Evening Star Newspaper, July 24, 1929, Page 19

CRIME CONDITIONS INGOTHAM STUDIED 60 Per Cent of Welfare Island Inmates Physically or Men- tally Incapacitated. Y LEMUEL F. PARTON, Speeial Dispatch to The Star. NEW YORK, July 24—In making | ¥ 3 | ge of recidivists showing the hope- Ma first tentative move toward the | J7Crl O e prison. sentences 85 establishment of a crime laboratory, somewhat similar to that maintained | by Chicago, the City »f New York, has | revealed shocking conditions under the 1 t and most expensive prison | erstem in the world, As State officials yesterday begun an investigation to learn the causes of the vprising of 1,300 criminals at Clinton | Prison at Dannemora, the city was| awakened to the need of a thorough study of conditions in its own penal institutions. Sixty per cent of the 10,809 prisoners, sent to the penitentiary on Welfare Island last year, were either physically or mentally incapacitated. There were 3.443 prisoners serving their second term and 1,587-serving their third term, | with the figures ranging: downward to . four prisoners serving their fifty-fourth to_their sixty-fifth terms. The prison next highest in the pro- portion of diseased and insane is the Delaware State Prison, with a per- centage of 15, Other prisons in the Tinited States range around 4 and 5| city intelligently to face the next step per cent. The disparity between this percentage and the 60 per cent in New York tells the story of using jails for | and farms.” dumping grounds for the obviously in- sane and incompetent. with no scientific | or humane segregation and with no| American tractors are being used in facflities for curative treatment. | cuba to Dull sugar cane carts. Afflictions Classified. Tnstitutions® records for 1928 show penitentiary sentences for 1569 con- genital alcoholics, drug addicts, 276 cripples, 317 persons of unsound mind, 146 suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis, 39 blind, 19 deaf and dumb, 33 epileptics, 599 suffering from abrasions and_contusions, 337 cases of senility, and sufferers from a half dozen other afflictions, some of them con- genital and obviously resistant to any such correctives as jail sentences. So far as available records show. Welfare Island is the only prison where the deaf, dumb and blind, dipsomaniacs, drug addicts and cripples are sent. According to_statistics compiled lry: Joseph Fulling Fishman of the depar ment of correction, more than 15.000 men and women go to jail in New York City each year for 10 days or less and approximately 10,000 for three days and | In 1928 9 per cent of the 18,856 ‘men sentenced for definite and in- | definite_terms in New York City had served five terms or more. These rec- ords covered only the terms served n New York City, leaving open the pos- sibility, and in many cases the cer- tainty, that they had served additional terms in outside prisons. Lacks Hospital Facilities, ‘While the lack of segregation appears as a basic eause, the State lacks ade- quate hospital facilities. with its few institutions overcrowded and _insuf- ficiently staffed and financed. Having no place to send these unfortunates, it has become routine court procedure to sentence them to the penitentiary, where, a8 shown by the above figures, eome of the recidivists go back as many as 85 times. Richard C. Patterson. jr., commis- sioner of corrections, has appealed to the city for an appropriation of $153.- | 000 to form a committee of expert psychiatrists and psychologists to begin a study upon which a systematic segre- gation can be based, with the objective | of providing curative and preventive as well as punitive facilities. This has been done for 16 years in Chicago, with highly satisfactory results, in the psychopathic laboratory of the Munic- ipal Court under Dr. Willlam J. Hick- son, ‘This laboratory has examined ap- proximately 150,000 criminals and de- veloped & system of diagnosis of con- genital criminality, which, in many cases, has enabled the psychopathol- | to detect incurable criminal tendencies at an early age and predict accurately the kinds of crimes which ‘would be committed in later years. Mr. Patterson’s ‘report to Mayor walker was signed by Dr. John M. O’Connor, medical director of the de- partment of correction; Dr. Perry Radically Reduced for Summer FURNITURE Slip Covers for any 3-piece suite with 5 sepatate cushions OF genuine 50-inch imported Belgign Linen This special offer made only to keep our work shop busy during the dull Summer season. Colony ] Lichtenstein, psychiatrist; Dr. H. Stoerzer, city prison physician of Brooklyn, and Dr. Edward C. of the New York Post-Graduate Hos- pital. Declares Courts Powerless. “The entire system shows an appal- ling lack of scientific information and facilities,” said Dr. Fishman. “The blame can not be laid on any particu- lar person, but the fact is that under the present conditions, the courts can do nothing except use the jalls as a dumping ground for these hopeless and | unfit. A very large percentage of those committed to the penitentiary are not eriminal types, and are subjects for hospitalization, rather than penal in- stitutions. Entirely aside from all hu- mane considerations, there is terrible waste and futility in running these same people through the prison mill, year after year, with the rising per- deterrents. The prisoners who make up the 60 per cent are, for either physical | or mental reasons, unfit for labor in the prison. “The only explanation of this con- dition 1 the largest, and in many ways the most progressive city in the world, is that the handling of the prisoners has become routine and mechanical. It is made worse by sentences of three days, which keep the courts cluttered up with petty cases. The routine of finger printing and transferring the prisoner may take up most of the sen- tence, and when he arrives at the pris- on he is ready for release, with another routine to go through. The entire sys- lcna is a defeat of all that it tries 10 do. “A scientific approach, such as that suggested by a committee of phycho- pathologists is, in my nglnlon. the first step toward relief. While the money requested is not adequate for perma- nent or large-scale investigation, it is a beginning, and it will enable the in”continued and systematic segrega- tion and the establishment of hospitals (Copyright, 1929.) ;, Itching Ends When Zemo Touches Skin It's wonderful the way soothing, cooling Zemo brings retief {o itching | skin, sunburn, windburn and clears up } bites, pimples and rash. Even in severe | cases, ftching disappears almost as | soon as Zemo touches the skin. To ;duw out local infection and clear| | away unsightly blemishes there's | nothing better than invisible Zemo. Always keep this family antiseptic on | hand. Use it freely. It's safe as can be. | 35¢. 60c _A!ld $1.00. | ' AKRON | CLEVELAND July 27-28 Tickets good in regular | coaches on Train No. 7. Leaves | Washington ......7:35P.M. Saturday, July 27th | | Arrives Akron. . ..sse0 . 6:55AM. _Cleveland .......8:10 AM. Returning on Train No. 20 | Leaves | Akron : : Sunday, July 28th Denim SLIP COVERS for any 3 -piece suite 28.88 w Our regular 85¢ grade Colony denim that will last for many years. On Sale—Second Floor THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTO D, C, WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 1929. % PALAIS ROYAL Another Great Collection of Smartest Summer from far and near the mothers come for . « . . 1l Thursday—Baby Day Each week its fame spreads, for mothers tell each other of the wonderful spe- cials and unusual offerings. Here is what we've prepared for tomorrow: A Regular $12.50 32-Piece Layette 0.95 12 Diapers, 20x4¢ 1 Large Rubber 2 Shlr't‘l Sheet 2 Bands 1 Quilted Pad Handmade Dresses : fi"“:fl" e 1 Castile Soap and Gertrudes Dicsscs. 1 Baby Powder 1 Box of Tips 2 Flannelette 1 59 : Gertrudes 1 Baby Blanket * 2 Flannel=tte 2 Pairs Crochet Gowns Booties Regularly $195 — ger- e pmsce mana v | and a wonderful collection of sizes; dresses hand em- specials at one price broidered, too. Elastic back Summer Hats of sheer organdy in white and colors. Large Red Rubbber Sheets with Eyelets....2 for $1 18x18 Quilted Pads .4 for $§1 Crochet Booties, pink or blue 2 for $1 Muslin Panties, 2 to 6 .S for S1 Pink and Blue Kopak Pillow 2 for $1 Irifants’ Store—Third Floor probably a hundred hats here—so you can see what choice there is! Clearance of Hats these weve $10 hats originally recently reduced SMART SHAPES SMART COLORS i SMART STYLES These are all straw hats—of various kinds —in the Summer’'s most desirable colors and shapes. They are hats for dress or general wear and models for vouthful— or not-so-youthful faces. All head sizes included. Millinery—Third Floor with such a big choice you’ll find just what you want ‘800 Pcs. Summer Lingerie crisp, cool cottons of dainty weave in snowy white or colors PATAMAS FRENCH NIGHTGOWNS _PANTIES DANCE SETS CHEMISE Made of fine dimiti sheer voiles, fine nai: sooks and soft ba- tistes, these attractive ol o little garments are just i \éh:t you'll like for T Summer wear...for NUIJIL‘ they are cool, dainty—and ay be | easily freshened. Plain tailored or lace trimmed styles. Imported Handmade Gowns From Porto Rico or the Philippines— lovely garments of ° fine quality nainsook or batiste, beautifully embroidered, scalloped and in appli- que effects, White and pastel shades. New Vagabond Pajamas, 2.98 Of super-ray rayon in white and red, white and black, made with tue long, wide trousers, tuck-in walst and vagabond scarfs: 2.Pc. Novelty Pajamas, 2.98 ‘These are of crepe, broadcloth, dimity or batiste in colorful de- signs_ and in gay stripes, floral or conventional patterns all sizes. Third Floor we’ll have plenty more hot weather to enjoy these! Men’s and Young Men’s Hot Weather Suits YOU’LL NEVER KNOW REAL SUMMER COMFORT TILL YOU WEAR A SUMMER SUIT 139 ; Ask the man who wears one of these comfortable suits what he thinks...he'll' tell you what a relief it is, after wearing a heavy suit! These are perfectly tailored and made up in the season’s newest patterns. dll of genuine Palm Beach cloth Choose neat stripes, plaids or plain colors, in tan, gray, blue or mixtures. They are rayon trim- med throughout. All sizes... 34 to 4. Men’s Store—Main Floor glorious colors . . . lovely silks . . . and stunning fashions make this a wonderful presentation Think of it...a really smart, daintily made new frock for as little as $8. At such a price you'll want two or three! They are gay, youthful looking models in a hewitching array of down-to-the- minute styles—dresses to wear on a vacation trip—dresses to wear in town—dresses for afternoon and informal dinner wear— and not one in the whole group is a cent more than $8. flowered chiffons cool white silks dainty pastel crepes airy georgeltes washable silks flowery prints novelty sports silks striped silks many flat crepes sleeveless sports dresses frocks with bows some with lace touches two-piece effects youthful jacket dresses deep cape styles many with colored pipings bertha collar styles swathed hiplines Dresses—Third Floor Dresses for Women and Misses '3 An enchanting array of colors...plenty of white ...the new pastels... duckling yellows...vi- vid-hued prints. . .flow- ered combinations . . . and many more. it’s economy to get what yow’ll need later when you can buy it cheaply! Newly Arranged Lots of the Famous Dorothy Dodd Summer Footwear HUNDREDS OF PAIRS OF THE SEASON’S MOST DESIRABLE LASTS AND LEATHERS IN AN EVENTFUL -DISPOSAL Ties, straps and pumps in black, white and colored leathers and kidskins are all included in this gres Summer sale. You know the high qu able smartness of this famous brand— and you’ll know how wonderful, then, they are for these prices! $6 and $6.50 ties, straps $7.50 and $8.50 .pumps, $10 and pumps are now straps and smart ties are marked included at $ 4.45 $ 5.45 Shoes—Second Floor and novelty shoes are ality, the unmistak- models of fine dress to go at §7.65 THE charming affairs of crisp cotton . . . in young, breezy styles . . . and adorable colors TWO FAMOUS MAKES— L’AIGLON AND HUBRITE You'll love them! And you'll rave about their quality —and smartness—and making—at such a very, very modest price! They’re the kind of frocks that you'd get if you picked out expensive cotton materials yourself—just the colors—just the designs. And they’re made the way you'd like them to be—and are, oh, ever so smart! snow white grounds with small flower patterns . . . or gay, bold designs . . . or linens in lovely plain colors refreshingly cool and dainty dresses . . . and at such a low price! Important Sale of Voile Dresses 2.98 SOFT, FINE BATISTE SHEER VOILES CRISP TISSUES HANDKERCHIEF LINENS They're the kind of frocks you can wear any where under the sun—and enjoy wearing them too, for they're so smart and so cool and so comfortable. All the little details of making and finish will delight you! Sleeves—or sleeveless. 16 to 44 46 to 50 ‘Wash Dresses—Third Floor