STATISTICAL VIEW OF THE OPERATION PEJfM COBE OF PEJVJVSFXr^JVM. TO -WHICH IS ADDED. A VIEW OF THE PRESENT STATE PENITENTIARY AND PRISON A IH THS CITY OF PHIXJlDUPHM. /} 2 Prepared and published, in pursuance of a resolution of the Philadelphia So. ciety for alleviating the miseries of publie prisons. PHILADELPHIA. 18ir. A STATISTICAL VIEW, &c. EVERY well informed Pennsylvanian has made himself acquainted with the benevolent principles upon which the criminal laws of this common- wealth have been reformed. The success of the system has penetrated every portion of the civiliz- ed world, and obtained for this commonwealth, the plaudits which the humane views and a successful execution of the penitentiary system have merited from the wise and good throughout the universe. The present publication is made with a view of shewing the operation of the penitentiary system, generally, and particularly to invite the attention of all good men, who feel a due sense of the impor- tance of the subject, to a serious consideration, of this important question. Whether, on the facts stated, k is not absolutely necessary, immediately to pursue further measures, not only for the improvement, but for the very pre- servation of the system, against the evils result- ing from the incompetency of the means of carrying it on, with all the effects proposed to be produced by its benevolent authors. In the year 1795, a publication similar to the pre- sent appeared under the authority of very respec- table names, subjoined to an excellent essay on the 4 criminal law of Pennsylvania, by the late William Bradford, Esq. formerly attorney general of this state, and of the United States, a gentleman emi- nently distinguished by his active benevolence, and the dignity and splendor of his public character. The present penal code was chiefly composed by that gentleman, and it will ever remain a monu- ment of his knowledge, and love of human uature. Among other interesting facts stated in the publica- tion referred to, are the following: that after the sys- tem had been in operation not more than two years, such was its efficacy, that out of near two hundred persons, who had at different times been pardoned, only four had returned; that there had been but two instances of conviction of picking pockets or burglaries, in the city and county for near two years; that the number of persons convicted in the several courts had constantly decreased, thirty and upwards of a session, having been frequently added to the list; that, although the city and county courts were but a few days distant, there were but five persons for trial. Such were the means then in the power of the Inspec- tors, of executing the system in its spirit and design, with the aid of extensive accommo- dations, and sufficient and suitable labor, that the rooms in the prison, and the prison yard, afforded convenient and ample room for the sepa- ration and employment of the convicts ; and final- ly so productive was their labor, that when discharged, considerable balances were found in favour of some, and but few, who had not more 5 or less; that those balances often exceeded ten pounds, and that some of the prisoners appro- priated part of their earnings to the support of their families. Such at that time was the happy effect of the system when properly exceuted. The present state of the penitentiary affords a melancholy and striking contrast: the building in which the prisoners are confined, and the yard in which they are employed, are the same used for those purposes in the year 1795 : no additional ac- commodations, either for the lodging or employ- ment of the convicts have been provided- The following facts which appear in the recent presentment of a respectable grand jury, will enable every one to appreciate the importance, indeed, ne- cessity of giving due efficacy to this benignant sys- tem. " That while thus the grand jury notice with " pleasure the high degree of order and cleanliness, " they are compelled by a sense of duty to present " as an evil of considerable magnitude, the present " very crowded state of the penitentiary. The " number of persons of all classes continues to in- " crease, so that from thirty to forty are lodged in " rooms of eighteen feet square.,? So many are thus crowded together in so small a space, and so much intermixed, the innocent with the guilty, the young offender, and often the disobedient servant or apprentice, with the most experienced and hardened culprit; that the institution already begins to assume, especially as respects untried prisoners, the charac- ter of a European prison, and a seminarf for every 6 vice, in which the unfortunate being, who commits a first offence, and knows none of the arts of metho- dised villainy, can scarcely avoid the contamination, which leads to extreme depravity, and with which from the insufficiency of the room to form sepa- rate accommodations, he must be associated in his confinement There are at this time (January, 1817), 451 con- victs in the Penitentiary ; of which number, 162 have been before convicted and pardoned. The number of untried prisoners returned on the cal- endars, at the different sessions of the mayor's court of the city and quarter sessions of the coun- ty of Philadelphia, was— In the year 1813, . . . . . 516 1814,.....538 1815,.....829 1816,.....1058 Having presented these reflections and truths to public notice, and beseeching a particular regard to their importance, we leave the subject to a virtuous community, upon the remedy of which there is am- ple opportunity and occasion for calling forth genu- ine benevolence and charity. In the month of April, 1816, the Philadelphia so- ciety for alleviating the miseries of public prisons, appointed a committee to prepare and publish for the use of the society, a statistical view of the operation and effect of the amended penal code of the state of Pennsylvania, as exhibited in the nu- merical amount of convictions; so far as could be obtained from a recurrence to the records of the Philadelphia prison, and to such other means of in- t formation, as the committee might have it in their power conveniently to refer to. It may be proper to state, that persons convicted in any county in Pennsylvania, other than Philadelphia county, of any crime (except murder of the first degree,) if punished with imprisonment, for one year or up- wards, are usually removed to Philadelphia prison. A statement therefore of the numerical amount of convicts in that prison, together with the numerical amount, (ascertainable at Harrisburg,) of convic- tions throughout the State, for murder in the first degree, would present a sufficiently accurate view of the number of convictions in Pennsylvania, du- ring the period taken, for such crimes. The com- mittee in execution of the duty imposed upon them, have had as complete a statement as was conveni- ently practicable drawn up at the Philadelphia pri- son. They regret to state that their endeavours to add the most important item, to wit, the number of convictions in Pennsylvania, for murder of the first degree, during the period assumed, by an applica- tion to the competent authority at Harrisburg, have not been successful: with a view of obtaining this information, the publication of the present state- ment has been much delayed, in order to prevent further delay, it is now published with the disad- vantage of exhibiting the number of convictions for murder in the first degree, in the county of Phila- delphia alone, 8 TABLE I. Being a view of the operation of the penal code, for a period of not quite eight years, from 1779, to 1786, the year in which the number of capital crimes, was first reduced. By the act of 1718, the following crimes were made capital, viz. Treason, Murder, Robbery, Burglary, Rafie, the crime against nature, malicious Maiming, Manslaughter by stab- bing, Arson; and by subsequent acts, Counterfeiting bills of credit, or the current coin were added, and the crime of ar- son extended to include certain public buildings—all these crimes were capital until the first of November, 1786. CRIMES. 1779 1780 178111782 1783 1784 1785 1786 Total. Robbery, Burglary, Murder, Treason, Counterfeit- } 5 3 5 4 3 6 2 2 3 10 0 1 15 8 2 0 2 5 S 0 7 8 1 0 0 4 5 * 0 10 0 0 35 54 20 7 ing bills of > credit, ) 11 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 Arson, Rape, Crimes against ? nature, 5 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 , 1 0 0 0 4 a i 28 20 | 15 25 16 16 u 10 141 Executed, - - - - " - I I I I . ... 73 Pardoned, died, escaped, See........68 Total,.....,--.. 141. 9 TABLE II. Containing a similar enumeration, for the same period from 1786 to 1794. When the punishment • of death, except for murder of the first degree, was abolished. By the act of the 15th September, 1786, Robbery, Burglary, and the crime against nature, were made punishable by servitude at hard labor, &c. By the act of the 22d April, 1794, the punishment of deathj except for murder iri the first degree, was abolished. ciniit. 178611787 1788 7 1789 22 1790 11 1791 2 1792 4 1793 Total. Robbery, 7 6 0 59 Burglary, 4 7 14 9 5 6 5 3 53 Rape, 3 0 1 0 0 6 2 0 6 Arson, 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Counter- } feiting > 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 the coin, s Murder, 0 0 6 3 0 2 0 14 Crime against nature, } 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 W 17 1 24 37 19 8 13 3 135 Executed,........ . . - - Pardoned, ............ Servitude at hard labor, deaths, escapes, &c. • 15 8 112 Total,..........135 10 TABLE III. Enumeration of crimes, from 1794 to 180&, a period of eight years. OKIMWS. 1794 1795 1796 1 1797 1798 1799 1800 1801 Tota Murder in the first degree, 1 Murder in the second degree, 2 0 5 0 2 2 0 2 13 Attempt to murder by poison, 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Assault with intent to murder, 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Manslaughter, 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 4 Mayhem, 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Rape, and assaults with in-7 tent to commit, 5 2 1 0 1 0 2 0 7 Concealing the death of bas- ) tard child, 3 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 4 Incest, * 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Crime against nature, 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Highway robbery.and assaults ? with intent to commit, b 0 2 0 0 0 3 1 10 Arson and other burnings, 0 0 0 1 2 0 2 6 Burglary, accessary to, and"} attempts to commit, 3 „ 0 2 5 2 5 2 20 0 Horse stealing, 6 9 16 15 13 2 5 17 83 Larceny, 37 40 75 61 67 104 56 89 529 Receiving stolen goods, ") knowing, &c. 3 0 2 0 3 0 2 1 4 12 Perjury, 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 Counterfeiting the coin, and") forgery, uttering and pub-£ 5 9 3 7 6 7 1 1 39 lishing base coin andfbrg-f ed papers, &c. J Bigamy, 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 4 Fraud, deceit, conspiracy,") cheat, &c 3 0 0 2 2 2 1 1 0 8 Misdemeanors, not specified, 0 56 2 72 0 105 0 93 1 101 0 123 0 0 3 76 119 J 746 11 TABLE IV. Enumeration of crimes, from 1802 to 1810, a period of eight years. CRIMES. Murder in the first degree, Murder in the second degree, Attempt to murder by poison, Assault with intent to murder, Manslaughter, Mayhem, Rape, and assaults with intent") to commit, 3 Concealing death of bastard) child, $ Incest, Crime against nature, Highway robbery, and assqplts") with intent to commit, 3 Arson, and other burnings, Burglary, accessary t*, and at- tempts to commit, Horse stealing, Larceny, Receiving stolen goods, know- ing, &c. Perjury, Counterfeiting the coin, and forgery, uttering, and pub- lishing base coin and forged papers, &c. Bigamy, Fraud, deceit, conspiracy, cheat, &c. Misdemeanors not specified, 1802 1803 1804U805 1806 1807 l8u8 '.809 Total 0 0 0 1 3 12 54 2 0 80 108 0 0 0 9 10 3 64 4 0 0 1 0 4 2 2 54 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 4 2 56 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 6 5 '94 2 0 ^__ 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 3 8 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 3 0 1 0 3 18 5 9 4 5 7 75 100 84 »■ 2 16 1 15 7 1 5 7 1 1 5 19 57 40 581 0 I 15 12 0 0 3 I 3 121 |U9 (146 J 120 45 1 18 15 -_f 850 12 TABLE V. Enumeration of crimes, from 1810 to 1816, a period of six years. CRIME*. Murder in the first degree,; Murder in the second degree, Attempt to murder by poison, Assault with intent to murder, Manslaughter, Mayhem, Rape, and assaults with intent) to commit, 5 Concealing death of bastard ) tard child, 5 Incest, Crime againsfnature. Highway robbery, and assaults ) with intent to commit, J Arson and other burnings, Burglary, accessary to, and at- > tempts to commit, J Horse stealing, Larceny, * Receiving stolen goods, know-) ing, &c. J Perjury, Counterfeiting the coin, and"} forgery, uttering and pub-f lishing base coin and forg-f ed papers, &c. J Bigamy, Fraud, deceit, conspiracy, J cheat, fcc. J Misdemeanors not specified, 1810 181111812 1813 1814118151 Total 1 0 3 97 0 0 2 1 10 4 132 0 0 1 4 1 166 0 0 0 ur 0 0 1 0 12 0 119 1 0 0 1 0 150 3 0 1 4 0 4 0 1 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 2 3 3 2 8 1 105 6 189 0 3 0 0 6 6 0 0 0 0 2 1 135 225 TABLE VI. l^sT^^^S^^ %dTm?nati?? of Time' from the passase of the act of 1794> to tht <*»* jmmonweahh X 1S subJoined an enumeration of the proportion from each county in tl.«- STATEMENT OF THE NUMBER AND SPECIES OF CRIMES themiem o7^VveCar8t.nd°upP;a?d7,?:bnf?lr "hioh per.o». h«,e been evicted and sentenced to suffer an imprisonment fur -k„; ll\!!.l ; Vu y • r "PwarUs— (wl»en the servitude u for a shorter period, conv cts are not removed to the Penitential «• v of Apr ." 794Pr'Xn the%rinshym^rVTV:f d)-ia, ?" °M! Md knit.oti.rj, if> the city of^lVd^a, Son, th eS )ccembeiri815 punishment of death, except for murder in the first degree, was abolished to tl.a 31st day of SPKC1ES Ob' CRIMES. Murder in tlie first degree,* Murder m the second degree, Attempt to murder by poison, Assault with intent to murder, Manslaughter, luyliem, ape, and assaults with intent} to commit, ( ureal,n- death of bastard) :lnld, ' ;est, l.ne a-a'u^t nature, f -f^luvay robbery, and assaults 7 *'ith intent to commit, C jNson, and otlier burnings, ^rglary, accessary to, and at- > t tempts to commit, J .)rse stealing, larceny, receiving stolen goods, know- > ing, &c. J 'erjury, lounterfeiting the coin, and"} forgery, uttering, and pub-f lishing base coin and forgedf papers, &c. J iigamy, [Fraud, deceit, conspiracy, ) cheat, &c. ■ 5 isdemeanors not specified, 1794 1795 1796 1797 1798 1799 1800, 1801 1802 1803 1804 18US 1806 1807 1808 1809 1810 181111812 1813, 1814] 181A Total. — -- ---- 2 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 2 2 0 2 2 7 0 1 4 1 1 n 1 1 4 4 „ 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 r 0 0 0 0 0 2 19 23 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 1 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 1 4 0 1 0 0 2 1 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 1 0 0 2 o 17 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 2 2 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 4 a 0 0 0 o 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 3 0 3 2 1 1 6 2 30 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 2 1 9 4 1 . 0 1 0 3 2 1 3 0 3 37 o 1 0 2 5 2 5 2 ,3 10 2 4 6 18 5 9 9 10 7 12 «5 8 125 6 y ie 15 13 2 5 17 12 3 2 ? 5 4 f 7 „ 4 132 3 0 119 1 105 6 189 37 40 /5 61 b7 104 56 89 54 64 54 56 94 75 100 84 65 96 1816 0 2 0 o 0 2 1 4 2 4 o 2 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 31 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 5 9 3 7 6 7 1 1 2 5 3 4 5 4 10 12 6 5 3 9 6 6 119 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 n 7 31 25 0 0 2 2 2 1 1 0 0 2 2 6 0 3 5 0 0 4 0 1 n 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 O 2 3 3 3 3 1 0 0 2 l | 56 72 105 93 101 123 76 [119 80 108 76 82 121 119 146 120 97 166 U7 150 135 -•2 5 2486 Information as to tha number convicted and executed, can be obtained from the office of the secretary of the commonwealth only. DISTRIBUTIVE ABSTRACT Of the above the number from the several counties are at follows, viz. 1 Philadelphia........x 1717 2 Bucks, - * - 4.....47 3 Berks,.........7'2 4 Chester, ---..---. 98 5 Lancaster, .........87 44 34 49 15 35 1 17 13 19 27 47 20 12 6 York, 7 Cumberland,...... 8 & 9 Northampton and Wayne, ... 10 Northumberland,..... 11 Washington, ------ 12 13 & 14 Armstrong, Jefferson and Indiana, ■ 15 Fayette,....... 16 Bedford,....... 17 Franklin, - - - . 18 Montgomery, ...... 19 Dauphin, -..... 20 Luzerne, ...... .1 Huntingdon, - • Carried over, .... 22 Beaver...... 23 & 24 Allegheny and Butler, . 25 Mifflin, ....... 26 Delaware, ---.._. 27 & 28 Somerset and Cambria, a 29 Lycoming........ 30 31 & 32 Centre, Clearfield, and M'Kean. * 33 Greene,...... 34 Adams...... . . * 35 36 8c 37 Erie, Crawford, and Warren. - 38 Columbia, - 39 Bradford,...... 40 Tioga, --.-..-.." 41 Lehigh, ...... 42 Union, . . . . . 46 14 Total, 14 TABLE VII. Gives a circumstantial view of the state of the penitentiary and prison, on the 19th July, 1816. specifying the number of convicts then confined; from each county, the several employments at which they were placed, the number at each employment; and the number of untried persons at that period. STATE OF THE PENITENTIARY, July 19th, 181G. Convicts, whoae term of service is one year and upwards. dOOHl0»J01t-'Uht>.(»Mh'000l ,£. 03-"JO)Cn*».03JO^© o 2*^ s X _-= ^^ go's." .•'Jsgg J? as s? 5- » 2 3, « « § n 3 o P- 5." -3 QS BWf) c (t c o ~ a 3 *. M OOPO O UOOO OOP O OH M.Q.QQ Mi-* o o" Eh 5 5'a S a- C. 3 =. s rt -"■ 2. ~ r* 2- lijiontD 3 »» C^ <"> ™ 2 (j| 3- 2 ^ I E r& crq 3 W.cn Ho^^tfl s a * c o «< i ' 9 rt ^ -" 5*2 ^3 ^ 3 v> " (t "J »"S CO P- a> 2. <* 3-2 £ ? ft" * § o 3 *> S 3 V^V>J £. MW 03 M Q>Ot0KSM<0 ,p>0»MO>CftM,gw Of which were-Whites, 231? 40~ £344 Males, Negroes and mulattoes, 176$ ™'I 63 Females, Additional from the city and county of Philadelphia being £ 25 those whose time of service does not amount to one year 3 Untried prisoners and vagrants,......... 283 And amount brought forward, -......■ 407 Total, 715 >*. *: ip.t.i£t & *paoE :iu^o!iPaatH' ^imsTi^^-i^nr Francis Street fa venu'nt S. m'd,rs. _ 3. 'Jeffs. _ £ Yards to &??'. -J- Ji'arie/u garden .-if.^vmestter Carrfen. _ ZJTeepers tyret efmer. rs ever tftese is t/te Aos-pital an* ierteatA are tAe AitcAens and a/fices---artme„,s----"t&*car\v e/?ice alore wfoeA is rAekH,