Biennial report of the State's Prison

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BIENNIAL REPORT
OF
THE STATE'S PRISON
RALEIGH, N. C.
1919-1920
RALEIGH
COMMBBCIAL PBTNTINO COMPANY, STATB PBINTBRB AND BINDERS
1921
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
To His Excellency, T. W. Bickett,
Governor of North Carolina.
Sir:—^We, the Board of Directors of the State's Prison, beg to hand
you herewith the reports of Mr. J. R. Collie, Superintendent of the
State's Prison, Mr. S. J. Busbee, Warden, the financial report of Mr.
E. F. McCulloch, Clerk, and the report of Dr. J. H. Gorman, Physician,
embodied in the Superintendent's report, covering the years 1919-20.
These reports have been read, considered and formally approved and
adopted by us.
"We desire especially to acknowledge our indebtedness to Mr. J. R.
Collie, Superintendent; Mr. E. F. McCulloch, Clerk, and Mr. S. J. Bus-bee,
Warden, for their hearty cooperation with us in all matters per-r
taining to the management of the institution.
Very respectfully,
H. B. Varner, Chairman.
W. M. Sanders.
A, E. Smith.
B. F. Shelton.
Frank Gough,
—2
STATE PRISON
RALEIGH
This institution was founded by an act of the General Assembly, ratified
the 12th day of April, A. D. 1SG9, entitled "An Act to Provide for the Erection
of a Penitentiary." Reference is made to the act cited, and also to the Report
of the Commission to Erect a Penitentiary, Document No. 18, Legislative
Documents, 1868-70.
The prison building is a magnificent brick structure, erected upon granite
foundation. The prison wall is of granite, and is twenty feet in height and
six feet broad at the top, and its base is said to extend sixteen feet below the
surface. The building and wall are estimated to have cost the State more
than a million and a quarter dollars.
The institution is situated about one mile west of the Capitol on the exten-sion
of Morgan Street and near Hillsboro road.
The affairs of the prison are administered by a board of five directors
appointed by the Governor.
The Dangerous Insane Department is maintained out of the State Prison
earnings.
SUMMABY
Founded 1869
Number buildings 2
Cost (estimated by prison authorities) $1,225,000
Number of inmates 813
Liabilities None
SUPERINTENDEiNTS
W. T. Hicks Wake
Paul F. Faison Wake
A. Leazar Iredell
Jno. R. Smith Wayne
J. M. Mewborne Lenoir
W. H. Day Wake
J. S. Mann Hyde
J. J. Laughinghouse Pitt
J. S. Mann Hyde
J. R. Collie Franklin
Board of Directors
H. B. Varner, Chairman Lexington
W. M. Sanders Smithtield
A. E. Smith Mount Airy
B. F. Shelton Speed
Frank Gough Lumberton
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT COLLIE
To the Honorable Board of Directors of the State Penitentiary:
According to law, I respectfully submit to you for consideration my report
as Superintendent of the Prison for the biennial period beginning December
1, 1918, and ending November 30, 1920.
Since the submission and acceptance of my last biennial report by your
honorable body a great many radical changes have taken place in the opera-tion
of the prison and its policies, and while you gentlemen may be able to
recall in a general way the many things that have come before you for your
consideration and action, it is my intention in this report to cover as briefly
as possible the operation of the prison for the past two years, so that in the
future it may be a matter of complete record and that you may have before
you an idea of the great amount of work that has been done under your
guidance.
The General Assembly at its regular session in 1918 amended the act "To
Regulate the Treatment, Handling, and Work of Prisoners," as passed by that
body in 1917, which amendment, in my opinion, has given us an almost perfect
law and guide in prison work.
The greatest drawback that we encounter in working under this act is the
present policy of the State, which undoubtedly the county chain-gang system
is responsible for, and that is the class of prisoners which are received at the
State Prison. In fact, it has almost narrowed itself down to two classes, the
larger being the feeble and afflicted or nonproducing class, the other the long-termed
or desperate criminal.
The public demands that the prison shall not be a burden upon the taxpayers
of the State, but with the two classes of prisoners mentioned above as our
wage-earners, the problem of self-support is yearly becoming more difficult.
If criminals are to be imprisoned for the protection of society and the
future prevention of crime, it is my opinion that financial gain to the prison
from their work should be a matter of secondary importance.
However, through the period covered by this report we have been confronted
with the highest prices in the cost of living and clothing that the prison has
ever gone through, but we have at all times been able to furnish the inmates
of the Central Prison and all the camps substantial and wholesome food, com-fortable
clothing according to season, and have kept within our income.
As stated in a former report, the comfort of a prisoner has more to do with
reducing insubordination than any one thing connected with the prison life
that has come under my observation.
Population
The population of the penitentiary on December 1, 1918, and the distribution
of prisoners was as follows
:
Central Prison
:
White males 54
White females 10
Colored males ^ 52
Colored females 14
Total population 130
6 Biennial Report of State's Prison
State Farm
:
White males Si'
Colored males 259
Colored females 23
Total population farm 364
Hardaway Constructlou Company
:
White males 78
Colored males 18S
Total 266
"Total number of prisoners 760
Dangerous Insane Department:
White males — 26
White females 2
Colored males 28
• Colored females 6
Total 58,
The population of the penitentiary on November 30, 1920, and the distribu-tion
of prisoners was as follows
:
Central Prison
:
White males 47
White females 6
Colored males 54
Colored females 29
Total 136
State Prison Farm, Camp Polk
:
White males 68
Colored males 117
Total 185
State Fai-m, Caledonia
:
White males ^ . 1
Colored males 40
Total 41
BiENiViAL Kepokt of State's Prison 7
Highway Camps for Road Construction
:
Surry County, colored males 38
Gaston County, colored males 38
Durham—Chapel Hill road, white males GO
Stanley—Montgomery County, white males 49
Alamance County, colored males 40
Martin County, colored males 47
Duplin County, colored males 38
Wake County Rock Quarry, colored males _ 27
Xash County, colored males 54
Total 391
Total number prisoners 753
Dangerous Insane Department
:
'
White males 25
White females 3
Colored males 27
Colored females 5
Total 60
The Caledonia State Farm
The Caledonia State Farm on Roanoke River at the making of the last-report,
December 1, 1919, had just harvested a splendid crop, in fact the only
full crop that had been grown on this farm during the present administration.
The floods of 1917 cut our crop short. Until July 1, 1919, the crops were in
splendid condition and promised to be better than the 1918 crop, but during
that month continuous rains and high water in Roanoke River caused the dike
surrounding the farm to break, and of the 7,300 acres contained in the State
farm, more than 4.000 acres, following this break, were under water for more
than a week, and of course as the water receded the crops went out with it.
As a matter of fact, there was no corn raised at all on the farm, and the
cotton production was materially reduced.
The General Assembly at its regular session had passed and ratified, on the
21st day of February, 1919, the following act
:
An Act to Tran.sfek the State's Prison Buildings and Grounds at Raleigh
TO the State Hospital at Raleigh, and to Transfer the Prisoners to
the Caledonia Farm.
The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact:
Section 1. That the lands and buildings in the western part of the city of
Raleigh, now occupied and used as the State's Prison and the State Hospital
for the Dangerous Insane, be and the same is herel)y transferred to the board
of directors of the hospital for the insane, incorporated under the name of the
"State Hospital at Raleigh," and their successors, the actual and physical
transfer to and possession of the State Hospital at Raleigh, to take effect as
8 Biennial Report of State's Prison
soon as arrangements can be and have been made by the directors of the
State's Prison for the care and custody of the prisoners now occupying tliat
property, at the Caledonia farm in Halifax County, or such other place as the
General Assembly may hereafter provide.
Sec. 2. That the management, warden's and office forces, prisoners, and
State's Prison property and equipment be transferred from said prison building
to the Caledonia farm in Halifax County as soon as the directors of the State's
Prison can prepare for and make such transfer, which shall be commenced
and carried on forthwith and without delay, unless the General Assembly shall
hereafter direct said transfer to be made elsewhere.
Sec. 3. That the directors of the State's Prison are hereby authorized and
directed to use such of the prison funds as may be necessary to prepare the
necessary buildings on the State farm, or such other place as the General
Assembly may hereafter direct, for the care of the prisoners which are moved
from the State's Prison at Raleigh.
Sec. 4. That upon the completion of transfer of the State's Prison to the
State farm, or to such other place as the General Assembly may hereafter
direct, and any alterations that may be necessary to provide suitable accom-modations
for the insane at the State's Prison, the Council of State are hereby
authorized to have transferred from the State Hospital at Morganton, the
State Hospital at Raleigh, and the Caswell Training School at Kinston, such
number and such classes of the inmates of said hospitals and training school
to the State Hospital at Raleigh as in their discretion may be comfortably
cared for and maintained in the State's Prison building, and such persons so
transferred as herein provided shall be under the supervision and direction
of the authorities of the State Hospital at Raleigh.
That in order to care for the patients so transferred until the next meeting
of the General Assembly, the Council of State is hereby authorized and em-powered
and directed, and it shall be their duty, to cause to be paid by the
State Treasurer, upon warrant of the State Auditor to the Superintendent for
the Insane at Raleigh, a sufficient amount monthly after such transfer to meet
the additional expenditures made necessary by such transfer : Provided, said
amount shall not exceed the pro rata per capita cost of maintenance of said
patients in the hospital and training school.
Sec. 5. That all negro prisoners or negro inmates now confined in the State
Hospital for the Dangerous Insane be transferred from the State Hospital for
the Dangerous Insane to the hospital at Goldsboro, N. C, as soon as the neces-sary
accommodations can be provided at Goldsboro for such prisoners and
inmates.
Sec. G. Tliat all laws and clauses of laws in conflict with this act are hereby
repealed.
Sec. 7. That this act shall be in force from and after its ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times, and ratified this 21st day of
February, 1919.
Following the introduction in the General Assembly of the above bill, and
prior to its final passage, a legislative committee in a body visited the Gale-
Biennial Report of State's Prison 9
donia farm, and upon their return the following bill was introduced, became
an act, and was ratified on March 10, 1919
:
An Act to Provide for the Location of the State's Prison, and to Issue
Bonds Therefor
Whereas, by an act of the present General Assembly (H. B. 212, S. B. 407),
ratified February 21, 1919, the land and buildings of the State's Prison at
Raleigh were transferred to the State Hospital at Raleigh, and thus became
. a part of the same ; and
Whereas the prisoners therein confined were, so soon as the directors of the
State's Prison could make the necessary arrangements, to be transferred to
the Caledonia farm "or such other place as the General Assembly may here-after
provide" : Now, therefore, to make such provision
—
The General Assemhly of North Carolina do enact:
Section 1. The directors of the State's Prison are hereby authorized and
empowered, by the unanimous vote of the Board of Directors, together with
the approval of the Governor, to choose some place other than the Caledonia
farm for the location of the State's Prison.
Sec. 2. The Board of Directors shall use the sum of one hundred thousand
dollars provided by the sale of bonds or notes in the purchase of a site and
the erection of buildings thereon if the said board shall choose another location
in the way and manner provided in section one of this act.
Sec. 3. If a place other than the Caledonia farm shall be selected for the
State's Prison, as herein provided, then the new State's Prison shall be com-plete
and ready for occupation and use as such within two years from the
ratification of this act.
Sec 4. The Board of Directors of the State's Prison are authorized and
empowered, in their discretion, to tear down the granite wall south of the
present State's Prison at Raleigh and remove the material for use in the erec-tion
of a new building or buildings on the site selected as herein provided.
Sec 5. If the Board of Directors of the State's Prison shall fail to choose
some place other than the Caledonia farm as the location of the State's Prison,
then the said Caledonia Farm shall be its location, as provided in the act
ratified February 21, 1919.
Sec G. That in the event the said Board of Directors shall sell the Cale-donia
farm in the way and manner provided by law, the said board shall first
pay into the State Treasury the sum of one hundred thousand dollars, or such
sum as may be necessary to refund the amount received from the sale of State
bonds or notes. Said board shall have the right to use the funds derived from
the sale of said farm, to an amount not to exceed four hundred thousand
dollars, for the purpose of providing a State's Prison on the new site.
Sec 7. That this act shall be in force and effect from and after its ratifica-tion.
In the General Asseml)]y read three times and ratified this the 10th day
of March, 1919.
The board, having in mind the wishes of the Legislature, had planned to
offer the farm for sale early in the fall of 1919, but, owing to the break in the
dike and the destruction of the growing crops, the matter of sale was held
10 Biennial Report of State's Prison
up to see wliat could be done in the way of rebuilding the dike, which, upon
examination, was fovind not only to have been broken by the pressure of
water but the old outlet through the dike was in no shape, following this
flood, to protect the farm. Therefore, in addition to rebuilding the dike we
were called upon to construct a concrete outlet through the dike, all of which
was done at a cost in round numbers for actual labor and material bought
of $45,000.
When this work was completed your board, still having in mind the man-dates
of the Legislature, it was again decided to attempt to dispose of the
farm, and on the 14th day of November, 1919, the board met in the Governor's
office and after a thorough discussion of the matter, and by and with the
approval of the Governor, entered into a contract by and with Allen Brothers
of Raleigh to subdivide and offer the Caledonia farm for sale at public auction
on December 4, 1919 ; the terms of the sale to be one-fourth cash and the
balance in one, two. and three years, with 6 per cent interest annually on all
deferred payments ; the said Allen Brothers guaranteeing the proceeds of said
sale to the State not to be less than $500,000.
Following the agreement entered into with Allen Brothers on the 14th day
of November, the Caledonia farm was subdivided into 53 small farms and
sold on December 4th as follows
:
Biennial Report of State's Prison 11
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12 Biennial Eepokt of State's Prison
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Biennial Report of State's Prison 13
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14 Biennial Repoet of State's Prison
You will note that the total of the above sale, viz., $496,787.04, did not
reach $500,000, as agreed to in the contract, but, as a matter of fact, it had
passed this mark, as Tract No. 14, containing 140 acres, was sold at $71 per
acre, or $9,940, but after the sale was concluded the party to whom this tract
was charged refused to take same; therefore if this tract had been settled
for along with the others the total of land sold on December 4th would have
been $506,737.04.
The State Prison now owns of the Caledonia farm the following tracts:
Tract No. 1, containing 200 acres
Tract No. 14, containing 140 acres
Tract No. 21, containing 122 acres
Tract No. 22, containing 175 acres
Tract No. 23, containing 168' acres
Tract No. 24, containing 381 acres
Tract No. 28, containing 145 acres
1,281 acres
Prior to said sale. Messrs. Allen Brothers were required to schedule all of
the tracts, placing a minimum price on same, so that the entire body of land
would aggregate the sum of $500,000. By reference to the schedule of the
unsold portion of the land it is priced as follows
:
Tract No. 1 at $60.00 per acre
Tract No. 14 at 75.00 per acre
Tract No. 21 at 60.00 per acre
Tracts Nos. 22, 23, and 24 at 50.00 per acre
Tract No. 28 at 40.00 per acre
In making contract with Allen Brothers for the sale of the farm it was
agreed that should the sale not be completed on the day advertised by reason
of the length of the day, or should at any time the sale aggregate the guar-antee,
or in the judgment of the selling agents the buyers were exhausted,
any unsold part of the farm would be readvertised and offered for sale within
ten months of that date. The selling agents have appeared before your board,
as you will recall, prior to the expiration of the ten months, stating that they
were ready to put the sale on, but in each instance have been granted further
time to complete this sale, and owing to financial depression during the past
fall it has not as yet been offered.
Following the sale of the real estate, and realizing there was a great deal
of personal property on the old farm which would not be needed on the new
farm near Raleigh, your board ordered that the same be sold on Thursday and
Friday, January 15 and 16, 1920. Therefore on that date, after duly adver-tising
same, the following personal property was sold for cash
:
91 horses and mules $ 16.024.50
3-70 saw Lummus cotton gin outfits, including engine and boiler 4,000.00
16 sows and pigs 984.00
12 cows 868.00
9 yearlings 253.00
2 Titan tractors 1,610.00
Biennial Report of State's Pkisotst 15
1 8-horsei>ower steam eugiue 220.00
1 gas engine 200.00
1 cane mill 90.00
2 threshers 525.00
16 second-hand two-horse wagons 069.00
1 corn sheller 105.00
Old baled shucks 270.73
Peavine hay 1,459.15
9 saddles 66.25
2 lime spreaders 85.00
1 peanut thresher 125.00
7 reapers and binders 415.00
4 sulky plows 204.00
2 rakes 65.00
2 old buggies 38.00
6 carts 110.00
Turn plows, cotton plows, walking cultivators, corn planters, peanut
planters, manure distributers, disk harrows, pulverizers, gang
plows, mowers, hoes, shovels, axes, old harness, etc 3,037.36
$ 31,423.99
After the above personal property sale was held at Caledonia it retiuired
several weeks to finish picking the cotton and close up the other work on the
Caledonia farm. During the month of February following this sale the move
was finally begun, and the men, teams, tools, etc., had been transported either
by rail or through the country to the Camp Polk farm, four miles west of
Raleigh, and were ready to begin operation on March 1st. ;
Camp Polk State Farm
Immediately following the ratification of the act to provide for the location
of the State's Prison, etc., it was ascertained that the War Department held
option on a considerable area of land between Raleigh and Cary, known as
Camp Polk. As the War Department was abandoning this camp, they readily
turned over to the State's Prison their option. With the old option in hand,
the landowners were visited, and they were renewed to the State Prison
Board, to expire January 1, 1920. Therefore, following the sale of the Cale-donia
farm on December 4th a certain number of the landowners in the Camp
Polk area were notified that the State Prison Board would take up the option
on or before the date of expiration.
Therefore, on January 1, or as soon thereafter as the papers could be pre-pared,
the State Prison Board paid cash for and received deeds for the follow-ing
land
:
Carey K. Durfey. executor and trustee Tucker estate, 480 acres $ 71,175.00
J. R. Chamberlain, 641.84 acres 52,230.37
Samuel Wilder, 398.5 acres 25.000.00
Mrs. Bessie Belvin Home, 739.25 acres 80,000.00
A. L. Baker, 212.20 acres 42.440.00
A. S. Watson. 96.95 acres 6..''.01.75
16 Biennial Report of State's Prison
J. E. Davis, 6 lots, 15.25 acres 2,287.50
Annie Beeeliam, house and lot, 1.5 acres 1,000.00
David Blount, bou.se and lot, 2 acres 900.00
Israel Hockaday, bouse and lot, 2 acres 300.00
Jennie Shepherd, house and lot, 1 acre 400.00
During the year 1919, prior to the sale of the Caledonia farm, and after
the option was taken on the Camp Polk farm, the War Department offered
for sale all of the property in a lump located at Camp Polk. By authority of
your board, an offer vpas made to the War Department at Washington in the
sum of $5,000 for all of the railroad tracks, buildings, electric lines, water-pipes,
etc., located upon the land upon which we held option. This offer was
accepted on July 7tb, and the War Department conveyed to the State's Prison
by bill of sale the following property
:
1 office and warehouse, 60x157 feet.
4 sheds, 20x60feet.
1 shed, 30x100 feet.
2 pump-houses, 8x10 feet.
4 stables, 29 feet 6 inches by 130 feet.
3 bunk-houses, 20x150 feet.
1 kitchen, 20x30 feet.
3 time booths 8x10.
1 observation tower 100 feet high.
900 yards railroad ballasted with 80-lb. rail, ties, and switch complete.
44 light poles erected with crosses on them.
10,500 feet of bare copper ward, No. 1-0.
2 6-horsepower new-way kerosene engines.
1 20,000-gallon redwood water tank, erected.
2 bulldog pumps, installed.
1,000 feet 6-inch iron pipe.
430 feet 4-inch iron pipe.
4 hydrants.
214 water barrels.
540 water pails.
2 transformers.
1 magazine, 8x10.
10.000 feet electric lighting wire.
500 feet IVL'-inch galvanized iron pipe.
36 feet 24-inch black iron pipe.
1 car crushed stone.
All of the above described property then located on the land upon which
we held option was allowed to remain just as it was until the State's Prison
had conveyed to it the land and it immediately became of use, as at present
we are occupying the buildings erected by the Government for army purposes
in the housing of the teams, tools, and men and in the carrying on of the work
on this farm.
Since the occupancy of said farm by the State's Prison, about March 1, 1920,
we have erected thereon a gin-house, cotton-house, and cottonseed house, and
have installed therein two 80-saw lAimmus outfits at a cost for the gin
V
Biennial Report of State's Pkison 17
machinery alone the sum of $(5,394.07. This gin plant is operated by the
30-60 I. H. C. tractor which was brought from the Caledonia farm.
We have also erected a new Farquar sawmill with 40-horse engine and
boiler ; also have attached to same a cutoff saw, edger, and one Fay & Egan
plainer, the plainer being operated by an 8 horsepower steam engine brought
from the Caledonia farm. The cost of the entire outfit was $6,506.26.
After more delays than could possibly be enumerated here, late in the sum-mer
we succeeded in securing and have put into operation a Steele brick
machine with 40-horse engine and 60-horse boiler. The machinery for this
plant cost $4,728.44. Owing to the lateness at which we received the machinery
and the time required to install same and build proper drying sheds very few
brick were made. We have on hand now two small kilns, approximately
300,000, but the plant is in first-class condition and ready to begin continuous
operation as soon as the weather opens in the spring.
We have erected upon the farm a splendid eight-room residence now occu-pied
by the farm supervisor. This building was erected by prison labor and
from the timber cut by the prison sawmill. I have no way of arriving at the
cost of same, but the same building erected by a contractor would cost in the
neighborhood of $10,000.
On this Camp Polk farm there are a great many buildings used by the farm
owners, the majority of them—in fact, I might say all of them—were in a
l)ad state of repair, as the farm we now own was in the heart of what would
have been Camp Polk had the war continued and all of the people had moved
out and these buildings were the subject of depredation, not only by the
soldiers in the camp but by the public generally. Therefore we have put all
of these buildings that are necessary for farm use in good condition, putting
new red cedar shingle roofs on them and doing all other work around them
that they may be occupied with comfort.
For our inmates, we still use the bunk-houses erected by the Government,
although we found it necessary to double the floors and ceil them. They are
very comfortable, and we have installed a water and sewerage system through-out
the entire camp, using the septic tank, erected at a considerable cost, to
take care of the sewerage.
Arriving from the old farm as late as we did, we found it impossible to do
very much in the way of improving the land, which was all in a run-down
and washed condition, having been farmed for years, prior to our purchase of
it, under the tenant system. However, in the limited time we had before
planting time, we went as far as we could in throwing the fields back together,
terracing them, plowing and preparing them for a crop.
The result of our first year's farming will naturally show a considerable
loss at the present price of farm products, and had the prices remained up,
the best we had hoped to do was for the farm products to balance the account
of the farm operations without taking into consideration the various improve-ments
we had put on the farm. But, as above stated, our farm operations for
this year at Camp Polk are going to show a deficit. However, in view of the
fact that the State owns tlie farm, and we have begun a work there which we
can carry on, we feel that the foundation we have laid and the plans mapped
out, if carried out in the future, will ultimately show a profit. It is hard for
any one to realize the vast amount of work that was required to close up the
work at the old farm, make the move, and begin all over again on what was a
desolate farm unless they could have seen the operation day by day.
18 Biennial Report of State's Prison
Inventory of Farm Tools, Machinery, Livestock, etc., on December 1. 11)20.
ON the Camp Polk Farm.
1 sawmill with boiler and engine.
1 brick mill vrith boiler and engine.
1 system cotton gin vpith 30-60 tractor.
2 vi^ater pumps with engine.
1 planer with boiler and engine.
2 2-ton Corbitt trucks.
2 Fordson tractors.
1 15 H.F. kerosene engine.
1 8 H.P. gasoline engine.
1 cane mill.
1 table saw.
1 10 H.P. boiler and engine at old gin-house.
2 McCormack mowing machines.
3 wheat drills.
4 log-carts.
2 stump-pullers.
6 hillside plows (disk)
2 twelve-blade cutaway harrows.
22 two-horse wagons.
2 one-horse wagons.
1 corn sheller.
2 corn crushers.
2 manure spreaders.
2 stovers.
1 hay baler.
1 McCormack shredder.
2 lime spreaders.
2 four-horse harrows.
5 spike-tooth harrows.
1 two-horse hay-rake.
3 dozen shovels.
5 dozen hoes.
3 dozen picks.
13 two-horse plows.
35 one-horse plows.
25 Willard harrows.
10 Deer corn planters.
12 McWorter fertilizer distributors.
6 two-horse subsoilers.
18 Jno. Deer cultivators.
70 sets plow harness.
2 sets wagon harness.
2 sets single buggy harness.
2 sets double buggy harness.
10 middle bursters.
9 peanut planters.
3 dozen cotton plow handles.
2 dozen two-horse plow handles.
BiExxiAL Repokx of State's Prison 19
100 horse collars.
17 cotton plows.
16 four-tooth cultivators.
.30 iron-edge cultivators.
11 Cole cotton planters.
4 stalk-cutters.
2 clover seed sowers.
2 buggies.
1 road cart.
12 cross-cut saws.
2 dozen axes.
2 water carts.
2 dump carts.
1 l)lacksmitli shop with tools.
34,000 pounds hay.
300 bales cotton.
20,000 feet lumber.
8,000 bushels cotton seed.
200 barrels corn.
100,000 pounds stover.
250,000 brick.
LIVESTOCK
83 mules.
18 horses.
34 yearlings.
14 calves.
37 cows.
1 bull.
137 fattening hogs (29,650 pounds, estimated).
26 brood sows.
86 pigs
27 shoats.
Camp Work (f
On December 1. 1918. the date of the last report, all prison labor not
engaged in working on the Caledonia farm were working for the Hardaway
Construction ('onipany on waterpower developments in Western North Caro-lina.
Below, you will find a detailed statement of the work we have done
during this biennial period for which we received a per diem compensation.
Following the sale of the Caledonia farm, we were able to release the
majority of all the able-bodied prisoners for highway work, as the location
of the present farm is near enough to Central Prison to enable us to operate
this farm largely with the physical defects, that is to say, with the men whom L
the prison physician checks up as being able to do light farm work but not
able to do road work. Following the sale of the farm, and upon your board's
ascertaining that we would have a large increased number of men available
for highway construction, the following order was passed : "That State pris-
20 Biennial Report of State's Prison
oners would be furnished the counties for highway construction in the order
in which applications for same were filed, and no prisoners would be furnished
for such work only on roads or highways approved by the Highway Com-mission."
Projects and number of days upon which prison labor has worked
:
Days
Hardaway Construction Company, Badin, N. C 8,032
Hardaway Construction Company, Bridgewater, N. C 9,377
Rhinehart & Dennis, Bridgewater, N. C 18,087
Duplin County sand-clay roads 19,671
Durham County hard-surface roads 16,764
Wake County hard-surface road to Garner 3,488
Wake County hard-surface road to Cary 4,899
Hyde County sand-clay road 1,565
Wayne County sand-clay road 2,809
Stanly County sand-clay road 10,214
Surry County sand-clay road 4,974
Martin County, bridge across Roanoke River 8,097
Person County bridge work 3.437
Quarry at Wendell, getting out stone for highway construction 5,295
Alamance County hard-surface road 4,759
Nash County hard-surface road 8,247
Durham-Chapel Hill hard-surface road 2,841
Gaston County hard-sui-face road 5,654
J. R. Chamberlain, cutting wood with men from Central Prison
during winter of 1919 812
State Hospital, cutting wood with men from Central Prison 734
Institute for blind, labor with men from Central Prison 462
State Fair Grounds, labor with men from Central Prison 43
State College, labor with men from Central Prison 481/1!
Caledonia farm, work on same since sale thereof, at per diem basis 6,379
Central Prison
Central Prison has been operated during the period of this biennial report
along the same lines it has for a great many years. All prisoners being re-ceived
here and undergoing, first, a physical examination and observation, so
that we may ascertain if pos.sible what they are best fitted to do. The hos-pitals
for those not able to work and all tuberculars are in the Central Prison.
The dangerous insane are also confined in one wing of the Central Prison, the
entire expense of this part of the institution being paid from the proceeds of
the farm or the labor of convicts. The cost of the upkeep of this part of the
institution amounted to the sum of .$17,470.46 from December 1, 1918, to
November 30, 1920.
Central Prison, together with all camps, including those at the State farm
in which the men are housed, have been at all times kept in first-class condi-tion.
The State Board of Health, together with the Public Welfare Commission.
have lent great aid in the erection and the proper surveillance of all camps
or buildings in which the men are housed. We think it is just and proper that
we should extend to them here our personal thanks for their imflagging
BiENxiAL Kepokt OF State's Pkison 21
interest in all things pertaining to the welfare and comfort of the prisoners
committed to this institution.
Elsewhere in this report I have called the board's attention to the great
cost of all things we are required to buy. There has doubtless been some
reduction in prices but as yet we have not been benefited by same, as to take
care of our winter requirements of clothing and shoes it was necessary that
the material be bought during the summer months so that they could be made
up by the women of the institution, and our order for shoes was placed prior
to the time any material reduction was made in same.
No industrial enterprises are conducted from the Central Prison although
the question of making chairs was thoroughly gone Into by your board during
the past eighteen months, but after comprehensive investigation of same the
idea was abandoned.
By direction of your board, since making of the last report 3,200 days
work was done on the highway leading from the Caledonia farm towards
Halifax. This work was done under the authority of an act of the General
Assembly, and all at the cost of the State's Prison, as the act did not make an
appropriation for the work ; neither was Halifax County required to com-pensate
the State in any way therefor.
The Administration Building at the Central Prison was partially destroyed
by a fire of an unknown origin on March 15, 1920. Your board met in the
Governor's office in call session on March 19, 1920, at which time it was
ordered that the building be repaired at once, following the original plan.
This was done at a cost of $16,912.90, which did not include a great deal of
labor done on the work by prisoners. The construction of this building was
begun about 1870, and vipon it there has never been carried any insurance,
therefore the cost for repairs in the sum above stated was paid entirely from
prison funds derived either from convict labor or sale of farm products.
In compliance with that section of the act passed by the Legislature of
1917, and amended by the Legislature of 1919, compensating prisoners for ^
their daily labor, there has been paid out during the biennial period covered
by this report the sum of $23,228.84.
Elsewhere in this report will be found the financial statement as prepared
by its clerk, Mr. E. L. McCulloch, also the report of the warden, Mr. S. J.
Busbee, and the report of the all-time prison physician. Dr. J. H. Norman.
In conclusion, I wish to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to the
officers and all other employees of the prison for their uniform courtesy and
cooperation in the conduct of the work, and I am deeply sensible and under
eternal obligations to you, gentlemen of the board, for your confidence, wisp
advice and valuable aid in meeting the many difficult problems which have
confronted us during this biennial period.
Respectfully submitted,
J. R. Collie. Superintendent.
WARDEN'S REPORT
NOVEMBEK 30, 1920.
Hon. J. R. Collie,
Superintendent State's Prison, Raleigh, N. C.
Sir :—I have the honor to make the following report for the two years end-ing
November 30, 1920
:
This report reveals nothing out of the ordinary—everything has moved
along in a very satisfactory manner during the two years.
The prison and the grounds are kept clean and sanitary at all times, and
the general health of the inmates is good, speaking generally ; the conditions
have continued very much the same as heretofore and are attributed to
cleanliness and good medical attention.
The discipline of the prison has been good, with a few exceptions, and there
has been very little punishment administered during the period covered by
this report.
I have received during the past two years 542 prisoners under sentence to
the general prison from the various counties, which will be shown in detail
in the clerk's report. In addition to the above, I have received twenty-four
men under sentence of death ; eight of these have been electrocuted, eight com-muted
to sentences in the prison, two returned to their counties for new trials,
and six remain in confinement, awaiting electrocution.
The food here favorably compares with that of other similar institutions,
and is carefully prepared and served in a systematic manner. A good quality
of wholesome food and a sufficient amount is always served.
The clothes worn by the prisoners are all made by the female prisoners
under the directions of a matron. The women are also used in operating the
laundry work for the prison population, dangerous insane, and ofiicers of the
institution.
The criminal insane department now has sixty inmates. They are well
cared for by the doctor and attendants. The wards are kept clean and sani-tary
at all times.
Religious services are held in the chapel each Sunday. Sunday school is
conducted by Mr. Jo H. Weathers and several teachers from the city, from
2 to 3 p. m. ; preaching from 3 to 4 p. m., alternating by Rev. McC. White,
Dr. D. N. Caviness, and Rev. Dwellir. These people have shown much interest
in their work, for which we are all very thankful to them.
Respectfully submitted,
S. J. BusBEE, Warden.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF E. F. McCULLOCH,
CLERK
Receipts
Balance on hand December 1, 1918 $ 5,638.19
December. 1918 30,086.53
1919
January : 8.567.84
February 19,425.58
Marcb 22,207.15
April 42,817.46
May 25,989.01
June 16,484.79
July 143,349.90
August 14,889.-38
September 15,950.85
October 17,791.21
November 24,715.88
December 10,279.93
1920
January 301,011.89
February 32.807.97
March 94,712.91
April 19,4.30.04
May 28,153.34
June 32,581.51
July 44,496.21
August 35,366.74
September 37,325.65
October 31,843.54
November 31,297.61 — $1,087,221.11
DiSBXTBSEMENTS
December, 1918 $ 24,184.83
1919
January 19.53.3.06
February 20.881.30
March 16,047.46
April 20,360.45
May 39,316.22
June 26,105.12
July - 67,584.57
August 24,935.37
September 26,090.-38
October 29.-369.51
November 29,249.01
December 25,744.09
24 Biennial Report of State's Prison
1920
January 323,454.45
February 23,176.77
Marcli 29,692.20
April 69,124.64
May 42,475.50
June 37,637.85
July 49,635.87
August 42,463.90
September . 35,326.35
October 40,739.64
November 31,812.36
$1,094,940.99
Overdrawn December 1, 1920 $ 7,719.88
Commutation and earnings paid to prisoners from December 1,
1918, to November 30, 1920 23,228.84
Disbursements to maintain Dangerous Insane Department 17,470.46
RECORD OF PRISONERS
Table No. 1
Prisoners on hand December 1, 1918 760
Received during the years 1919-1920 542
Recaptured 40
1,342
Prisoners discharged by expiration of sentence 200
Pardoned by Governor 31
Paroled 191
Died 32
Escaped 135
589
Total remaining on hand November 30, 1920 753
Table No. 2
Prisoners received at prison up to December 1, 1918 16,809
JS'umber received at prison during 1919-1920 542
Total number received to November 30, 1920 17,351
Table No. 3
Ages of Convicts Received During 1919-1920
From 10 to 15 years
From 15 to 20 years 119
From 20 to 30 years 263
From 30 to 40 years 90
From 40 to 50 years . 35
From 50 to 60 years 25
From 60 to 70 years 10
Table No. 4 "^ "
Race and Sex of Convicts Received During 1919-1920
White males 244
White females .5
249
Colored males 265
Colored females 28
293
Table No. 5
Counties From Which Convicts Were Received During 1919-1920
Alamance 5
Alexander 2
Anson 4
Ashe 4
26 Biennial Report of State's Prison
Avery 3
Beaufort 6
Bertie 1
Brunswick 2
Buncombe 17
Burke 6
Cabarrus 8
Caldwell 1
Carteret 1
Caswell 1
Catawba 6
Chatham 7
Cherokee 6
Chowan 1
Clay 3
Cleveland 4
Columbus 2
Craven 7
Currituck 4
Cumberland 6
Dare 1
Davidson 5
Duplin 4
Durham 3
Edgecombe 2
Forsyth . 74
Franklin 10
Gaston 3
Graham 3
Granville 9
Guilford 29
Halifax 2
Harnett 1 1
Haywood 3
Henderson 1
Hertford 2
Iredell 11
Jackson 3
Johnston 7
Jones 1
Lee 3
Lenoir ; 10
Lincoln 4
McDowell 10
Madison 1
Martin 3
Mecklenburg 36
Montgomery 1
Moore 2
Nash (i
New Hanover 7
BiExxiAL Rkpout of State's Prison 27
Northampton 15
Onslow -
Orange 7
Pamlico 3
Pasquotank ^ a
Perquimans -
Person -
Pitt ^
Polk 1
Randolph 3
Richmond t>
Roheson 13
Rockingham 10
Rowan o
Rutherford 3
Sampson 3
Scotland 2
Stanly : 8
Stokes 3
Surry 10
Swain 2
Transylvania 4
Union 2
Vance 5
Wake 25
Warren 6
Washington 2
Wayne 5
Wilkes T
Wilson 8
Yadkin 2
Yancey 2
Table No. 6
Social Relation of Convicts Received During 1919-1920
Married 24S
Single 294
Education of Convicts Received During 1919-1920
Read and write 367
None 175
Table No. 7
Occupation of Convicts Received During 1919-1920
Nurse 2
Laborer 400
Farmer 60
Chauffeur 5
Cook 8
Mechanic 24
28 Biennial Report of State's Prison
Musician 1
Merchant 2
Barber 2
Traveling salesman 2
Jeweler 1
Stenographer 3
Table No. 8
Nativity of Convicts Received During 1919-1920
North Carolina 422
South Carolina 46
I Georgia 9
Pennsylvania 2.
^Russia 1
Virginia 28
"k)regon 1
Kentucky 2
^ Ohio 1-
Mississippi 1
~^New York 2
^Indiana 1
"<^alifornia 1
"^Texas 5
^Cuba 1
Alabama 3
i Connecticut 1
Tennessee 7
^West Virginia 1
Maryland 3
Florida 1
Greece 1
"V Louisiana 1
\ Massachusetts 1
PAY ROLL
Central Prison
J. K. Collie, Superintendent $ 291.67 ,
E. F. McCulloch, clerk 183.33 -
Josephine Rand, assistant clerk 100.00 -
O. M. Jones, institute clerk -t-16
~
Dr. J. H. Norman 58.34 -
S. J. Busbee, warden 175.00
H. H. Honeycutt, deputy warden 85.00 .
R. E. Gattis, kitchen steward 'J'S.OO
W. W. Dowtin, hospital steward 75.00
W. R. Abernethy, corporal 75.00
R. L. Partin, overseer 75.00
Henry Smith, overseer 65.00-
C. W. Murry, guard 65.00-
J. B. Finch, guard 65.00-
Thos. Powers, guard 65.00-
E. N. Pool, guard 65.00-
E. McKernan. guard 65.00-
J. W. Thomas, guard 65.00-
F. B. Ray, guard 65.00-
Robt. Stell, guard 65.00-
Mrs. I. H. Rogers, matron 45.00
Mrs. Alice Todd, matron ^5.00
DANGEROUS INSANE DEPARTMENT
E. F. McCulloch, clerk 20.00
O. M. Jones, institute clerk ^•1^>
Dr. J. H. Norman, physician 41.66
R. A. Bridgers '^5.00
Mrs. R. A. Bridgers 40.00
A. M. Jackson 65.00
Gaston County Camp
S. F. Huffines, Supervisor 100.00
Geo. Thompson, steward 75.00
C. M. Turner, guard 65.00
J. R. Hands, guard 65.00
A. J. Quick, guard 65.00-
E. G. Warren, guard 65.00-
C. I. Warren, guard 65.00"
R. H. Grizzard, guard 65.00
Willie McFarland, guard 65.00
C. A. Kistler, guard 65.00
C. K. Johnson, guard 65.00-
Burg Lowry, guard 65.00
C. L. Whitley, guard 65.00
B. R. Brigman, guard 65.00
30 Biennial Report of State's Pkison
Duplin County Camp
J. R. Barliam, Supervisor 100.00
E. F. Young, steward 75.00
J. L. Marshall, corporal 75.00
J. W. Tarlton, guard 65.00-
Fonzer Epps. guard 65.00-
Landon Dishaw, guard 65.00
Dorace Stilwell, guard 65.00-
Luby Epps, guard 65.00.
Ellis West, guard 65.00
Stanly County Camp
H. T. Peoples, Supervisor 125.00
II. E. Lyda, steward 75.00
J. E. Collins, guard 65.00-
W. L. Dula, guard 65.00-
A. E. Tucker, guard 65.00
S. L. Hartsell, guard 65.00-
J. A. Whitley, guard 65.00
Lummey Green, guard 65.00
p. W. Green, guard 65.00
W. H. Wills, guard 65.00
Linsay Morton, guard 65.00
J. E. Rhymer, guard 65.00
Troy M. Brooks, guard 65.00
J. J. Kendall, guard 65.00
J. C. Rhymer, guard 65.00
G. D. Morton, guard 65.00
J. F. Booth, guard 65.00
Old Caledonia Farm Camp
J. W. Branham, Supervisor 100.00
J. W. Tippett, guard 65.00
J. J. Jordan, guard 65.00
J. T. Branham, guard 65.00
J. R. Matthew.s, guard 65.00
E. A. Crocker, guard 65.00
W. R. Melvin, guard 65.00
E. G. Hux, guard 65.00
O. L. Barbour, guard 65.00
Alamance County Camp
W. L. Chaffin, Supervisor 100.00
J. H. Starlin, steward 75.00
J. E. Marshall, guard ^ 65.00 -
D. L. Partin, guard 65.00
W. B. Whitaker, guard 65.00
Tom Johnson, guard 65.00
W. B. Harris, guard 65.00
BlEXXIAL ItEPOKT OF StaTe's PrISON 31
C. J. Mays, guard 65.00
F. B. Hobby, guard Gu.OO
Chai'lie Rhymer, guard (iS.OO
Wendell Rock Quarry Camp
F. G. Baker. Supervisor 100.00
W. L. Gulley, guard G5.00
J. H. Worrock. guard * 65.00
J. R. Davis, guard 65.00
W. M. Clifton, guard 65.00
T. H. Wise, guard 65.00
M. A. Currie, guard 65.00
Surry County Camp
E. L. Hight. Supervisor 12r).0()
A. F. Marshall, steward 75.00
J. B. Higgans, guard 65.00
T. F. Dula, guard 65.00-
J. S. Dula, guard 65.00
W. S. Dula, guard 65.00
C. B. Spence, guard 65.00-
Roby Crooks, guard 65.00
W. G. McXeily, guard 65.00-
R. M. Woodley. guard , 65.00-
K. B. Oweu, guard 65.00
V. C. Cockerham, guard 65.00
W. M. Smith, guard 65.00
W. F. Cockerham, guard 65.00-
Bill Osborn, guard 65.00-
.Toha Key, guard 65.00-
C. B. Ross, guard 65.00"
Nash County Camp
K. B. Ewing, Supervisor 125.00
M. A. Whitley, steward 75.00
J. G. Plummer, guard 65.00-
E. T. Smith, guard 65.00-
W. W. Neal, guard (io.OO
C. A. Freeman, guard 65.00-
J. C. Tharrington. guard 65.00-
C. W. Elliott, guard ^ 65.00
W. O. Strickland, guard 65.00-
S. G. Council, guard 65.00
Frank Allen, guard 65.00
T. H. Smith, guard 65.00
W. E. Rose, guard 65.00
S. T. Thomas, guard 65.00-
C. L. Bachelor, guard 65.00
C. Cockrell, guard 65.00
W. J. Ellis, guard 65.00
32 Biennial Eeport of State's Pkison
AIaetin County Camp
C. J. Rhem, Supervisor 125.00
W. D. Brooks, steward 75.00,
C. A. Wasson, guard 65.00-
Jolin Midgett, guard 65.00"
F. G. Sides, guard 65.00"
Elbert Jones, guard 65.00-
W. O. Wliite, guard , 65.00-
R. M. Fleming, guard 65.00'
Floyd Loftiu, guard 65.00-
C. E. Silverthorn, guard 65.00 '
W. T. Woodell, guard 65.00 "
H. L. Roper, guard 65.00
Carl Farless, guard 65.00 •
E. L. Byrum, guard 65.00
State Farm
C. N. Christian, Supervisor 150.00
J. H. Norman, physician 100.00
W. J. Harris, steward 75.00
W. J. Floyd, overseer 75.00
H. C. Garner, overseer 75.00
P. T. Flowers, overseer 75.00
S. A. Smith, overseer 75.00
Frank Hudson, overseer 75.00
J. R. Jones, overseer 75.00
T. L. Nevills, overseer 75.00
H. D. Wilson, overseer 75.00
H. T. Brenegar, overseer 75.00
J. J. Crew, mill foreman 100.00-
C. L. Newman, civil engineer 166.66*
G. W. Woodruff, guard 65.00-
J. W. Garner, guard 65.00
J. R. Hux, guard 65.00-
E. J. Turner, guard 65.00
G. A. Harrison, guard 65.00
J. M. Floyd, guard 65.00
O. E. Maynard, guard 65.00
A. P. Moore, guard 65.00
H. B. Hudson, guard 65.00
D. M. Jordan, guard 65.00
J. H. Williams, guard 65.00
W. H. Holderfield, guard 65.00
Grady Ingram, guard 65.00
J. C. Hyman, guard 65.00
L. C. Crew, guard 65.00
C. S. Martin, guard 65.00
H. J. Hoover, guard 65.00
Biennial Report of State's Prison 33
Dubham-Chapel Hill Road Camp
T. F. Gates, Supervisor 100.00
B. F. Huntley, guard 65.00-
J. C. Holland, guard 65.00
S. B. Johnson, guard 65.00
J. D. Wilson, guard 65.00
W. J. Jobnson, guard 65.00
J. M. Stewart, guard 65.00
Charlie Cash, guard 65.00
W. L. Moore, guard 65.00
C. S. Brown, guard 65.00
C. A. Browning, guard 65.00
J. H. West, guard 65.00
E. T. Ratcliff. guard 65.00
W. L. Wall, guard 65.00
J. M. Brice, steward 75.00
REPORT OF PRISON PHYSICIAN
To the Superintendent and Directors of the State's Prison:
Gentlemen :—There is not much to report from the medical department for
the year 1920. This has been a good year for health of the prisoners for two
reasons : First, because we have had no epidemics, but mainly because most
of the prisoners have been moved from the malarial farm on Roanoke River.
I do not think we have had a single death this year from malaria nor have
we had but few men infected with malaria, and they brought the malaria
here with them.
When I took charge of the prison in April I found twelve or fifteen suffering
with pellagra. Two of these cases were so far advanced that they died, all
the others are apparently well. Most of these are in the Criminal Insane
Department.
The most urgent need, as I see it, is to isolate the tubercular. AVe have two
wards for them in the prison. These wards are on the fourth floor, and there
is no way for them to get exercise out of doors except to go down by the other
wards, where it is almost impossible to keep them from visiting and mingling
with the patients in that hospital. In the Criminal Insane Department there
is no place at all to keep the tubercular except in the ward with the others.
There is no special arrangement for the care of tubercular in the camps,
therefore the supervisor of each camp has instructions to have all suspects
examined occasionally and as soon as diagnosed to send them into the Central
Prison.
I wish to say here that I have not asked you for any special treatment
such as expert surgery or anything else for the good or comfort of sick
prisoners that was not cheerfully given regardless of the cost, contrary to a
widespread public belief.
Allow me to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to all
prison officials with whom I have come in contact for their most hearty
cooperation. Respectfully,
J. H. Norman, Jr.,
Prison Physician.
^