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NEGenWeb Project
Resource Center
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STATE INSTITUTIONS GOVERNED BY THE BOARD OF CONTROL PENITENTIARY
LINCOLN
Salary
Warden--W. T. Fenton
$2,500
Deputy Warden--D. G. Kavanaugh.
Chief Clerk and Principal of School--James O'Connell.
Steward--W. A. Kirby.
Physician--B. A. Finkle, M. D.
Chaplain--T. A. Maxwell.
Matron--Frona Lockhard.
Handcraft Furniture Company--Manager, L. M. Eastman.
The first territorial act concerning the penitentiary, after the adoption of the criminal code of Iowa in 1855, was that approved January 22, 1856, naming a board of commissioners to locate a penitentiary within one mile of the public square in Tekamah, Burt county. An act approved February 13, 1857, named a new set of commissioners to locate the institution. The legislature of 1859, as a part of the criminal code, provided that convicts should be kept in county jails until a territorial penitentiary should be erected. An act approved January 6, 1860, authorized the territorial governor to "contract with the proper authorities of any of the states of the Union having a penitentiary or state prison, for the confinement of Nebraska convicts." In joint resolutions approved January 7, 1860, and January 4, 1861, the legislature memorialized congress for an appropriation to build a penitentiary at or near Bellevue, Sarpy county. Again in a joint resolution the legislature made this petition, asking for $40,000. Another petition for the appropriation for a penitentiary in the territory, without reference to location, was approved February 12, 1864. This petition asked for $100,000.
The criminal code of 1866 provided for the confinement of convicts in the county jails of the territory, and an act approved February 18, 1867, made an appropriation of $3,000 for the support of the territorial convicts, the jailers not to receive more than fifty cents a day for boarding each prisoner. In his message of January 8, 1869, Governor Butler stated that prisoners were in county jails, and that a penitentiary was very much needed.
On March 3, 1870, a joint resolution of the legislature created a joint committee to draft a bill providing for the "immediate concentration, care and keeping of the state convicts." On the following day, March 4, 1870, a bill providing for the erection of a penitentiary at or near Lincoln was approved. A board of three inspectors elected by the legislature had the management of the penitentiary, the warden, only, being appointed by the governor. The state received grants of land amounting to 32,000 acres from the United States for a penitentiary, and the inspectors were directed to sell the lands and place the funds so derived in the treasury.
The inspectors were required to concentrate persons under sentence at or near Lincoln in a temporary penitentiary. They were also required to put the prisoners "at work upon the public buildings and in stone quarries for the use and benefit of the state, for the hours specified in their respective sentences." The inspectors were also authorized to "hire out or contract the labor upon the best terms
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that can he obtained." The temporary penitentiary was ready for the occupancy of thirty-seven convicts in July, 1810.
The contract for the permanent buildings was let on June 18, 1810, to Stout and Jamison, who employed the prisoners at forty-two cents a day each. The buildings were erected on land which Judge Hilton and W. T. Donovan donated to the state for that purpose.
The constitution of 1875 placed the penitentiary under the control of the board of public lands and buildings. On October 1, 1877, this board entered into a six-year contract with W. H. B. Stout, who was to pay all the "expense necessarily incurred in the maintenance of the prison, including the board and clothing of the convicts, and the salaries of all the officers and guards," for which he received from the state the labor of the convicts and sixty cents a day per capita for each convict for two years, and fifty-five cents and fifty cents a day per capita, respectively, for the succeeding terms of two years each.
The lease was renewed with slight changes in the terms, several times. In 1895 the legislature, after an extensive Investigation, annulled the contract and abolished the contract system.
In general, the industries maintained by the subcontractors in the penitentiary have been the making of buttons, brooms, trunks, barrels, chairs, machinery and harness.
By an act approved April 18, 1915, the board of control was empowered and required to "provide labor for the prisoners and keep them employed as far as possible for the greatest profit to the state and the general welfare and health of the prisoners." Services of prisoners may be let to counties, cities, villages, and other state Institutions within the state, but not to any individual, firm or corporation within or without the penitentiary unless it is otherwise impossible for the board to keep all the prisoners busy. The only commercial enterprise now being carried on within the penitentiary to the manufacture of handcraft furniture and shirts. Prisoners have been employed at road making in various parts of the state but the practice has been discontinued. The penitentiary farm employs many of the prisoners. The law provides for the payment of wages to prisoners,
The legislature of 1893 empowered the governor to parole prisoners. The legislature of 1911 created the prison board to handle the paroling of convicts. An appropriation was made by the legislature of 1913, to build a reformatory to which certain classes of convicted persons are to be sent, but the board of control considered the establishment of such an institution unnecessary. The legislature of 1921 again appropriated funds for the establishment of a reformatory for men and boys. This has been established southwest of Lincoln. The legislature of 1918 provided for a night school for prisoners, and for a grading of prisoners with reference to character and conduct. Only four times in the history of this institution have serious mutinies
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occurred--on January 11 and May Z6, 1875, March 14, 1912, and September 18, 1925.
A constitutional amendment of November, 1912, vested the government of the penitentiary in the board of control of state institutions. Another amendment adopted September 21, 1920, lodged the power of pardon and parole in a board consisting of the governor, attorney general and secretary of state.
The penitentiary is located three miles south of Lincoln, on a farm of 448 acres of cultivated land. This land is valued at $79.800, and the buildings at $341,849. On June 80, 1980, there were seventy-five officers and employees. The average number of inmates for the biennium was 669. The per capita cost per inmate was $648.52 for the two years. During the current biennium $8,000 were spent for repairs, and a new building costing $60,000 erected.
PARDONS, COMMUTATIONS AND PAROLES OF PRISONERS, 1867-19285
Years
Governor Pardons Commutations Parole 1869-70
David Butler
1871-72
David Butler (W. H. James acting)
1873-74
Robert W. Furnas
27
1875-7
Silas Garber
7 11
1877-78
Silas Garber 1
10 12
1879-80
Albinus Nance
1881-82
Albinus Nance
1
1888-84
James W. Dawes
1885-86
James W. Dawes
5
1887-88
John M. Thayer
7 13
1889-90
John M. Thayer
8 14
1891
John M. Thayer (acting)
8 23
1891-92
James E. Boyd
3 16
1893-94
Lorenzo Crounse
23 39 38 1 1895-98
Silas A. Holcomb
3 37 62 1899-1900
William A. Poynter
28 76 1901-02
(C. H. Dietrich) Ezra P. Savage.
38 78 1903-04
John H. Mickey
2 7 54 1905-06
John H. Mickey
7 26 104 1907-08
George L. Sheldon
7 15 41 1909-10
A. C. Shallenberger
14 5 113 1911-12
Chester H. Aldrich
29 9 138 2 1913-14
John H. Morehead
1 1 245 3 1915-16
John H. Morehead
2 3 420 1917-18
Keith Neville
2 11 472 4 1919-20
Samuel R. McKelvie
3 4 318 2 1921-22
Pardon board
0 21 247 1923-24
Pardon board (up to Aug. 1, 1924)
1 25 357 1924-26
Pardon board
47 335 1926-28 Pardon board 1928-30 Pardon board
1 The first parole act in Nebraska bears date April 10, 1893, and empowers the governor to parole any prisoner who has served the minimum term provided by law for his first offense (except for murder in first or second degree), and anyone serving for murder in first or second degree who has served twenty-five full Years.
2 State prison board act of April 7, 1911, provided for a board of three persons appointed by the governor, removable by him for misconduct, incompetence or neglect of duty. This board had power to establish rules and regulations for parole of prisoners in the penitentiary, who had served minimum sentence fixed by law. This act repealed the first parole law of 1893.
3 1913-14. 7 transferred to asylum, 6 on temporary leave.
4 Includes furloughed and deported.
5 Since 1921, includes prisoners at the men's reformatory.
The above table is computed from governor's messages, reports of prison warden and pardon board.
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HOSPITALS FOR THE INSANE LINCOLN
Salary .
Superintendent--D. G. Griffiths, M. D.
$2,500
Assistant Superintendent--R. H. Spradling, M. D.
Physician--T. K. Jones, Sr., M. D.
Physician--Marie L. Grote, M. D.
Physician--A. R. Hornbeck, M. D.
Steward--J. R. Helms.
Matron--Stella Clay
Bookkeeper--Sydney Rickard.
NORFOLK
Salary
Superintendent--G. E. Charlton, M. D.
$2,500
First Assistant Physician--Juul C. Nelson, M. D.
Staff Physician--C. C. Drummond, M. D.
Staff Physician--R.M. Baker, M. D.
Bookkeeper--Laura Hill.
Steward--A. J. Gutzmer.
Domestic Supervisor--R. E. Angel.
INGLESIDE (Hastings)
Salary
Superintendent--Blaine Babcock, M. D.
$2,500
Assistant Superintendent--W. E. Kelly, M. D.
Staff Physician--C. W. Parks, M. D.
Staff Physician--W.S. Yager, M. D. Staff Physician--D. M. Judkins-Davies, M. D.
Staff Physician--H. H. Stretton, M. D. Staff Physician--C. R. Laird, M. D. Steward--E. J. Camblin.
Matron--Libbie Thordsen.
Bookkeeper--Minnie G. Wendt.
CARE OF NEBRASKA INSANE AT LINCOLN, NORFOLK AND HASTINGS The Nebraska territorial assembly by legislative act approved February 13, 1865, authorized the governor "to make arrangements with the proper authorities of the state of Iowa for the admission of the territory's insane into the Iowa hospital for the insane." The territory paid the expense if the insane persons or their natural guardians were unable to do so. Arrangements were made with Iowa, and nine of Nebraska's insane admitted to the asylum located at Mount Pleasant, in 1865. Nebraska continued to send her insane there until July, 1870. At this time the asylum at Mount Pleasant was unable to further care for Nebraska's insane. Nebraska's governor was forced to move six of the incurable patients and confine them in the Pawnee county jail until the asylum at Lincoln was completed. The legislature of 1869 appro--
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priated $50,000 from the amount received from the sale of lots in the townsite of Lincoln for the erection of an insane asylum. On November 8, 1870, the building was accepted and the first patient admitted November 26, 1870. By December 1, it was completely furnished and ready for patients. The patients from the Iowa hospital and the different jails throughout the state, numbering thirty in all, were removed to this asylum. On the morning of April 17, 1871, this building was burned, the insurance carried amounting to $95,000. On June 6, 1871, an act was approved appropriating $70,000 for the erection of a new building and appointing a commission to make settlement with the insurance companies for the amount due, the amount accepted to be not less than $72,000. This second building opened for admission of patients November 21, 1872.
Until 1891, the expenses of caring for the insane in the various institutions of the state were borne by the relatives of the patients or by the counties. By legislative act of 1891 the state assumed the entire expense of caring for the insane in state institutions.
The hospital for the-insane at Norfolk was established by an act approved March 4, 1885, $75,000 being appropriated for the erection of a building. This institution was established there upon the condition that the city of Norfolk should donate 320 acres of land, which it did. On the morning of September 23, 1901, the entire main ward building was destroyed by fire, 160 patients were immediately transferred to Lincoln and Hastings and on December 6, 1901, the remainder of the patients were likewise transferred. The legislature of 1903 appropriated $100,000 to restore the damaged building.
The state hospital for the insane at Ingleside, near Hastings, was established by an act approved March 30, 1887, and $75,000 appropriated for buildings. The establishment and appropriation were conditioned upon the donation by the city of Hastings of not less than 160 acres of good, land. This condition the city met. The purpose of this institution originally was to take the more chronic and incurable insane, thus relieving the institutions at Lincoln and Norfolk of this class. The legislature, by act approved April 11, 1903, appropriated $15,000 for the purchase of 320 acres of land.
The legislature of 1907 amended the law so as to strike the word "incurable" from the name of the Hastings institution, and the board of public lands and buildings divided the state into three hospital districts.
Dipsomaniacs are cared for at the Lincoln hospital.
The Lincoln state hospital is on a farm of 640 acres, three miles southwest of Lincoln. The land is valued at $128,000 and the buildings at $914,000. At the date of the last annual report (June 30, 1930), there were 159 officers and employees. The average number of inmates for the year was 1,143, and the per capita cost of maintenance for the two years was $502.38
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The Norfolk hospital is on a farm of 614 acres, valued at $160,000. The buildings are valued at $680,450. The number of officers and employees on June 30, 1930, was 104, and the average number of inmates for the year was 899. The per capita expenditure for maintenance was $452.99.
The Hastings state hospital is at Ingleside, several miles west of Hastings, on a farm of 623 acres, which are valued at $176,000. The buildings are valued at $1,101,278. The officers and employees numbered 151 on June 30, 1930. The average number of inmates for the year was 1,383 at a per capita expense of $469.87.
NEBRASKA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF OMAHA
Salary
Superintendent--Frank W. Booth
$2,300
Matron--Milin Trentham.
Bookkeeper and Stenographer--Mary Christoffersen.
By an act approved February 12, 1866, the legislature authorized and required the governor to make proper arrangements with the state of Iowa, or some other state, looking to the education of all deaf mutes and blind children between the ages of 12 and 20 years. One individual only seems to have profited by this act (see governor's message, January
By an act approved February 7, 1867, the legislature incorporated an institute for the deaf and dumb, naming six individuals as directors. This board was to make proper provision for the care of the deaf and dumb in the state. The act located the institution at Omaha, or within three miles of the court house, and authorized the board of directors to purchase sufficient land, not to exceed fifty acres, and to erect the necessary buildings. An appropriation of $6,000 was made therefor, also $600 was set aside for care of deaf and dumb. A further act approved June 5, 1871, authorized this board of directors to 64 erect upon grounds near the city of Omaha, donated to the institute for that purpose, a building to be used as an institute for the deaf and dumb," and an appropriation of $15,000 made therefor.
The name of this institution was changed by an act of the legislature of 1909 from "Institute for the deaf and dumb" to "Nebraska school for the deaf."
"All deaf and dumb residents of the state, and those deaf to such an extent that they cannot acquire an education in the common schools of the state, of suitable age and capacity and of good moral character, shall be entitled to an education in the institute for the deaf and dumb without charge."
The school is situated on a tract of 23 acres of land, valued at $77,500. The buildings are valued at $323,116. The officers and employees numbered 51 at the date of the last report, June 30, 1930.-
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The average number of pupils during the past year was 165, maintained at a per capita cost of $1,035.63.NEBRASKA SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND NEBRASKA CITY
Salary
Principal--N. C. Abbott
$2,200
Matron--Effie B. McFarland.
The institute for the blind was established at Nebraska City by an act of the legislature approved February 19, 1875. The citizens of Nebraska City were to raise $4,000 and turn the amount over to the board of trustees. The institute was located on ten acres of land and within one mile of the court house of the city. The legislature of 1897 placed the institute for the blind and the Nebraska school for the deaf under one governing board.
This institution has been defined by statute and by a court decision (43 Neb. 184) to be an educational institution, not an asylum.
The statute provides that "all blind persons and those blind to such an extent that they cannot acquire an education in the common schools of the state, of suitable age and capacity and of good moral character, shall be entitled to an education in the institution for the blind without charge."
The ten acres of campus are valued at $3,650, and the buildings at $131,470. There were twenty-five officers and employees, and an average number of forty-six pupils during the biennium ending June 30, 1930, with a per capita expenditure of $1,342.73.
INSTITUTION FOR FEEBLE-MINDED BEATRICE
Salary
Superintendent--J. A. Burford, M. D.
$2,500
Physician--A. O. Skinner, M. D.
Physician--R. P. Hoxey, M. D. Steward--Wm. Pollock.
Matron--Nellie Mumford.
The institution for feeble-minded 'youth was established at Beatrice by act of the legislature approved March 5, 1885. An appropriation of $50,000 was made at the same time for the erection of proper buildings. The city of Beatrice donated forty acres of land to the state. The act authorized the levying of an annual tax of one-eighth of one mill on the dollar for the support of the institution. The legislature of 1887 did not continue this tax, but adopted the method of appropriating from the general fund for the support of this institution.
Parents or guardians, if able, are expected to furnish transportation, clothing and incidentals for the children committed to this institution, and counties are required to furnish for indigent or dependent children, clothing, transportation and $40 annually. Originally only
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feeble-minded youth between the ages of five and eighteen years were admitted, but now the institution is a home for feeble-minded regardless of age. The officers and employees number sixty-five and the average inmate population for last year was 818. There was a waiting list of about 73 applicants for admission. The per capita cost for the year was $200.64. The institution has a farm of 303 acres, valued at $68,200, while the buildings are valued at $63 3,000. During the past year, a new ward building costing $70,400 was constructed, and $31,000 spent on improvements and repairs.
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS Kearney and Geneva
STATE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL, KEARNEY
Salary
Superintendent--R. V. Clark
$2,300
Assistant Superintendent--F. R. Dickson.
Steward and Bookkeeper--S. W. Bissell.
Physician--R. L. Hart, M. D.
GIRLS' TRAINING SCHOOL, GENEVA
Salary
Superintendent--Lena M. Ward
$2,100
Matron--Sude B. Ward.
Secretary--Ella Gossin
The state industrial school for boys was established at Kearney by act of the legislature approved February 27, 1879. To obtain this institution the citizens of Kearney were required to donate not less than 320 acres of good arable land. The original name of this school was "Nebraska state reform school for juvenile offenders." The original act provided for the care and instruction of both girls and boys. By an act approved March 31, 1887, the name of this school was changed to "State industrial school for juvenile offenders," and still provided for the commitment of both boys and girls. On March 4, 1891, a legislative act was approved calling for the establishment of a Girls' industrial school for juvenile delinquents" at Geneva. This new school was ready for occupancy March 14, 1892, at which time the 57 girls in the school at Kearney were transferred to Geneva, Kearney becoming from that date on a school for boys only. The legislature of 1923 changed the name to "Girls' training school."
The Kearney institution owns 602 acres of land valued at $112,215, with buildings valued at $205,394. There were forty officers and employees, with an average number of 200 boys last year. The per capita maintenance cost for the year was $843.47.
The Geneva institution owns seventy acres of land valued at $14,000. The buildings are valued at $149,000. There were twenty-two officers and employees and an average number of 196 inmates last year. The per capita cost for the year was $637.36.
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