A matter of great importance to our Commonwealth, to cite a case--a
girl of fourteen years was recently convicted of petty larceny,
sentenced to prison for three months. Appeal for mercy, on the
ground of first offence, did not avail. But to jail, to be influenced
for a worse career, instead of a reformative effect. The courts could
not be held accountable for this state of affairs. Indeed it would be
hard to find anywhere a more conscientious and just judge than Judge
Biddle, before whom the case came. Our Judges are not lawmakers,
and must interpret the law as it exists, and follow the statutory
provisions enacted by the Legislature, and there is no discretionary
or limited powers. It is deplorable that offenders of tender years
should not receive intelligent and discriminating treatment under
the law. But the fault is in the inadequacy of the law. Pennsylvania
seems to be far behind some other States in penal, and particularly in
reformative legislation respecting children. In other States, notably
Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Massachusetts, legislation has been provided
for juvenile and adult offenders, which has already born much fruit and
promises greater results for the future. The working of the probation
system in Massachusetts--where it has been in operation nine years
appears to have more than justified the hopes of those who introduced
the reforms. In Massachusetts more than 5,000 are released annually
on probation, and the relapses to criminal life are very few. The
system seems specially adapted to minors. There is every reason why
Pennsylvania should take some forward step in enacting laws relating to
young offenders.
Where modern legislation of this character has been tried it has had
very great beneficial influence in reforming offenders and saving them
from a criminal life, and in addition has saved the State money.
Where we were clearly shown at the last National Prison Congress, that
our actual cost of crime in Philadelphia was $3.50 per capita for the
whole population of the country, equal to $3,250,000 for this city it
seems appalling, and we need to use the best known methods of reform to
lessen the exacting taxation.
THE POLICE MATRONS at our station-houses have all proved well chosen
and competent helps to the distressed wife and children, and to many
a young girl who has commenced a life of shame brought under their
observation by the officers. The entire number of women reported by
the sixteen matrons, during the fiscal year as under their charge was
4,233. Of these many were aged, demented and homeless; those lost or
seeking shelter were 773. Many were young, some strangers in the city,
and to city life, who were restored, by a little effort, to respectable
homes; some victims of the crimes of others or shamed and discouraged
by disgrace.
The entire number of children reported is 2,978. Brought by parents,
279. Brought on personal charges for offences, 756. Lost, 1,498. The
monthly reports of these devoted Matrons, to the Associated Committees,
are filled with special cases of interest, and stir all true devotion
to earnestness to devise new plans to reach and help the sufferers.
Mrs. L. W. Fletcher of the 6th District and Mrs. J. Poole of the 19th
District are the oldest matrons in the work, having held appointment
since September, 1886. Mrs. Fletcher has to do with that known as the
tenderloin section, Eleventh street above Race. Within this district
dwells a larger portion of girls and women whose vocation makes them
liable to arrest more than any of the other thirty districts. Mrs.
Fletcher has proved well-fitted for the work, the combination of good
common sense, sympathetic gentleness and determined spirit which is
hers, is one that is needed in the Sixth District more than any other
perhaps. Mrs. Fletcher speaks of the many unfortunate girls brought
to her as “her girls.” “They are to be pitied as much as condemned.
Force of circumstances, I have learned, drives the majority of them
into the lives they lead. Contact with them has taught me that few of
them are wholly bad. Many can be made to see the folly of vice and led
to abandon it.” She speaks authoritatively, and keeps track of many
reclaimed, who are happy in their several employments as wage-earners,
and owe their present happiness to her timely advice and sympathy.
Chinatown is in this division, and it exerts its worst influence; but
kindness wins. They are not locked up in cells, but the matron places
them in an upper room or ward. The matron is very seldom used roughly,
her appearance seems to command respect, even from the most abandoned.
She often accompanies them to court trial, and it is a comfort to them,
they never fail to appreciate.
All our seventeen police matrons seem to be well-fitted for their work.
Some of our lieutenants who have heretofore opposed having matrons for
the female portion at station-houses, are beginning to see the folly of
their former judgment. Our statute law requires every station-house to
have a matron. Why is it not obeyed in the other fourteen districts?
WOMAN’S PRISON.--The women of the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., are urging
the establishment there of a Woman’s Prison. How much better if it
were a Reformatory. This is sadly needed in State of Pennsylvania,
and especially in Philadelphia for the 350 women in our Penitentiary,
County Prison and House of Correction; at the present time there is a
movement to ask the Legislature to establish a Reformatory prison for
women in the eastern part of Pennsylvania.
[Illustration: MRS. L. W. FLETCHER,