USA > Ohio > Ohio's progressive sons; a history of the state; sketches of those who have helped to build up the commonwealth > Part 15
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ing in the military or naval forces of the United States. In 1870, the instruction consisted of the usual school course with some outdoor labor. In 1875, industrial pursuits were added to the school course and to the number of industries then inaugurated there have been con- stant additions, aggregating twenty-three, as the science of manual training has grown more familiar to the educator. In the home was thus established far in advance of similar public institutions, a Manual Training School, supported by public funds for public uses. The home is the largest institution of its kind in the world, and has a long history of active educa- tional work. Graduates from its school are filling honorable positions in the civil, political, financial, military and naval departments of American life. It has been frequently said that in all America it would be hard to find a spot more hallowed to the memory of American soldiery, more filled with the stirring influences of patriotic devotion to country and to the country's flag ; more typical of the peace and honor which follow from the defense of rights and liberty, than among the scenes and atmosphere which surround the home and school life of the 900 pupils of the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home at Xenia.
OHIO SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' HOME. The General Assembly passed the fol- lowing act for the establishment of this institution on the 30th of April, 1886: "Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, That there shall be established in this State an institution under the name of 'The Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Home,' which institution shall be a home for honorably discharged soldiers, sailors and marines." All honorably dis- charged soldiers, sailors and marines who have served the United States Government in any of its wars, and who are citizens of Ohio one year preceding the date of making the applica- tion for admission to the home, are not able to support themselves and are not entitled to admission to the National Military Home or can not gain admission thereto may be admitted to the home first aforesaid under such rules and regulations as may be adopted by the Board of Trustees hereinafter provided for; provided that preference shall be given to persons who served in Ohio military organizations. It was provided that no insane or imbecile per- son should be admitted to the home, and that if any such person should be sent to the home, he should be returned to the county from whence he came at the expense of his county. In 1888, the corner stone of the Administration Building was laid by Judge O'Neal. The home was opened on the 19th of November, 1888, with seventeen members. The annual report for the year following shows that during the first twelve months of its existence 759 veterans had been admitted. In 1899, the new hospital was completed in connection with the home, which makes it now the most complete structure of its kind in the country. Seven trained female nurses are employed to look after and care for the aged sick and suffering. The cost per capita for current expense, clothing, officers' salaries and trustees' expenses amount to $151.15, of which the General Government pays $100, leaving a cost to the State of only $51.15 per capita. Since the home was opened in 1888, more than 6,000 men have been admitted and cared for. The entire cost of buildings and permanent improvements amount to $657,863.72.
Ohio's Treatment of the Criminal Classes
Reformation, rather than punishment. That this should be the main object in dealing with criminal classes was a conviction that found expression at the very threshold of Ohio history, and was embodied in the organic law of the State more than a century ago. The first legislation in regard to crime and criminals was formulated by the Governor and Judges, authorized by Congress, and was promulgated at Marietta in 1788. This criminal code specified twenty offenses for which penalties were provided. The only offense punish- able by death was murder. This is probably the first criminal code in the world in which
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the death penalty was limited to one offense. Six years later, Pennsylvania followed this example, and since then nearly all of the States have adopted the same rule. Manslaughter was punishable in accordance with the requirements of the Common Law of England, by imprisonment. Arson, by whipping, not exceeding thirty-nine stripes, the pillory not exceeding two hours, imprisonment in jail not exceeding three years and full damages in money if the offender's estate would suffice; burglary and robbery, similar to arson ; riots, fine not exceeding $to and surety for good behavior; for obstructing authority, whipping not exceeding thirty-nine stripes and security for good behavior ; perjury, fine, whipping or pillory and disenfranchisement : larceny, restitution, whipping or imprisonment not exceed- ing seven years; forgery, fine and pillory; usurpation, assault and battery or fraudulent deeds, fines ; drunkenness, fine five dimes for first offense, and $I for any succeeding offense. The code closed with the following sections :
Section 21. Whereas, idle, vain and obscene conversation, profane cursing and swear- ing, and more especially the irreverently mentioning, calling upon, or invoking the sacred and Supreme Being, by any of the divine characters in which He hath graciously conde- seended to reveal His infinitely beneficent purpose to mankind, are repugnant to every moral sentiment, subversive to every civil obligation, inconsistent with the ornaments of polished life and abhorrent to the principles of the most benevolent religion, it is expected, therefore, if crimes of this kind should exist, they will not find encouragement, countenance or approbation in this territory. It is strictly enjoined upon all officers and ministers of justice, upon parents and others, heads of families, and upon others of every description, that they abstain from practices so vile and irrational; and that by example and precept, to the utmost of their power, they prevent the necessity of adopting and publishing laws with penalties upon this head. And it is hereby declared, that government will consider as unworthy its confidence all those who may obstinately violate these injunctions.
Section 22. Whereas, mankind in every state of informed society have consecrated certain portions of time to the particular cultivation of the social virtues and the public adoration and worship of the common Parent of the universe, and whereas a practice so rational in itself, and conformable to the divine precepts, is greatly conducive to civiliza- tion, as well as morality and piety : and whereas, for the advancement of such important and interesting purposes most of the Christian worlds have set apart the first day of the week as a day of rest from common labors and pursuits, it is therefore enjoined that all servile labor, works of necessity and charity only excepted, be wholly abstained from on said day.
Of course, this code was mainly prospective, for as yet there were no jails or pillories in the territory. and it was not until 1792 that a law was enacted requiring each county to erect jails and "also a pillory, whipping post and as many stocks as may be convenient for the punishment of offenders." Each jail was to have two apartments-one for debtors and one for criminals.
This code remained in force without any material changes and additions until after the admission of Ohio as a State, in 1802, and the organization of its first General Assembly in 1803.
The first Constitution of Ohio. adopted in 1802, is a monumental document in many ways, but especially in its attitude toward crime and criminals, for it anticipated by many years the central idea of modern penology that reformation rather than punishment should be the objective point in dealing with criminals, and that indiscriminate severity, instead of preventing, created crime. These declarations are contained in Article VIII., Section XIV., of this remarkable document, as follows :
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All penalties shall be proportioned to the nature of the offense. No wise legislation will affix the same punishment to the crime of theft, forgery and the like which they do to those of murder and treason. When the same undistinguished severity is exerted against all offenses, the people are led to forget the real distinction in crimes themselves, and to com- mit the most flagrant with as little compunction as they do the slightest offense. For the same reasons a multitude of sanguinary laws are both impolitic and unjust, the true design of all punishment being to reform, not to exterminate mankind.
The first PENITENTIARY in Ohio was built in 1813, in the city of Columbus. It was a brick building 60 by 30 feet in size and three stories high, which included the basement, partly below ground. The basement contained the living rooms of the prisoners, and could only be entered from the prison yard. The second story was the keeper's residence. The third, or upper story contained the prisoners' cells, thirteen in number, nine of which were light and four dark cells. The prison yard, about 100 feet square, was enclosed by a stone wall from fifteen to eighteen feet high.
In 1818 a new brick building was erected and the prison yard enlarged to about 400 by 160 feet, enclosed by stone walls twenty feet high.
In 1832 a new penitentary was authorized and the present location on the banks of the Scioto was secured, and in 1834 the new building was occupied, and there it has since remained. From time to time it has been enlarged, until at present it has a prison popula- tion of over 2,000.
It has always been operated upon the Auburn system, with associated labor by day and cellular separation at night.
The Ohio Penitentiary covers 26 acres within the walls. About two acres outside the prison proper are occupied by offices, the Deputy Warden's residence, store rooms, barn and stables. The prison itself is walled on three sides, the fourth being wholly absorbed by cell houses, offices and the Warden's home. This side presents an imposing front, about 800 feet in length, on Spring street, facing the Scioto River, with the street and outer buildings between it and that stream, and a wide fringe of green lawn before it that in summer is beautified by parterres of flowers and shaded by fine trees. The cell houses and offices form a continuous building from the southeast to the southwest gate, in which are more than 1,600 cells, about 600 of these being provided with beds for two inmates, the remainder being too small to receive more than one each. The Female Department, which abuts on the south- east gate, is somewhat advanced toward the street beyond the frontal line of the main prison, and reaches to the public sidewalk. It contains 46 cells.
The walls are dominated by towers at short distances apart, and of which there are eleven. Within the enclosure is a small manufacturing city, comprising the shops of The Columbus Bolt Works, The George B. Sprague Cigar Co., C. S. Reynolds & Co., The E. B. Lanman Co., The P. Hayden Saddlery Hardware Co., the Ohio Glove Co., The Columbus Chair Co., The National Broom Co., The Brown-Hinman & Huntington Co., and the Colum- bus Hollow Ware Co., all private corporations that contract with the State, through the Board of Managers, for the labor of prisoners, at specified prices for able-bodied and infirm men, respectively, and in many instances paying to the prisoners certain agreed amounts for all work produced beyond an appointed task. The total amount earned by such overwork and paid in to the account of the men who have earned it averages about $2,500 per year. These contracts employ about 1,000 prisoners. In addition to the labor utilized by these enterprises, the State employs about 700 men in the manufacture of the prisoners' clothing, the care of their sleeping quarters, repairs to buildings, the preparation of food, the manage- ment of the gas works-which supply gas to the State Blind Asylum and the State Deaf and
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Dumb Asylum, as well as to the penitentiary-the care of the inside park and other grounds, and in the general administration of the mural city with its 2,000 population. A tour of inspection more than repays the visitors, who come in great numbers. The number of visitors is increasing yearly, as the people realize more and more that an interesting development of modern ideas relative to the protection of society through the reformation of the criminal may be seen in its various phases from day to day. Since 1834, when the present prison was first occupied-or, rather, that rudimentary portion of it that is now know as the West Hall-an army of more than 40,000 prisoners has passed through its
OHIO PENITENTIARY COLUMBUS
portal. The male inmates, until a few years ago, wore the old regulation striped uniform of the convict. The striped clothing is now used only as a temporary garb of punishment. The walled city has been swept by pestilence but once in its history. In 1849, the cholera raged in Columbus, as all over the State, and 121 died within twelve months, exacting the life of one out of every three prisoners.
Moral, educational and religious work of the prison is carried on through the library, prayer meeting, religious services under the care of a chaplain and a night school under the care of a teacher employed from the outside. While the rules of the prison forbid sectarian-
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ism, they also provide that a prisoner desiring to have instruction in his particular faith may be accommodated by the Warden. Under this provision Roman Catholic Church services are held by a priest in the Catholic chapel every Sunday morning. The prison buildings are old, inadequate and loathsome. The cells are of heavy stone walls that admit but little light and are poorly ventilated. The location is bad; for several years the subject of disposing of this property and securing a new site in a suburb of Columbus and erecting new and up-to- date buildings with the sanitary features, has been agitated, but nothing done.
THE OHIO REFORMATORY IN MANSFIELD was created by an act of the Legis- lature passed on the 12th of April, 1884. It provides "That there be established an interme- diate penitentiary for the incarceration of such persons convicted and sentenced under the laws of Ohio as have not previously been sentenced to a State penitentiary in this or any other State or country.
Section 2. That for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this act, there shall be, and is hereby, appropriated for the years 1884 and 1885 ten per centum of all the moneys received under an act passed April 17, 1883, entitled "An act further providing against the evils resulting from the traffic in intoxicating liquor."
A location was secured at Mansfield, comprising 182 acres of land. The corner stone was laid in November, 1886, by Governor Foraker. The west wing and administration departments were not completed for occupancy until September 18, 1896, when 150 pris- oners were brought from Columbus.
The object of the institution is reformatory. Inmates are supposed to be first offenders, are admitted for all crimes except murder in the first degree, between the ages of 16 and 30. Male persons only are admitted. There are three grades: first, second and third. When inmates are admitted they are placed in the second grade; if their conduct justifies at the expiration of six months, they are promoted to the first grade, in which they remain for a second six months, when, if their conduct justifies, they are recommended to the Board of Managers for parole. With the consent of the Board of Managers they go out and remain the wards of the State under the supervision of the institution for one year, when, if their conduct justifies, they are fully discharged, and restored to citizenship by the Governor. Inmates are reduced to the third grade from either the first or second for punishment for certain misdemeanors. They receive an indeterminate sentence from the court and the length of time they remain here is governed largely by their conduct, and is exclusively in the hands of the Superintendent and the Board of Managers. They can be released at the expiration of the minimum time prescribed by law for the crime committed, or can be retained until the maximum time has expired.
They are required to attend school and learn such trades as it is possible to teach them under the limited conditions now existing. It is expected, however, in the near future shops will be erected and trades taught to these boys, so that when they go out, they will be able to make an honest living.
With the appropriations already made it is expected that the institution will be com- pleted within a short time, with a capacity for 800 prisoners, and when all modern reforma- tory methods can be fully inaugurated its equipment will not be inferior to any other reformatory of its kind in America.
OHIO WORKHOUSES. In Ohio, all criminal offenses punishable by imprisonment less than one year, are known as misdemeanors, and are punishable by confinement in a county jail or city workhouse. In Ohio there are at present eight city workhouses, at Canton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Toledo, Xenia and Zanesville. These institutions receive prisoners not only from their own locality, but from any other city or county with
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which satisfactory contracts for support have been made. The average term of sentence to these workhouses is about thirty days. These workhouses in their character and con- duct are similar to those in other States, and are as equally well administered, but in reformatory results they have never been satisfactory. A large majority of workhouse prisoners are chronic drunkards, for whom a commitment of ten to twenty or thirty days has no terrors, but rather the reverse, for every commitment for another debauch is an opportunity for restoration to natural conditions, by medical care and hygienic treatment, at public expense, and this accomplished, the prisoner goes out to repeat his previous offense.
To reform prisoners of this kind time is an essential element, and hence in Ohio, by recent legislation, a new feature in workhouse sentences has been authorized, which is unknown elsewhere, and which promises to be of special value. This act, passed April 27, 1896 (O. L .. Vol. 92, p. 359), provides :
"That every person who, after having been convicted, sentenced and imprisoned in any workhouse for an offense committed heretofore or hereafter in this State, in violation of an ordinance of a municipality or a law of this State, shall be convicted of a second misdemeanor, whether committed in violation of an ordinance of a municipality or a law of this State, punishable by imprisonment in any workhouse within this State, shall for such second offense be punished by imprisonment for not less than double the penalty imposed upon the first offense; and in case of two previous convictions for such misde- meanors, the penalty for a third misdemeanor shall not be less than double the penalty imposed for the last of such previous misdemeanors.
"But no greater punishment shall be inflicted for the second or third misdemeanor than the maximum penalty provided for by law or ordinance for that particular offense com- mitted. Every person who, after being three times convicted, sentenced and imprisoned in any workhouse or workhouses for offenses committed heretofore or hereafter in this State, whether in violation of law or ordinance, shall be convicted of a fourth misde- meanor, whether committed in violation of an ordinance of a municipality or a law of this State, punishable by imprisonment in any workhouse in this State, shall, upon conviction for such offense. be held and deemed an habitual offender, and shall be imprisoned in a workhouse for a period of not less than one year nor more than three years."
This law has not been in force long enough to furnish statistical results, but, so far as tested. it has fulfilled expectations, and is certainly a vast improvement on previous condi- tions.
COUNTY JAILS. In each of the eighty-eight counties in Ohio there is a county jail, which is near to or adjoining the county Court House, in which prisoners awaiting trial are confined. After sentence prisoners committed for felony are transferred to the State Peni- tentiary or to the State Reformatory, and misdemeanors to a workhouse; also, to a limited extent, in counties where there are no workhouses, misdemeanors for less than thirty days' sentences are detained.
THE BOYS' INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL is Ohio's reformatory for juvenile male offend- ers. It is six miles south of Lancaster, Fairfield County, on the Hocking Hills. The State owns 1.210 acres of land in this picturesque region, and the boys are taught agriculture and horticulture to the extent of producing all the vegetables and fruit that the institution con- sumes. The institution is organized on the cottage or segregate system, is not surrounded by walls and is entirely free from bolts, bars or other suggestions of restraint. It was the first penal institution in America to make the "open system" experiment, and so success- fully was it operated that twenty-eight States have used the Lancaster school as a model.
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There are now 820 boys confined in the school for offenses against the statutes. These boys range in age from 8 to 18 years, and are serving indeterminate sentences. When received at the School they are charged with demerits corresponding in number to the nature of the crime. These demerits must be canceled by exemplary deportment in school and shop before release. When released a boy is on parole, and can be returned for mis- conduct at any time before he reaches his majority.
The boys are required to attend school one-half of each day, and are in shop or on the farm the other half. There are many trade schools where the boys were taught useful mechanical knowledge, and at the same time contribute to the comfort and support of their fellows. Chief among these trades are blacksmithing, floriculture, tailoring, baking, print- ing, carpentering. telegraphy, stenography, brickmaking, shoemaking, dairying, cooking, etc. They also operate the steam, cold storage and electric plants, the barn, laundry and
DRILL AT THE BOYS' INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL LANCASTER, OHIO
poultry plant. A boy band of forty-two pieces is maintained, and the school is organized into a regiment of three battalions, under instructions of a competent military man. Music and physical culture are also features of the training.
THE GIRLS' INDUSTRIAL HOME is situated ten miles southwest of Delaware, with which it is connected by good pikes and long-distance telephone. It is four and one- half miles from Hyatts, six from Powell, on the Columbus, Hocking Valley & Toledo Rail- road, and eight miles from Arnold, on the Toledo Division of the Ohio Central Lines. The two latter stations are connected with the home by telephone, and all are easily accessible at all seasions of the year because of the excellent pikes.
The farm comprises one hundred and eighty-nine acres on the west bank of the Scioto River. It is beautifully situated in an unusually healthful location. The grounds around the buildings are adorned with shade trees, a large portion of which are of the original growth.
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The celebrated White Sulphur Spring furnishes an abundant supply of excellent water, which is used for domestic purposes. The water flows constantly from a vein more than one hundred feet below the marble basin from which it overflows. The buildings consist of the Administration, or Central Building, in which reside the Superintendent and family, the Clerk, Storekeeper, Superintendent of Schools and a Housekeeper; eight cottages, a school building and a hospital. The latter is a valuable acquisition to the institution, fur- nishing commodious quarters for all hospital purposes and complete isolation for inmates affected with contagious diseases. In each cottage an Assistant Matron, Teacher and House- keeper, with from forty to fifty inmates, reside.
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OHIO'S PRESIDENTS
Illustrious Men of Ohio Honored by the Nation
Chief Executives of the United States from Ohio .- Ohio the Mother of Presidents .- Condensed Histories of William Henry Harrison, Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James Abram Garfield, Benjamin Harrison and William McKinley. The Greatest Sons of a Great State.
HE STATE OF OHIO has been highly honored by the selection of not less than six of her distinguished sons to the Presidency of the United States, the highest office in the gift of the greatest nation in the world. With the exception of General William Henry Harrison, all were born in Ohio, and four-Harrison, Hayes, Garfield & Mckinley-lived in the State at the time of their election to the Presidency. The first contri- bution of Ohio to the executive office of the nation was William Henry Harrison, who, however, after a life of usefulness and noble efforts in behalf of the people of the country he so loved, only occupied the great position of Chief Executive one month. Of the other Presidents, General Grant served two terms; his successor, President Hayes, occupied the office of Chief Executive for one term, declining a renomination. The next President of the United States, James Abram Garfield, died by the hand of an assassin shortly after his inauguration. The next President, elected by the people, was again a son of the great State of Ohio, Benjamin Harrison, grandson of William Henry Harrison. He also served but one term of office. The last contribution of Ohio was William Mckinley, a brother in fate to President Garfield. After the expiration of his first term of office Presi- dent McKinley was chosen for a second term, but was assassinated at Buffalo a few months after his second inauguration.
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