Vice-Chancellor McCoun presided at the meeting; Rev. Dr. Spring and Gen. Prosper M. Wetmore were vice-presidents; John L. O'Sullivan and John Jay were secretaries. Addresses were made by Isaac T. Hopper, Prof. Tellkampf, Rev. W. H. Channing and Judge Edmonds. The address of Judge Edmonds was carefully prepared, and embraced most of the topics pertinent to the subject of reformatory discipline, while Dr. Channing dwelt more especially upon the need that an association be organized, as he stated it: "First, to insure the permanent establishment of the reformatory system in our penitentiaries amidst all accidents of change in administration; and, second, to produce such a spirit of humanity and justice in the community at large as will 'lift up the hands that hang down, and, the feeble knees, and make straight paths, lest the lame be turned out of the way.'" It will be observed that Dr. Channing's first proposition contains the germ of the recent amendment of our Constitution in regard to the government of prisons. At that meeting the Prison Association of New York was formed. Its objects have been already suggested in the extracts made from Judge Edmonds' papers. They are, however, thus stated in its constitution:

"1. The amelioration of the condition of prisoners, whether detained for trial or finally convicted, or as witnesses.

"2. The improvement of prison discipline and the government of prisons, whether for cities, counties or States.

"3. The support and encouragement of reformed convicts after their discharge, by affording them the means of obtaining an honest livelihood, and sustaining them in their efforts at reform."

In this movement Judge Edmonds had the co-operation of many eminent and philanthropic men and women. But it is doing no injustice to any one to say that none were in advance of him. The drafts of the circulars calling the first meeting were in his handwriting, and so are the programmes for the first and other public meetings of the Society. The draft of the Charter is in his handwriting, and preserved among his papers.

From the day the Association was organized, to the day of his death, Judge Edmonds was its faithful friend and servant. He was a regular attendant upon the monthly meetings of the Executive Board, and Chairman of its Prison Discipline committee. The reports of that committee, drawn by him, are most effective arguments in favor of the reforms from time to time suggested by the Association, and a valuable contribution to the literature of reformatory science. Many of them are incorporated in the annual reports of the Society. Two of more recent date may here be noticed. One in the year 1870, upon the moral and financial condition of the prisons of the State, which was subsequently adopted as a memorial on behalf of the Association to the Governor,

in favor of an amendment to the Constitution, placing the State Prisons beyond the influence of partisan politics, is an unanswerable argument in favor of the idea which, at the last election, was incorporated into the fundamental law of the State by the amendment under which Mr. Pilsbury now holds his appointment. The other is a report for 1873, equally elaborate and conclusive, in favor of the adoption of "a general system which shall include all prisons, local as well as general, for the juvenile and the insane, as well as workhouses and houses of correction."

A sketch of the work of the Prison Association does not belong here. Its thirty-three years of service have culminated in the adoption of the Constitutional Amendment which secures the State Prisons from the contingencies incident to political changes; in recent laws for improvement in reformatory discipline; and in the creation of a State agency for the care of discharged convicts. Its thirty-three annual reports, which, however, contain but a part of its history, are a most important addition to the statistics and discussions bearing upon questions of reformatory science. No student can afford to pass them by.

While Judge Edmonds took part in this work in its larger aspects, he did not neglect its details. A most voluminous correspondence has been preserved, showing his care for and interest in individual cases. Both while on the bench and afterwards, when in full practice at the bar, he hunted up persons who had been discharged; he visited them at their lodgings; he advised with them; he sought out their friends; he obtained for them employment.

But Judge Edmonds was not a mere sympathizer with the suffering prisoner. He believed in the rigorous infliction of just penal sentences. This is strikingly shown in his letters to Gov. Fenton in 1868, on the pardoning power, in which he answers the various suggestions made in favor of pardons, contending that the reforms introduced within the last twenty years had excluded, as grounds of pardon, the elements of remorse, repentance and reform, while previous good character was to be considered by a jury on the trial of a cause. He insisted that the pardoning power had no place in our system of criminal jurisprudence, except to correct errors into which our courts may fall, or to provide for events occurring or brought to light after the trial and conviction of the accused. He asks, "upon what principle was it, that one, two or a few should be selected out of this large number as the exclusive recipients of this reward? Simply because the favored ones had influential friends outside who could present their cases to the Governor, while the poor unfriended and deserted ones, though just as well- nay! even more entitled to the reward, were of necessity overlooked," and he insisted "that it was just as essential that the exercise of the pardoning power

12

should be governed by an abiding principle as it is that any other part of the administration of justice should be so governed."

As Judge Edmonds began in this work, so he ended. The last paper from his pen, prepared early in 1874, is entitled "Points submitted by the Prison Association in conference with the Board of Prison Inspectors." The preliminary propositions are quoted here. These are stated with the precision and severe beauty which characterized everything that came from his pen.

"GENERAL PRINCIPLE. To ameliorate, as much as possible, a government of force, and extend in its place one of justice and kindness; and to that end, consider the following topics:

I. Classification of Prisoners. This cannot be carried out in full without a rebuilding of our prisons, but such attention can be paid to the subject as will do a good deal toward preventing contamination of the young by too free intercourse with the old offenders.

II. Education. By establishing it as a fixed and invariable rule, that no prisoner shall leave the prisons without being able to read.

III. Over-stent. — (1) Adopt such arrangement as will give to all the same opportunities for this as is now enjoyed by the laborers from contractors. (2) To have it under the control of the officers, and not left to an arrangement between the contractors and the prisoner. (3) To have the time of its payment to the prisoner to be entirely under the control of the prison officers, so that the contractors shall never pay directly to the prisoner.

IV. Commutation. (1) To have this, in all cases, the result of a formal and deliberate judgment, and not the result of a mere examination of the conduct and punishment reports. (2) To see if some mode may not be devised by which life prisoners may enjoy the benefit of this measure.

V. Miscellaneous. - (1) Seats and tables in cells. (2) Gas-light for reading in cells. (3) Bodily exercise on Sundays. (4) Such provision that no one shall be idle, especially in the female prison.

VI. Inquiry into the condition and discipline of State prisoners in local penitentiaries. To have some measure devised whereby they shall be placed under the supervision of State officers."

-

Judge Edmonds lived long enough to be assured by events that the reforms for which he had so long contended would receive formal official sanction, and be carried out in actual practice by prison officers kindred to him in spirit and in talent. Deliberate public actions since his death have made most of these reforms legislative and administrative facts.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT,
A. W. SHELDON.

To the Executive Committee of the Prison Association of New York:

The General Agent in behalf of the two committees which he represents, respectfully submits the following as the report of his labors in the detention and discharged prisoners' departments.

In all efforts looking towards the reformation of the prisoners they must be dealt with as individuals, and not as a class. It is impossible to treat them as a whole after they are released from imprisonment. The moment they pass the prison door they resume their individuality, and a different mode of treatment must be adopted from that pursued in prison, where the same disciplinary measures are exercised over all. It will be found necessary to deal individually with each man according to his character and capacity. So, too, in advising and counseling those who are awaiting trial; for the shrewdest criminal will, in most instances, assume an air of injured innocence, and speak of the injustice of the law which holds him rightfully within its grasp, and thus secure the sympathy of the visitor, while the less guilty and deserving will suffer in silence unless sought out. Often there are seen the most notorious criminals surrounded by a sympathizing throng, while the obscure offender-in prison for the first time, and perhaps, through no direct fault of his own is passed by unheeded.

Those released from prisons where there is no organized system of industry, as has been true in certain penitentiaries, or even where there is but one branch of manufacturing carried on, or where each prisoner is forced into an employment for which he has no fitness, regardless of his former occupation, are not benefited in a way that will enable them to profit by what they have been taught, after their release; and, as a consequence, they are no better fitted for honest employment, and are easily led back into crime. A variety of occupations and a wise discrimination in assigning men to a particular branch of labor, would remedy many of the evils which exist in the prisons, and would be productive of good to the prisoner, not only during his term of confinement, but after his discharge.

The number who have applied for the first time for relief during the past year, at the office of the General Agent, was one thousand and thirty-one; while the whole number of applications from all sources,

including those who had been relieved on other occasions, was nearly two thousand. Large as this number is, few were turned emptyhanded away, but all were aided in some manner, and in a way that seemed best suited to their requirements. Nearly all were in a destitute condition, and stood in pressing need of immediate help, few being able to provide for themselves for even a short period.

Whenever it seemed desirable and was practicable, the Association has sent the discharged man out of the city, away from temptation and his old companions, to home, friends or employment, and even when there was no definite offer of work, it has frequently been considered advisable to remove him as far as possible from all the evil influences which formerly surrounded him, believing that his chances for work were greater out of the city than in it, and the prospects of his reformation improved. Upwards of 200 during the year have been transported to various places, near and remote, and the reports which have been received, indicate that many of them are doing well, and prove the wisdom of the policy of removing the discharged prisoner from the scene of his crime to where the history of his past life and disgrace are known only to himself.

Nearly every man upon his release, or very shortly afterwards, stands greatly in need of some additional articles of clothing, as that received at the prison is wholly insufficient. Especially is this true of those dis charged from some of our penitentiaries where no provision is made to furnish each prisoner with garments suitable for the season. As in past years, the Association has endeavored, as far as possible, to remedy this neglect on the part of the authorities by supplying prisoners with the required articles, which are obtained either through purchase or from contributions of cast-off clothing. During the past year, however, we have received little from the latter source, and consequently have been unable to supply the frequent demands made upon us; ninety-four, however, were supplied with garments wholly or in part. In some of the institutions we are glad to say this question of properly clothing a man upon the expiration of his sentence is receiving more attention than formerly.

Whenever a man is prevented from accepting a situation because he lacks the necessary tools, they are, when the expense is not too great, purchased by the Association. So few comparatively, however, have trades, or are able to get situations at that for which they are the best fitted and have the most knowledge, that only fifty-four men possessing trades applied to us for tools. In seasons of business depression, the workingman, when once out of employment, unless he is a skilled mechanic, finds it exceedingly difficult to obtain employment.