Parents living 295 Mother “ 65 Father “ 38 Parents dead 33 --- Total 431
Single 254 Married 152 Widowed 25 --- Total 431
Number having children 112 Number of children 301
Born in the United States 346 Foreign born 85 --- Total 431
Of the foreign born, naturalized 31 Of the foreign born, Not naturalized 54 -- Total 85
Received from Manufacturing Districts 161 “ “ Mining Districts 70 “ “ Agricultural Districts 200 --- Total 431
The following figures were gathered by the Moral Instructor, the Rev. Joseph Welsh, in his interviews with the prisoners admitted during the year:
Total number received during the year 431 Number who attended Sunday School 286 “ “ “ Church 232 “ “ were members of Church 157 “ “ “ abstainers from use of liquor 63 “ “ “ moderate users of liquor 159 “ “ “ intemperate users of liquor 170 “ “ “ users of tobacco 356 “ “ gambled with cards 29 “ “ “ on horse races 11 “ “ visited immoral women 158 “ “ kept mistresses 2
This Prison still keeps up its record as a well managed institution. Unfortunately, the Convict Department at Holmesburg is somewhat overcrowded, and it is to be regretted that funds have not yet been provided by the City Councils for additional corridors, so that each man could be separately confined as the law provides. It is admitted by the advocates both of the separate and of the congregate system, that those awaiting trial should be strictly separated. To place a first, and especially a young offender, with a hardened criminal, simply means the production of another criminal, and places the State itself in the position of committing a wrong against one of its own citizens.
Frederick J. Pooley, one of the Secretaries of the Society and Agent at the County Prison, is more untiring than ever in his efforts for the betterment of those incarcerated in Moyamensing, at Tenth and Reed Streets, and in the New County Jail (Convict Department), at Holmesburg. He visits both institutions during five days in the week, seeks to aid men temporally and morally, is instrumental in having cases brought to speedy trial, and in some cases even looks after the destitute families of prisoners. At Moyamensing, women members of the Acting Committee also visit in the Women’s Department.