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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_.

[Illustration: RIGHT REV. WILLIAM WHITE, D. D., LL. D.

First President of The Pennsylvania Prison Society, from 1787 to 1836.]




  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                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