PRISON REFORM IN NEW YORK

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2479, 4 June 1915, Page 2

PRISON REFORM IN NEW YORK

A NEW ZEALANDER'S LETTER. In the course of an interesting letter written by Miss Maunder, daughter of Mr. Maunder, M.P., and .Mrs. Maunder, who has distinguished herself so greatly in the course cl' her university career in -Vow York, she speaks of what sho has come across while visiting State institutions, gaols, reformatories, workhouse, etc., with two friends of the Messiah Social Service Lea.gue, New York.

"An agitation has started here," sho writes on April 21, "and none too soon, into scandalous condition!;, simply incredible unless ono has seen theui. A most astonishing and wonderful man Thomas Mott Osborne was lately, by some strange luck sent to take charge ol the Sing Sing Prison for long-sen-tence men, just, outside New York. He was new to the job, had lots of money and political pull, and to the surprise of everybody is out for real retorm. He lias worked wonders among the men and attracted a great deal of attention to gaols hv his 'extraordinary innovations. He is only too glad to have visitors go every day to the prison to see what the awful old buildings nr.like, and lie wants a row made about it. Miss Read, Miss Flaherty, and I went up ono day last week. I had written beforehand, as a New Zeal":'' Well, 1 never before had such courtesy from any institution in my life. Mr. Osborne met us, was ready to sajy jvnt'thing, had us have lunch with him iu his private apartments, and then turned us over to the prisoner,s to go where we liked and learn what we liked. He had established self-government- in the prison, letting tho men rule themselves and each other. All the ward'" tmil keepers were kept out of the workshops. out of the men's rlining-he" p.way from them altogether, and the men did everything for themselves. "The transformation in three " was astounding. They have nearly 100 murderers in the prison and over men in at present nil for big crimes. Under tho former chief tliey had everlasting rows, lights, keepers attacked, etc They had solitary confinement in horrible cells, all sorts of punishment-. Osborne has abolished all puuisiimem absolutely. He formed a band, and the men march in companies to their meals, their work and their cells, to the accompaniment of music from tho band. The cells are so awful (prison built 300 years ago). They are like holes in a solid concrete wall. They nre Gft. 4in. long and 3ft. 4iu. wide, and in 300 of them there are two men I I No windows, no ranitary arrangements, and before Osborne caiiio tho men were kicked in at five until seven ill the corning, and were aiways locked up on Sunduvs and holidays 111 "Now Osborne won't have them m any longer than can bo helped, so ho established moving pictures and a concert for them every evening; gives them from five'to si xovory day to play baseball and tennis in Hie yards. Ho also set up a court among the men, letting then: judge themselves. This court sits* at- four every day to settle quarrels, disputes, or breaches of rules.. We saw it. The jury was composed of two murderers and 'three forcers, and the Judge was a 'lifer' who had killed :Ins wife because she went off with another man. [fe had dene 14 years, and had six more to go. He was a huge, sad man, and I never heard anything so kind, so sympathetic, and so understanding as tiie way he talked to three young fellows who were brought up to him for scrapping. The only sentences passed on tho men are suspended privileges. If they break the rules they can't go to the concerts or 'wear their own clothes on Sundays or buy in the new prison stove for a certain time. "We talked to scores of men and they simply adore Osborne, and they swear they will help everybody to keep the rules so that tliey can keep the privileges. It was simply one of the most inspiring things 1 have ever known to feel the spirit of that one man animate that crowd of violent men. Wo saw 1400 ait down at ouco in the great mess hall. There has not been one light or one row since Osborne talked to them and told them what he wanted to do for. them and what he wanted them to do. 1 "Osborne himself is striking-looking, dark and athletic, big, with lots of dark hair, dark fiery eyes, and a splendid voice, most magnetic, and the fiuestlookina man 1 have seen in America. What "luck that he should be such a combination. He and his assistant and secretary and two doctors are the. only officials now working in the place. The keepers are the joke of it. There is nothing for them to do. Tliey sit up in the towers on the walls, read the newspapers, and are bored to- death. Many a prisoner chuckled to us about them. Most of t-liem were hated. It's a wonderful experiment, and'l do hope it has come to stay. "No place in the .world has such problems to face as America. In this city alone quite apart from anything done by the gieat millionaire charities Hie city authorities have 54,000 old, s-.ck, and dependent men, women, and children to take care of and clothe and feed at present. Think of it! And thero arc now -300,000 unemployed in this citv. The sights you see in the streets would make "angel's weep. Happy New Zealand! If they only knew. I don't- suppose there's a single New Zealander who has seen the appalling misery I have seen this winter, save those at the war. A man like Osborne and other fine people are bright spots by the way."

Mr. and Mrs. Tossv.ill (Pahiatua) arc staying at the Hotel Windsor.

The death has occurred, in Auckland, of Mrs. John Sinclair, an old colonist, at the age of SO years. The late Mrs. Sinclair came out to' New Zealand in the ship John Duncan, in 1?64. She was one of the oldest members of St. James's Presbyterian Church, Auckland. She is survived by n family of four daughters and one son, a number of grandchildren, and one great-grandson. Dr. and Mrs. Painter (FeafcJierston) risitcd Wellington yesterday.

War Ue:ti!"4s. An interesting forthcoming attraction in Australasia will bo a series of war lectures by Louise Mack, the distingttised Australian journalist, who has been for some years attached to ' tha London Press. At the beginning of Hie war the clever writer was commissioned by several papers to supply war stories from tbe battle front in Flanders. Later on the daring correspondent added much to her risks and her Press activities by penetrating beyond the German lines, and actually succeeded in reaching Brussels without passports some time after the German occupation. Subsequently, she got to Antwerp. and witnessed those terrible days when the panic-stricken inhabitants streamed out on the road to Ostend, or sought safety in flight down the Scheldt while the monster German cannon pounded the city from without. _ Miss Mack has many enthralling stories to tell about Antwerp, Brussels, and thft German outrages at Lotivain, Alost, etc.. and as she is an effectivo, picturesque talker, her lectures ought to prove a great success. Mr. and Mrs. J. Duncan (Pieton) are at present in Auckland. Dr. M'Naughton. who lias appointed medical officer at Funifute Island, and Mrs. M'Nanghton, loft for Sydney from Auckland on Tuesday. ;; Miss Jackson ("Stoiiesiead") is visiting Wellington. A "Red Cross Afternoon" was held in the V.M.C.A: concert hall, Auckland, by the members of the WW.C.A. oil Tuesday. The -Mayoress, Mrs. J. H. Gunson, presided, and about 300 members attended. Addresses were given by the Mayoress, Mrs. J. M'Kail Geddes, Mrs. Parkes, and Mrs. C. Smith, ■concerning ambulance' work. An entertaining programme of musical and elocutionary items was contributed by Misses Irene Watts and D. Blauchard, and Mesdames A. Buttle and I. Neave. A collection was taken up in aid of the Ked Cross work at the front, and £33 was obtained. This will bo expended upon suitable articles for ambulance work at the front. The Scottish Society of Wellington is distinctive in that it held its annual Highland ball on Wednesday evening, the proceeds of which will go towards its own funds should there be any over. St. Peter's Schoolroom, in which it was hold, was well filled with dancers, and flags in profustion decorated the walls and draped the stage, which lvas baiiked with pot plants and palms. The committee in chargo of the arrangements consisted of: Mesdames Mulcahj, M'Lellan, Stark. Fnrlongor,, Misses M'Leod, Harper, and Williamson, also Messrs. J. M'Lellan, J. Collins, C. Stewart, R. Hull, A. D. M'Lean, F. Miller, G. Stark. Mr. Charles Foster is chief; Mr. David Clark, chieftain; Mr. Walier Ballantyne, treasurer, and Mr. H. George,, secretary.