Progress in Nebraska.—According to the Lincoln (Neb.) Journal, “one year ago Warden Fenton took up his duties at the Nebraska penitentiary. During the year he has organized the work at the prison in many ways. The honor system has been used among the convicts both in and out of the prison. At some times fifty men have been working in various parts of Lancaster county, unattended by guards and making no effort to escape. Not one prisoner has escaped from the penitentiary itself during the year. Baron von Werner was one man who broke his word to the prison authorities and since he was recaptured at Woodstock, Ill., has been deprived of the privileges which he previously enjoyed. He had been taken to the home of Chaplain Johnson at Tecumseh for a visit and escaped from that town. Warden Fenton is pleased with the spirit of co-operation which exists between the prison officials and the convicts. He says that most of the prisoners are assisting in maintaining order and that they realize that every effort to help them is being made. The suppression of the dope traffic is one of the reforms which Warden Fenton feels has been the most important act of his administration.”
Commissioner Randall on the Training of Judges.—At the Twentieth Century Club in Boston recently, Commissioner Randall urged that the great law institutions should have special courses in penology. “The law students of to-day become your district attorneys and judges of tomorrow. They should have some knowledge of the science which treats on public punishments in respect to the public and the sufferer.
“Most lawyers,” he added, “know little or nothing of penology. There are 100,000 persons in prison today for felony. More than 12,000 defectives are freed each year who cannot care for themselves. Thus we have an army of defence (meaning soldiers) and an army of offence of about equal numbers.”
A Sad Commentary on Prison Labor.—Pieces of wood from almost every interesting spot in history, and from practically all of the countries of the globe, are contained in a table constructed by John H. Abraham, of Percy, while he was a prisoner in the Western Penitentiary.
The table consists of 25,497 pieces and is 56 inches in diameter. In the center is a star representing King Solomon, from which radiate 1,000 pieces of wood, representing his wives. Six Masonic emblems also surround the center panel; in another panel is an exact copy of the log cabin in which Abraham Lincoln was born, the wood used having been taken from the original cabin in Kentucky. Surrounding the Masonic emblems are 48 stars to represent the number of States in the Union.