURNAL was issued.

An important part of the work of the Society consists in the personal visitation of prisoners for the purpose of fostering in them higher ideals and bringing about their spiritual improvement. As will be seen in the General Secretary’s report, this work has continued to receive faithful attention.

A committee is at work revising the Constitution and By-Laws of the Society, and it is expected that their report will be made and adopted before the beginning of next year.

We desire to extend our sincere thanks to the generous friends of our cause, without whose contributions we could not carry on our work. During the last year it has been more difficult than usual to secure financial aid, doubtless in consequence of the recent depression in business. We hope that all our friends whose means will admit will continue their practical assistance.

At the meeting of the committee held June 18, 1908, the venerable Secretary, John J. Lytle, submitted his resignation, with the understanding that he would continue his duties as the Society’s Agent at the Eastern Penitentiary. The following resolution relative thereto was adopted at an adjourned stated meeting of the Acting Committee held June 29, 1908:

WHEREAS, our friend, John J. Lytle, having reached the eighty-fifth year of his age, asks to be released as Secretary of the Acting Committee, also as General Secretary,

_Therefore be it resolved_, that the Acting Committee, in acceding to his request, place on record its appreciation of the faithful performance of his duties in both these positions throughout the many years he has served the Committee. First elected as Secretary in 1852, afterward as General Secretary in 1886, John J. Lytle has served the Society officially for more than fifty-six years. During this long period he has constantly kept a single eye to the prisoners’ welfare and through storm or heat has stood ready to sacrifice himself on their behalf. We are still to have the benefit of his long experience as Secretary of the Society and as Prison Agent. May the freedom now gained from arduous secretarial duties so relieve him that he may, with the more vigor, prosecute the work at the Eastern State Penitentiary on behalf of the discharged prisoners, the phase of our work which he feels most deeply laid on his heart.

Albert H. Votaw was elected as Secretary of the Acting Committee to serve until the time of the next annual meeting.

The newly elected Secretary was subsequently authorized to make a systematic visitation of the County Prisons of Eastern Pennsylvania. His report of these visits will be found below.

On behalf of the Acting Committee.