Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 January 1888 — INDIANA STATE NEWS. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA STATE NEWS.

—The officers of tbe northern prison have filed their annual reports with tho Governor. Tbe condition of the prison is, in the customary language, represented as being in every way perfect. ’I he directors state that solitary confinement is the most severe mode of punishment now nsed, and the warden, in speaking of the same matter, snys: “Since my last report I have abolished the nse of the ‘cats’ as a means of pnnishment. After a long experience, I have become convinced that it i 3 lowering in its tendencies, and is not eondneive to good discipline, and degrading in its effects, and is wholly unnecessary in controlling convicts. I think better results come from ft more humane system of treatment, with a judicious use of milder disciplinary measures. As the years go by I am more strengthened in my opinion that a classification of the inmates of our prisons into different grades is imperatively necessary, if we hope to decrease crime and place uufortunntes under our charge on the road to reformation. The promiscuous herding of the young in age and crime with the old and hardened criminals is a relic of the past. This age demands better methods, and every effort Bhould be brought to bear in onr Legislature to bring about a change in this respect." The number of convicts in the prison at the beginning of tbe year w.es 61)7, and at the close 634. The number discharged was 314, against 290 received, whilo sixteen were parolled by tho Governor and thirteen died. The Warden paid to tbe State Treasurer dnriug the year $110,245.56 and received from the State $lO2, 245.56. His receipts and enrnings amounted to $105,635.42. He now has $10,107.59 due the State and $3,270.98 due the convict?! Tho sides to prisoners amounted to s\-5‘).03. The average cost of feeding each prisoner iB 3 5-6 oents per meal; of clothing, 2 oents n day, and fnel, lift day. Including everything, the average cost of maintaining each prisoner is 37 9-10 cents per day.

—A serious accident occurred at Martin's ico house, two mile* north of Crawfordsville. Preparations wore being made to put in a new stock of ico; the old ico left over from last season was being removed, and in doing this work dynamite cartridges were frequently used. Charles Coombs laid one of the cartridges on a stove in a small room adjoining. When the cartridge became sufficiently hot it exploded with disasterous effect, the occupantß of tho room being ignorant of the facl.that such a thing was upon the stove. The following persons were injured; Perry Endicott, frightfully cut about the bond and face, having thirtoen gashes; B F Snyder, severely cut about the head; Will Martin, hit in the face and one cheek badly injured, also one eye. Three other men wore also more or less injured. —The press dispatch sent out from Louisville to the effect thpt there is n great scarcity of coal in the Ohio Valley does not apply to tho lower Ohio Valley, of which Evansville is tho center. T’hore is no scarcity of coal there, there being sixty coal shafts within twenty miles, six of which ore within the city limits, Evansville being situated over two heavy veins of rich bituminous coal. Higher prices elsewhere never affect Evansville materially, the average price for coal for steammaking purposes being 75 cents per ton the year round. —While boring for gas, one mile west of Edinburg on S. C. Thompson's farm, coal was struck in paying quantities at the depth of sixty feet, which was tested and pronounced equal to Cannelton coal. A company wos organized with a capital stock of SIO,OOO, with the following officers: S. Cutsinger, President; H. Maily, Vice President; S. C. Thompson, Treasurer; H. W. Schooler, Manager. Preparations will bo begun at once to work the mine.

—John W Vaughn, an employe at the Ohio Falls car works, Jeffersonville, was killed while assisting to raise a new coal car in one of the setting-up shops. The iron “jack'’ Vaughn was using being out of repair, the catch slipped, allowing the car to topple over on him. The main sill on the side of the car on which he was working caught Vaughn across the chest, pinioning him to the ground and crushing out his life in an instant. —Mrs. Hannah Ellis, of Bockport, met a horrible death by fire. She was more than 70 years old and a helpless paralytic, and was left in her room by the family sitting in an arm-chair by the fire. No oho visited her room for half an hour, and when she was discovered her clothing was all burned up. She was speechless, and her suffering was terrible. She died within an hour without regaining consciousness. —Postmaster John E. Bhnta. of Muncie, issued an order which provides that no minor can get mail at the office without an order from his or her parents or guardian. The moral effect of the proclamation, is working good results, as the schemes of many young ladies who have been carrying on correspondence with young men, for no good cause, has been checked altogether. —ln the number of pensioners on its list the Indiana pension agency ranks third in the counter. During the month of December there was a decrease of 116 and a net gain of 286, making the number on the list 36,081. The last quarterly disbursement amounted to a million and a quarter. —At Columbus, Berne Springer and wife were driving in a single buggy, when the horse became frightened and ran away, throwing them violently to the frozen ground. Both were dangerously hurt Mrs. Springer is in a delicate condition, and it is feared she cannot withstand the shock.