Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 December 1891 — Facts About the "Pen" [ARTICLE]

Facts About the "Pen"

. I Interesting Statistics Gleaned From the Annual Report of Warden French The fiscal year of the Indiana State Prison North has just end and Clerk Driscoll is busy with his annual report to Warden French and the board of directors. The statistics relative to the inmates of the itstitution are of unusual interest, and as such are set forth in an exhaustive form. The penitentiary has been in existence since 1860, and since 1867 the institution has shown a steady increase in population. During the thirty-one years of the prison a total of 7,234 convicts have been received within its walls. In the same period ninety-three men have escaped from the prison and of whom twenty-seven have been retaken. The pardons number 551, and the deaths 184; the presidents also pardoned thirty-two men in these thirty-one years. The statistics for 1891 are: Received, 416; discharged 334. pardoned by Governor Hovey, 11; by President Harrison, 3; escaped 2; died, 9; granted new trial, 4; total number out, 363; net increase for year, 53. Marion county, of which Indianapolis is the county seat and state capital, has sent 237 ot her people to swell the population; St. Joseph coming next with 144; Alien, th r rd, and Laporte fourth. Several counties, of which Jasper is one, have one representative. 148 are serving terms for grand larceny, 131 for petit larceny, 131 for burglary and 77 for murder. The period of sentence ranges from one year to life imprisonment. A large proportion of the convicts will serve sentences of two years and six months, six will serve terms of twenty- one years each, while fifty-nine will die behind prison walls. Eveiy pursuit of life is represented in this motly throng; the noble calling of journalist and art perservative of arts having a total representation of twelve. 144 of the 800 are laborers. The cause of agriculture has 64 representatives. Two lawyers and two school teachers represent other prominent callings. Of the place of birth, Indiana has the honor of 348, Ohio 103. New York and Pennsylvania 38 each. Of the foreign born Germany is represented by 24, Ireland by 15, Canada by 13, while there are comparatively few Swedes, Frenchmen, Italians and Scotchmen. The age at the time of conviction is givto in the table herewith appended: 20 and above 15 .... 103 25 and above 20 248 30 and above 25 164 35 and above 30 108 40 and above 35..... 73 45 and above 40 39 50 and above 45 22 55 and above 50 17 60 and above 55...., 12 65 and above 60 16 70 and over . 8 670 can read and write, 17 can read, only while 113 can not do either; SJI ■ are intemperate, 209 are temperate.! 510 are single, 238 have wives at I home, and 52 are widowers.