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Tuesday, February 21, 2023

George Bunn of Spring Hope Supports Prison Reforms, Feb. 21, 1923

Inexcusable Prison Conditions

To the Editor:

I have scanned all this week’s issues of The News and Observer looking for some remarks on the article in last Sunday’s issue under the heading, “Jail System Full of Abuses,” but not a word have I seen. I might have overlooked it. Our writers are too busy taking a fling at Governor Morrison and Mr. Maxwell. Both of these gentlemen are amply able to take care of themselves I think. But not a word in defense of the poor unfortunate behind the bars or locked up in an airless and lightless concrete dungeon that probably hasn’t yet been found guilty by a court of justice. So with your permission and allowing me a little of your valuable space, I will make a few remarks.

We boast of our age of enlightenment, our advanced civilization, pat ourselves on the back and strut around and brag on our superiority to our ancient ancestors of the Dark Ages, but if some of the deeds and practices described in the article don’t smack of the Dark Ages when men and women were done to death by the garrote, tortured, starved, drowned in water tight cells where the water trickled in until filled, some of these compare to our disadvantage very much if we consider the age in which we are living. Now any physical bully that will beat and kick a defenseless 17-year-old girl or beat and abuse a defenseless old woman possessed by the fiend, Narcotic, that may not even know what she is doing is an inhuman brute and not even fit to have authority over a dumb beast and should be put where he belongs—with the chain gang on a rock pile and made to sling a sledge from sunrise to sunset. And any sheriff that will put such a man, or a negro, over his prisoners should be expelled from office and never allowed to hold another.

I am in nowise aiding with or taking the part of the criminal to the extent that they should not be punished. They should be imprisoned and have meted out to them what they deserve, but not tortured or abused. And as I understand it, the criminal is confined for the protection of the public and to be treated as human beings and when released—if ever—a better man or woman and with a sincere desire and intention to be a better citizen and made to understand and feel during their imprisonment that they are looked on as humans and not brutes and to realize it is the wish of every worthy citizen that they be better when they leave the prison than when they entered. A kind word and considerate treatment will to a certain extent do this, as even a dog or a dumb brute responds to kind words and treatment and I believe the worst criminal will, if they feel it is from the heart, for “there is so much good in the worst of us.” It is a tragedy when criminals are given liberty and they go away with a grudge and a feeling ranking in their hearts, implanted there many times by their keepers, that there isa score to be settled and an evening up to be made. With that feeling, I think, in many instances, they are worse than when the first crime was committed. So let us be more considerate than when the first crime was considerate. So let us be more considerate of the unfortunate impulse or ignorance and not premeditated. While the described cases and conditions are to be deplored, it is with a feeling of gratification to those it was in the other fellow’s county” and Nash county, as our recent retiring ex-sheriff is a Christian gentleman and I don’t believe would tolerate such for an instance.

Wouldn’t it be well for our law makers during this tolerate such for an instant.

Wouldn’t it be well for our lawmakers during this term to do something to better conditions along the line?

Geo. W. Bunn, Spring Hope, N.C.

From the editorial page of The Raleigh News & Observer, Feb. 21, 1923

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