The necessity for the erection of the death house as the first of the group of the new penitentiary buildings is evident when it is remembered that death by hanging is now abolished by law, and that at present no person condemned to death can be executed until the facilities for electrocution have been provided.
The Crucial Period.—A prisoner writes, in “Good Words,” as follows: “There is no other situation incident to mortal life more powerfully conducive to searching and even creative thought than is enforced sojourn in a great prison. This is true of every inmate in his degree; but in all prisons there are a number of prisoners who, in the outer world, had been accustomed to apply the energy of strong and able intellects to dealing with the problems of external life—chiefly, of course, such are concerned with wresting wealth and position from the world. When these men are suddenly removed from their activities and prevented from further use of their faculties on the lines they have been pursuing, a phenomenon of singular psychological interest takes place. The immense mental energy which the man has hitherto been applying to the management of material things, is suddenly and violently thrown back upon himself, and it generally creates there, at first, a condition of bewilderment and distress. In the majority of cases, however, this chaotic state will be of brief continuance: a reaction occurs, and the man now directs the force which had been used in the ordering and subjugation of concrete matters, to the region of the immaterial—that is, of thought. He begins for the first time—and he has time to spare—to investigate and dissect the causes of things; to determine what are the principles and objects of existence, and of his own part in it; to ask himself what is worth doing, and avoiding, and why; and to measure and weigh the scope and value of his personal abilities and resources. The result of such an investigation must be worth; and the benefit of it might be, and should be imparted to others, instead of remaining shut up in the man’s private breast.”
STATEMENT OF THE OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, ETC. of THE DELINQUENT.
Published monthly at New York, N. Y., required by the Act of August 24th, 1912.
| NAME OF | POST OFFICE ADDRESS |
| Editor, O. F. Lewis, | 135 East 15th St., New York City. |
| Managing Editor, O. F Lewis, | ““““““ |
| Business Manager, O. F. Lewis, | ““““““ |
| Publisher, The National Prisoners’ Aid Association, | ““““““ |
| Owners,“““““ | ““““““ |
There are no bondholders, mortgagees, or other security holders.
O. F. Lewis, Editor and Business Manager.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 30th day of September, 1913.
Charles D. Immen, Jr., Notary Public No. 2, New York County.
My Commission expires March 31, 1914.