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and employed in the same manner as the other convicts, constantly wearing, however, shackles upon their ancles. There are no cells for purposes of solitary confinement, and there cannot be any such within the walls of the prison buildings. For the views of the In. spectors upon this subject, more largely expressed, reference is made to their last annual report.

The existing contracts for convict labor are as follows:

Joseph E. Bebee; wagon, carriage and sleigh making; from twenty-five to thirty-five convicts. This contract expires on the thirtieth day of April next. The price paid for each convict is thirty-five cents per day.

Harvey B. Ring, twice assigned, and now in the hands of Frank W. Anthony; the manufacture of boots and shoes; from fifteen to twenty-five convicts. This contract expires on the thirty-first day of August next. The price paid for each convict is forty cents per day.

Pinney, Connable & Co.; the manufacture of farming tools; from sixty to one hundred and twenty convicts. This contract expires on the thirtieth day of April, 1853. The price paid for each convict is thirty and one-fourth cents per day.

In view of the expiration of the wagon, carriage and sleigh making contract in April next, the Inspectors have directed the Agent to advertise for proposals for the labor of from twenty-five to fifty convicts, at the same business, for five years from the close of the pre

sent contract.

The discipline of the prison was never more perfect than at this time, and in this respect a marked improvement has taken place since the present Agent has been in office, he at all times having seconded the efforts of the Inspectors to secure improvement. Throughout the entire establishment a clock-work regularity prevails. The convicts themselves evince a large degree of contentment and a disposition to perform the duties imposed upon them. In this regard the change is visible, and it is attributable mainly to the faithful manner in which the Chaplain performs his duties, and to some regulations which were adopted by the Inspectors, at his suggestion, prohibiting the admission of newspapers among the convicts. The practice that has obtained within two or three years past of allowing

convicts to subscribe for and receive newspapers, is bad in every respect. It is not in consonance with a proper idea of punishment. The desire of the convicts to get hold of newspapers, with a view of ascertaining what is going on in the outward world, keeps them constantly discontented, and the gratification of that desire withdraws their minds from their appropriate duties. If they know that this class of reading is inaccessible to them, they are content with that furnished them by the Chaplain from the prison library. And from this source they obtain a great variety of reading, all of a useful and healthy character. The library belonging to the institution is already large, and the annual appropriation of one hundred dollars, expended semi-annually for the purchase of books, adds freshness and value to it.

Another cause of contentment among the convicts is the few pardons that have been granted by the present Executive. Heretofore there was scarcely a convict in the prison who did not hope for or expect a pardon, and consequently his thoughts and efforts were all in that direction. Now, however, it is understood that no pardon is granted, unless it can be shown that the conviction was erroneous, or for some other equally good reason; and the consequence is that few applications are made.

There are among the convicts five or six boys. one of whom is only eleven years of age; and the records of the institution show that others have been brought into it at a tender age. The propriety of this is indeed questionable. What can be expected of a child whose nursery has been the State prison! If he be naturally wayward, the contamination with the hardened villains with whom he is associated is fatal. He is sent out of prison with the brand of disgrace upon him, and suspicion lurking continually at his heels. The probability is that he has no friends, and being shunned by all good influences, he necessarily leads a life of crime. For such youthful offenders there should certainly be some milder, or at least, less disgraceful and withering punishment provided.

The Inspectors bear willing testimony to the satisfactory manner in which the Agent and his subordinate officers have executed their duties. Some considerable building has been done, in a very creditable and economical manner, all under the immediate supervision of

the Agent. Our monthly inspections of the Prison have kept us assured that every department is in a cleanly condition-that the inmates are well clad, and their food abundant and wholesome.

The health of the convicts has been remarkably good, the hospital department being under the charge of an able and efficient physi

cian.

The Inspectors conceive it to be their duty to make a statement of facts in reference to certain matters that have come to their knowledge connected with the accounts of Mr. Justus Goodwin, late Agent of this prison. That gentleman was superseded by the present agent on the sixteenth day of May last. It is understood that he closed his accounts with the. Auditor General soon after he went out of office. But upon examination of certain bills of purchase made by him as Agent of the Prison, and comparing them with the vouchers taken by him when the bills in question were paid, the Inspectors found charges for a considerable quantity of goods, embracing a variety of articles which do not belong to the catalogue of ordinary Prison supplies. Such information was sought as was accessible among officers of the Prison who served at the time the above purchases purport to have been made, with a view of ascertaining whether it was possible that the articles, or any portion of them, had in fact been brought into the Prison enclosure; and the result was so unsatisfactory that on the seventh of October last past, the Inspectors adopted the following preamble and resolution:

"Whereas, In sundry bills of purchase made by J. Goodwin, late Agent, there appears various items that need explanation, which items are as follows, to wit:

In bills rendered by S. W. Whitwell.

May,

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In April, 1849. 12 lbs. sugar, 1.00; 3 yds. cassinet, 3.75, $4 75 1 lb. tea, 75; 5 lbs. coffee, 50; 3 yards cassinet, 4.50; 1 yd. satin, 2.25; 1 silk. cravat, 1.25; 1 silk h'dk'f, 50; 2 chambers, 63;..

10 38

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3 75

In Jan. 1850. 10 yds. maroon,

Feb. 66

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20 lbs. sugar,.

May, 27 yds. prints,.

Ap'l, 1851. 16 yds. prints, .

In bills rendered by S. S. Vaughn & Co.

In Aug. 1849. 1 bot. cologne, 75; Sept. 1849, 1 bot. co

Nov.

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logne, 56;....

1 60

2 48

2.00

1 31

5 lbs. coffee, 50; Oct., 3 qts. varnish, 2.63;.. 3 13

Jan. 1850. 2 bot. cologne,

1 13

In bills rendered by G. F. Gardner.

In Oct. 1849. 2 lbs. tea, 1.50; lb pepper, 06;...

1 56

Dec. 1850. 14 lbs. nuts, 2.24; 10 lbs. sugar, 1.40; 10

lbs. raisins, 1.88;..

5 52

In bills rendered by A. Patterson.

In July, 1850. 1 qt. varnish, 88; Aug., 1 qt. wine, 1.00;.... 1 88

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5 gals. molasses, 1.55; 50 lbs. sugar, 3.25;..

In bills rendered by H. DeGraff.

4 80

In April 1849. 14 stair rods, 2.33; In July, 1 set castors, 75; 3 08

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In bill rendered by D. T. Merriman.

In Oct. 1850. 10 yds. merino, 3.13; 10 yds. delaine, 2.80;

In bill rendered by Aldrich & Co.

In May 1849. 6 lbs. sugar,..

In bill rendered by H. A. Hayden.

In May 1850. 1 bbl. flour,.

In bill rendered by J. Snyder.

In Dec. 1850. 15 lbs. Laguira coffee,.

In bill rendered by Z. Chandler & Co.

2.00

5 94

48

4.78

1 32

In Oct. 1850. 145 yds. prints, .

13 05

Therefore, Resolved, That the Clerk be instructed to communicate said items to the said J. Goodwin, and request of him an explanation previous to the next meeting of the Inspectors."

The Clerk of the Prison transmitted a certified copy of the above preamble and resolution immediately to Mr. Goodwin, but no response was had from him at the date of this report, although nearly a month has elapsed since such copy was transmitted to him. (See Note A.)

From all the information the Inspectors have been able to gather, they are forced to come to one of two conclusions-either that Mr. Goodwin kept his accounts in a loosely reprehensible manner, or that he has wilfully and designedly defrauded the State. If we take into the account Mr. Goodwin's reputation as a business man, it matters little which horn of the dilemma he may grasp.

The above statement is made simply as a duty which devolves upon the Inspectors. Should Mr. Goodwin make no satisfactory explanation of the difficulty presented, proper legal proceedings will be directed to be commenced against him.

In this connexion it may with propriety be suggested that the present laws for the government of the State Prison do not furnish sufficient safeguards to ensure the faithful performance of all the duties devolving upon the Agent. That officer is appointed by the Governor, and is not therefore responsible to any other power for the manner in which he shall execute his trust. The Inspectors, although clothed with all necessary powers to make examinations of the condition of every branch of the prison service, have no sufficient authority to execute the rules and regulations and resolutions they may adopt. Under the present laws, there is no responsible head of the Prison. Both the Agent and Inspectors are appointed by the Governor, and are therefore both alike responsible to him, which amounts to no responsibility at all. The duties of the Agent, or of the Inspectors, are not sufficiently defined, and there is room for constant clashing between them. There should be a responsible head of this institution; and it will be submitted at the proper time whether some modifications of the existing laws are not required.

Jackson, Dec. 1st, 1851.

EZRA PLATT,
W. F. STOREY,

JOHN P. COOK,

Inspectors.

[NOTE A. ]

Since the date of our annual report the annexed letter has been received from Mr. Goodwin. It is unnecessary to remark upon it, farther than to say that the explanations attempted are entirely un

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