TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT 
OF 
William f. glallni, 
LFKzrsonsr jvg-ektt. 
KlMARr 1, 1866. 
PHILADELPHIA: 
J. B CHANDLER, PRINTER, 306 & 308 CHESTNUT STREET, (GIRARD BUILDING.) 
1866.  
PAGE 
Number of persons released within the year, ...... 5 
Average of Sex, . ........... 5 
Number of cases investigated by the Agent, ....... 5 
Trivial character of many of the cases, ........ 6 
Improper motives of some prosecuting parties, ...... 6 
The work and peaceful character of the Agency, ...... 6 
Money saved to the County during the year, ....... 7 
Number of persons released within the last twelve years, .... 7 
Amount saved to the tax payers of Philadelphia, . . . . ... 7 
Number of arrests made in the City during the year 1865, .... 7 
Number of persons convicted and recommitted to prison, .... 7 
Judicial action of the Court and Grand Jury, ...... 8 
Number of True Bills, ........... 8 
Bills Ignored, ............ 8 
Increase of crime, . .......... 8 
Cost of the Criminal Court for the year 1865, ...... 8 
Amount of fees paid by the City to the District Attorney, Clerk of the Court, 
Sheriff, and other officials for the prosecution of criminal cases, . . 8 
Salaries of the Judges, ........... 9 
Remarks of the Agent in reference to the decease of Judge Thompson, . . 9 
Proceedings of the Members of the Bar in reference to the death of Judge 
Thompson, embracing the remarks of Hon. Judge Strong and the Hon. 
Eli K. Price, ... 10-11 
Remarks of the Grand Jury on the increase of crime and its cause, . . 12 
Intemperance and Crime, .......... 13 
Coroner's Annual Report, .......... 15 
House of Correction, 16 
Increase of crime in New York, ......... 16 
Good Management of the Prison, . . . . . . . . .17 
Moral Instruction on the Sabbath, 17 
Relief of discharged convicts, . . . . . . . . .17 
Remarks of the Prison Society's Journal for 1865, in reference to the labors 
of the Agent, 18 
Dr. Biddle's remarks in reference to the Agent, . .... 21 Curses of interest. 
1 A German boy wrongfully accused, ........ 21 
2 False charge against a colored woman, ....... 22 
3 A man charged with stealing two newspapers, ...... 22 
4 An honest colored woman improperly committed, ' . . . . .23 
5 Advantage taken of two strangers in our City, ...... 23 
6 A hard case, 23 
7 The poor washerwoman, . . . . . . -. . . .23 
8 A woman in prison under a false charge, ....... 24 
9 An unreasonable wife, .......... 24 
10 A soldier drugged and robbed, and then sent to prison, . . . .25 
11 Mother and daughter improperly imprisoned, ...... 25 
12 Illegal commitment of the mate of a vessel, ...... 25 
13 A young navy officer in trouble, ........ 25 
14 A young mother cruelly treated by her husband, . . . . .26 
15 A respectable Jewess in trouble, ........ 26 
16 An old woman and her daughter unjustly imprisoned, . . . .27 
17 A penitent young wife, .......... 27 
18 Illegal imprisonment of a school teacher, ....... 27 
19 Young sailor committed by mistake, ... .... 27 
20 False charge against a soldier, ......... 28 
21 Three young men false charged, . .28 
22 An interesting young girl, ......... 28 
23 A discharged soldier, 28 
24 A discharged soldier wrongfully imprisoned, .,..., 28 
25 An industrious man released from the charge of assault and battery, . 29 
26 A poor woman released, 29 
27 The one armed soldier, 29 
PAGE TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT 
)F 
WILLIAM J. MULLEN, 
Prison TV gent, 
To 
JOHN M. WETHERILL: 
Chairman of the Committee on County Prison, of the "Philadelphia Society for 
alleviating the miseries of Public Prisons." 
Respected Sir : 
The undersigned herewith submits, for the information of your 
Society, his Twelfth Annual Report, from which it will appear that, 
with the co-operation of the properly constituted authorities, he has 
succeeded in liberating from prison one thousand four hundred and 
ten (1,410) persons within the last year. Of this number, there were 
seven hundred and twenty-eight (728) males, and six hundred and 
four (604) females, besides seventy-eight (78) children. They wTere 
liberated at a cost to themselves of two hundred and fifty-seven 
dollars and ten cents ($257. paid to magistrates and other offi- 
cials. There were over two thousand eight hundred (2,800) cases 
investigated, and more than five hundred (500) letters have been 6 
written and mailed on account of prisoners during the year. The 
parties were all committed for Court, but an impartial and searching 
examination showed that, in the majority of these cases, the imprison- 
ment was unnecessary, while, in many instances, it was cruel and 
oppressive. 
In some cases where offences have been committed, they were of 
so trivial a character, or accompanied with such mitigating circum- 
stances as not to warrant a longer confinement. It was found that 
much of the litigation had its origin in improper motives, such as 
vindictive feelings, thirst for gain, intemperance and thoughtlessness. 
Parties thus actuated overlooked the misery they were causing to 
helpless children and unprotected families by sending their parents 
and protectors to prison; many of these, when remonstrated with, 
saw their error, and willingly lent their aid to undo the mischief they 
had so inconsiderately caused. 
We would not be understood to say that many of the persons 
liberated had not committed the offences with which they were 
charged, but the reasons assigned for their liberation at the time were 
such as to satisfy the officers of the law that their release was in no 
way incompatible with the ends of public justice, as the imprisonment 
they had already suffered was considered sufficient. There is no 
doubt but that in the regular course of law, the Court, when made 
acquainted with the facts that go to establish the innocence of parties 
who may be wrongfully accused, would authorize their discharge, 
and in this way they would be released in time, but the delay would 
be most damaging to their interests. It is painful to contemplate 
the fact, that persons who are not guilty, or whose offences are so 
slight that no Grand Jury would feel justified in finding a true bill 
against them, should be incarcerated for an unnecessary length of 
time, subjecting them to the loss of their honest employment as well 
as being detrimental to their character, and thereby entailing suffer- 
ing and ruin upon their innocent families, and that too at an unne- 
cessary expense to the city. 
What we claim for the Agency is, that it is a peaceful mission, 
adjusting difficulties between parties who are at law ; that it brings 
the facts promptly before the proper officials who have power to act 
in the premises, and whose decision terminates the mental suffering 7 
of the prisoner, which resulted from his being kept in suspense; it 
also puts an end to unjust and malicious litigation, liberates those 
who ought not to be imprisoned, prevents suffering to innocent fami- 
lies, and saves to the county much unnecessary expense; nor in 
this connection can we overlook the precious time and expense saved 
to the Court and jurors, that would otherwise be necessary in dis- 
posing of these cases, as they are Court cases, and not those of 
drunkards, vagrants or breaches of the peace, of which the Inspec- 
tors have the authority to dispose. 
The liberation of the persons referred to was a saving to the 
county within the year of the sum of seventeen thousand one hundred 
and forty-four dollars and seventy cents ($17,144 70), of which 
eight thousand one hundred and seventy-eight dollars (8,178) would 
have been required to have been paid for ignoring their cases at 
$5-t8o°() each, and eight thousand nine hundred and sixty-six dollars 
and seventy cents (8,966.T70°0), which their maintenance would have 
cost, had they been detained in prison until the earliest period in the 
term of the Court for disposing of their cases. 
The whole number of persons released within the last twelve years 
through the Agent's interference, has been seventeen thousand four 
hundred and three (17,403); their liberation has saved to the tax 
payers of Philadelphia the sum of one hundred and forty 
thousand seven hundred and seventy-one dollars and fifty-eight cents 
($140,771 58). 
The unjust and trivial character of many of these arrests may be 
understood by a perusal of the several instances given in the sequel 
of this Report. The Agent again wishes to impress upon the mind 
of the reader, that his object in the exercise of the duties of his office, 
is to seek to release those only whose imprisonment is unjust and 
improper, and whose detention in prison can be of no possible benefit, 
but on the contrary a great detriment to the community. 
The number of arrests made in our city during the year was 
thirty-nine thousand one hundred and seventy-nine (39,179), and 
the number of commitments to the County Prison sixteen thou- 
sand four hundred and ninety-six (16,496). There were one 
thousand six hundred and two (1,602) bills ignored, and two 
thousand three hundred and eighty-two (2,382) true bills found 8 
by the Grand Jury, of which there were five hundred and ninety-five 
(595) convicted, sentenced and re-committed to prison. Of these 
four hundred and fifty-five (455) were sentenced to labor, and one 
hundred and forty (140) without labor. Of the original number 
committed, there were discharged by the Court eight hundred and 
forty-three (843), by magistrates six thousand seven hundred and 
eighty-one (6,781), by Inspectors five thousand eight hundred and 
fifteen (5,815), prisoners whose time expired year, who had 
not been required to labor, thirteen (13), and by various other autho- 
rities not here mentioned, five hundred and seventy-three (573). Of 
the above number committed, there were ten thousand seven hundred 
and thirty-one (10,731) white males, and also four thousand four 
hundred and seventy-nine (4,479) white females, six hundred and 
forty-four (644) black males, and six hundred and forty-two (642) 
black females. The whole number of commitments of both sexes 
shows an increase, compared with last year, of two thousand four 
hundred and twenty-nine (2,429). By this it will appear that there 
were three thousand nine hundred and eighty-four (3,984) cases 
acted upon and disposed of by the Grand Jury and Court, at a cost 
of forty-four thousand nine hundred and eighty-one dollars and eighty- 
one cents ($44,981.7%%), this being the expenses of the Criminal 
Court for the year. Of this the City Treasurer is required to pay 
the District Attorney's fees, twelve thousand one hundred and 
twenty-six dollars ($12,126.00); clerk's fees, nine thousand nine hun- 
dred and sixty dollars and fifty-one cents ($9,960.,%%); sheriff's fees, 
four thousand six hundred and ninety-seven dollars and eleven cents 
($4,697.yoj) ; tipstaves, jurors, &c., eighteen thousand one hundred 
and thirty-five dollars and nineteen cents ($18,135.709n). The con- 
viction of the guilty parties who were returned to prison cost 
thirteen dollars and fifty cents ($13.50) each. This absorbed eight 
thousand and thirty-two dollars and fifty cents ($8,032.T50°a) of the 
expenses. 
No portion of the above expenditure was paid to the Judges, as 
they receive their salary from the State. And we would here remark, 
that the compensation given to these gentlemen, is by no means ade- 
quate to the valuable services rendered. Since the above was writ- 
ten, we are glad to see that a member of the Legislature has made 9 
a move in the right direction, on this subject, as will be seen by the 
following article, taken from the " Dispatch " of this city. 
TIIE SALARIES OF OUR JUDGES. 
" Mr. Bingham, of Allegheny, has introduced a bill to increase the salaries of cer- 
tain State officers, from the Governor downward. The synopsis of the bill which 
we have seen states that there is a proposition to advance the salaries of the Asso- 
ciate Judges of the Supreme Court to $5,200 per annum, Chief Justice to $5,500, 
and of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny county to $4,400, 
and of the President Judges of County Courts to $3,000. We do not find in the 
synopsis of the bill that any proposition has been made to increase the salaries of 
the Judges at Philadelphia to $4,400. One of our cotemporaries assumes that such 
is the case. We hope that it is But if it is not, the subject is one which is worthy 
the attention of our delegation in the Legislature. There are no Judges in the 
Commonwealth who work harder than the Judges of the District Court and Common 
Pleas of Philadelphia. Nor are there any Judges better deserving of liberal pay- 
ments, upon account of their industry, learning and probity. If this bill passes- 
and it is a just measure which the State can well aiford to perform-we trust that 
there will be no invidious distinction in favor of Allegheny and against Philadelphia 
The sums proposed are not too great for the payment of the Judges in either place. 
It may be well doubted whether they are not entirely too small." 
Just previous to our report going to press, we have learned, with 
profound sorrow, of the death of the Hon. Oswald Thompson, the 
beloved President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. His death 
is a public calamity: we say this because we know it to be so. We 
believe no one in this community, with the exception of his family, and 
his colleagues upon the Bench, has had a better opportunity of judging 
of the goodness of his heart, and the godlike qualities of the man, 
than the Agent, who will always hold his name in profound respect, 
because he knew him to be a righteous Judge, and who always found 
him, in season and out of season, ready and willing to listen to anything 
that might be said which tended to alleviate the condition of the 
oppressed, when he could do so consistently with his sense of justice. 
The Agent is in possession of many interesting facts, not known 
to the public, which show him to have been a man, not only of a 
benevolent heart, but one whose mind could promptly grasp a sub- 
ject, and see through it with a quickness of perception that seemed 10 
like inspiration. His decision and promptness in meting out punish- 
ment to offenders, were fully equalled by the mercy which he was at 
all times ready to extend where there were palliating circumstances. 
He was taken sick while on his way to the Court, and died in the 
harness, overworked in the public service, and literally killed by the 
fetid air of badly-constructed Court-rooms, where business of the 
greatest magnitude had to be disposed of. The value of the services 
of this illustrious man may be, in some degree, estimated by the pro- 
found feeling it called forth in the community, and which found pro- 
per expression in the meeting of the bar, which, in numbers and 
interest, was without a precedent in our annals. At this meeting, 
which was presided over by the Hon. Judge Woodward, of the 
Supreme Court, the Hon. Judge Strong, said:- 
"I am persuaded, sir, that there is no Court in this Commonwealth that has im- 
posed upon it anything like so many duties as devolve upon the Court of Common 
Pleas of the City and County of Philadelphia. I know of no Court in any other 
State that has a jurisdiction so large, and to which is entrusted so much that is 
of value to the community, of value to the city, so much that is essential to the pre- 
servation and good order of the State, as is represented in this. 
The public mind, doubtless, looks more to the administration of criminal laws 
than any other portion, and they are eminently important. It is of the greatest im- 
portance that the Judges of that Court should bring to the administration of that branch 
of law not only well-informed and strong minds, not only minds not too distorted 
by the growth of one faculty to be effective; but that they should bring promptness 
and application and knowledge; that they possess and be full of the character of 
firmness, resolved not to be affected by public prejudice, not to to be reproached. 
Their character should be above reproach; a reputation unsullied, an integrity that 
cannot falter. 
But there are other duties that are not less important; they are, perhaps, more 
onerous. I refer to the Judge, as Judge of the Orphans' Court, the Court through 
which immense property in this large community is sure to pass; a Court that must 
meet difficult, involved and important questions, and that has entrusted to it the 
guardianship of widows and orphans. Can we over-estimate the value of that man 
who discharges the duties of the Judge of the Orphans' Court of this city and dis- 
charges them well ? 
I will say nothing of the other duties that are imposed by law upon the judges of 
that court I refer to the duties imposed upon him as the guardian or supervisor of 
all administration in preserving the publie highways, the purity of the public elec- 
tions. One stands appalled at the magnitude of the duties imposed upon him. In 
view of this great magnitude, the inquiry presents itself, who is sufficient for these 
ends ? It was to such a position as this that our late friend was called. For four- 
teen years he has borne the burden of these duties, he has borne this immense bur- 
den ; he has discharged these trusts; how ably, we are all witness. You and I, and 11 
all who are present here this morning, can bear cheerful testimony to the great 
fidelity and eminent ability with which Judge Thompson filled the position to which 
he was chosen. 
It caanot be doubted that his conscientiousness made him discharge all the duties 
of his position, which shortened his life and led him to an untimely death. Not so. 
No death is not untimely to him who has well done his life's work, and who has made 
preparation for a better life. It is we who remain that must suffer; but we, who 
shall not meet again our friends in the land of life, and not again enjoy the benefits 
of his labors in the land of the living, have left to us one example, and the memory 
of the just shall always be blessed " 
The Judge was followed by 
Hon. Eli K. Price, who desired to speak in measured and truthful words; if they be 
eulogy, it will be because truth is eulogistic. We meet to express our sorrow and pay 
our homage of respect to a good man and a faithful magistrate. We come here to 
mourn him as a brother in our profession, more emphatically so because he was taken 
from our ranks and stricken down among us. Being eminently useful as a Judge, 
that feeling of respect and confidence becomes intensified. The bar knows its loss, 
but the public do not know theirs. The judiciary is the final safeguard of all the 
rights of human nature. Thus, in this great loss, we wish to pay him a tribute of 
our gratitude. The senior of Oswald Thompson by about ten years, I have known 
all of his professional and judicial life. 
No one can remember that with him they had any difference; no one ever heard 
from him, on the bench, an unkind word, or knew him to do an unkind act; he was 
not capable of it. He seemed never to have thought, when the bar was interposed, 
that he had ceased to be one of our profession. His nature was calm, mild and 
deliberate. He always listened to every case with admirable patience, when even 
patience might seem to others to be beyond the bounds of virtue. He spoke at the 
right time, decisively and positively. He had an iron will, though his body was 
weak. His decisions were brief, as from the pressure of business they must have 
been, but though brief they always clearly explained the grounds and principles on 
which they were based ; when written, they were terse but complete. Your honor 
has had many to review, but very few to reverse. 
This occasion is not to be lost to demand the reform of a great evil to which your 
Honor has adverted. I trust this matter will go to the Legislature and receive their 
considerate action. Here are four or five Courts, with jurisdiction extending over 
every interest, from a few dollars up to the lives of our citizens. There is the Court 
of Oyer and Terminer, to decide the great questions of life. There is the Court of 
Quarter Sessions, with many cases, like those of elections, of infinite value. There 
is the Court of Common Pleas, with equity jurisdiction, with a constantly increasing 
business. There are the Orphans' Court and the Registry Court. Through these, 
must, on an average, once in thirty years, pass the whole property of this great 
community. Thus, upon three men are imposed duties sufficient to break down all 
their constitutions, business enough for twice as many. 
Judge Thompson fell a victim to this evil. For years I have seen him breaking 
down, seen him struggling under these onerous labors, with a keen sense of his 
public duties and a will to perform them, whatever might be his personal suffering. 12 
Tie went on the bench having a good legal practice; had he not done so, I believe 
he would have been, to-day, a richer man and a living man. I regard him as a 
sacrifice to the public good. I want to point to his dead body, and in view of that 
sacrifice make an appeal to the Legislature to obviate this killing labor by dividing 
the duties between a larger number. Every Judge that goes on the bench, giving 
up a large practice, and performs his duties well, demands the meed of perfect praise. 
We have this consolation in our hour of sorrow, that he has left us a good and per- 
fect example. He lived to perfect that example, and the best and most patriotic 
prayer we can now offer is that his successor may adorn the bench with his urbanity, 
his learning, and his virtue, and at the close of his life like him receive the praises 
and benedictions of all good men. 
The following are the resolutions unanimously adopted by the 
meeting:- 
Resolved, That the members of the Philadelphia bar feel with deep sorrow the 
loss which this community has sustained in the death of the Hon Oswald Thomp- 
son, the late President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of this county. 
Resolved, That, we hold in the highest esteem the learning, the integrity, and the 
exalted virtues of the late Judge Thompson, and most sincerely deplore the loss 
which the bench and the country have sustained by the death of one so eminently 
qualified for the high and honorable station which he filled. 
Resolved, That in recording these sentiments, we desire to adduce testimony to 
the purity aud uprightness of his life, and to the estimable qualities which belonged 
to him as a man. 
Resolved, That we most truly sympathize with his bereaved family in that afflic- 
tion under which they mourn the loss of an affectionate husband, a kind parent and 
a good citizen. 
Resolved, That the members of this bar will attend the funeral of the late Judge 
Thompson. 
Resolved, That a Committee of seven be appointed by the Chair to present a copy 
of these proceedings to the family of the deceased. 
We insert the following, from the final presentment of the Grand 
Jury of the February term, who say: 
" The majority of the cases brought before us were for trivial offences. We fer- 
vently hope that this state of things may continue, and the number of crimes still 
lessen, so that Philadelphia may still claim in reality to be the ' City of Brotherly 
Love.' " They also say " The Association for Relieving the Distressed in Prisons, 
could not have a more efficient Agent than Mr. William J. Mullen, whom we found 
at bis post." In response to this presentment, the Judge thanked the Grand Jury 
lor their attention to their duties. 
The following is an extract from the Presentment of the Grand 
Jury for the August Term, to the Hon. Judge Ludlow, of which 
body Stephen A. Caldwell, Esq., was foreman. 
"The Grand Jury have called before them a great number of witnesses, revealing 
a vast volume of crime; much of it of the most atrocious character. They are 1 o 
la 
glad to know that many of the criminals, against whom indictments were found, 
have been brought to speedy trial, and, upon conviction, have received from your 
Honor a quick and condign sentence. It is only by thus dealing in a summary 
manner with heinous offenders, that we can hope to abate the growing volume of 
crime ; and we most earnestly commend your example, of merited severity on crim- 
inals, to your associates, believing that the condition of affairs requires a using of 
the " terrors of the law" to their utmost limit. 
A great number of cases of assault and battery are of a trifling nature, growing 
out of the jealousies and evil-speaking of neighbors, and are unworthy the time 
occupied and the expense incurred in the hearing of them. In very many instances, 
the prosecutors suppose that when they have had the assailant "bound over," the 
matter is ended ; in many other cases, to have the assaulting party bound to " keep 
the peace" would satisfy the aim of the prosecutor and the ends of justice. 
If it be lawful for the Aidermen to do so, without making a return to the 
District Attorney, we are sure that by following that course in all minor cases, 
great expense would be saved to the county, as well as to all concerned. The 
fruitful source of three-fourths of the crime developed, to our experience, is the 
use of intoxicating drinks. Licensed and unlicensed taverns, saloons and drinking 
shops, spring up in every corner and in every street, like mushrooms in a night, 
until the evil flowing forth from them is disturbing, in an unwonted manner, the 
peace and happiness of society, filling our streets with drunkenness, lewdness and 
vice, our prisons with criminals, and sending numberless victims into untimely 
graves. It is the province of neither judge or jury to make laws; they can only 
execute them ; but we can point the people to the source from which so much 
crime emanates, and exhort them to seek, through wise and just legislation, an 
adequate remedy. During four years of furious war, the people have proved, by 
their patience, courage and fortitude, their ability and determination, ours as a 
Government of the people ; and now, in these days of peace returned, if they 
will enjoy the blessings of peace, and the comforts of pure and virtuous society, 
free from fear of crime, they must take into their own keeping the trust of electing 
good and wise Legislators, and the eradicating the evils now existing in the com- 
munity." 
The curse of Intemperance, that worst foe to godliness, so notice- 
able everywhere, still abounds in our city to a truly alarming extent, 
constantly leading to those crimes which fill our prisons and alms- 
houses with drunkards, paupers and criminals, who have been made 
such by the unnecessary use of intoxicating liquors, which are sold 
under the sanction and protection of law. 
The result is to be seen in the squalid wretchedness and absolute 
misery everywhere attendant upon this accursed traffic, so expensive 
to our fellow-citizens who have to bear the burdens of supporting its 
victims-burdens which the rum-sellers should be required, by law, to 
bear from the profits of their iniquitous business. They should be 14 
made to support those whom they have impoverished while enrich- 
ing themselves. 
The main object of law, as we understand it, is to prevent and sup- 
press crime. A more effectual way to increase crime than that of legaliz- 
ing the unrestrained sale of intoxicating liquors, it is difficult to con- 
ceive. We say unrestrained, and this is so, for any person can, under 
the law, go to the office of the Court of Quarter Sessions and obtain a 
license to sell rum upon the payment of a few dollars to the City 
Treasurer, upon a certificate given by the County Commissioner. 
No matter how bad the character of the individual may be, but 
little difficulty will be found as to the fitness or reputation of the 
house for the accommodation of the public. These dens of 
iniquity, where crime originates, have caused the vast increase in 
our criminal business. Is not a reform, in this particular, called for 
by the history of the past, and by.the present danger to the morals 
of the community ? 
Our beloved country, thanks to an overruling Providence, is saved 
from any further horrors of war, whose dark clouds are rolling away 
-from destruction by slavery, now itself dying by suicide-but is 
not the country which God has thus preserved and blessed, cursed 
by another evil, imperiled by another sin ? Is not this a time for 
repentance and reformation ? Has not Intemperance cast a deeper 
shadow over the dark scenes of war ? Does it not imperil the wel- 
fare of thousands of our brave defenders whom shot and shell and 
fever have spared ? Strong drink is still raging. Wine is still a 
mocker, deceiving many who might be wise. Intemperance is cast- 
ing down many of the wounded, who have done honor to themselves 
and their country upon the battle-field! Rum-selling and rum- 
drinking still destroy domestic happiness, disturb public tranquility, 
incite to riot, to arson, to murder, to suicide, and to every crime, 
tormenting and slaying their hundreds of thousands of captives, with a 
barbarism rivaling, if it cannot reach, the atrocities of the slave mart 
and the soldier-prison, invading our homes and corrupting our 
youth. 
As we regard the welfare of the community in which we live; as 
we regard the welfare of the rising generation; as we hope for the 
preservation of our free institutions; as we value the peace and 15 
happiness of our own fire-sides; and as we value religion which is 
the solace of our sorrows and the only hope of happiness hereafter; 
and as we desire crime diminished-which we now so painfully see 
on the increase, resulting from this unrighteous business, filling our 
prisons, as we have remarked, with criminals of the worst character. 
There should be prompt action on the part of our citizens to avoid 
this evil, and stop this tide of iniquity, by legislation or otherwise. 
The guilt of intemperance and its accessories calls loudly for a speedy 
remedy at the hands of the wise and good. 
In the Coroner's Report of our city for the year, it is shown that 
there have been nine hundred and thirty-one (931) deaths by suicide, 
accidents, &c., over which that official has held inquests. The num- 
ber of murders was twenty-two (22.) From the Philadelphia In- 
quirer of the 15th inst., and from other sources, we learn that the 
number of murders committed in the United States within the year 
was six hundred and eighty-two (682,) for which there were ninety- 
three (93) executions. Of the above number, thirty-five (35) mur- 
ders were committed on Christmas day. My official position as Prison 
Agent, and my experience in the statistics of crime for the last twelve 
years, warrant me in saying, without fear of successful contradiction, 
that nine-tenths of the murders are traceable to intoxicating drink. 
Remove this evil, and there will be little or no necessity for the gal- 
lows, and crime will almost disappear in our beloved country. 
Some idea may be formed of the fearful number of tavern licenses 
granted to retail dealers in intoxicating drinks, from the Auditor 
Generals Report for 1865, from which it appears that there have 
been paid into the State treasury for tavern licenses in Philadelphia 
alone, one hundred and seventy thousand five hundred and fifty-two 
dollars and seven cents ($170,552 07,) and in the whole State, two 
hundred and forty-nine thousand six hundred and forty-five dollars 
and nineteen cents ($249,645 19,) paid for the privilege of establish- 
ing so many pest houses, to fix, like moral plague-spots and festering 
sores, upon the surface of our otherwise beautiful Commonwealth. 
It is fearful to contemplate, that from these licensed dens of iniquity 
there will issue men and women, demoralized and corrupted, to prey 
upon the community, by increasing the amount of our criminal busi- 16 
ness, as well as the burden of our taxes; for we can look upon this 
$250,000 of revenue in no other light than as so much seed, sown 
broad-cast upon our State, that will inevitably produce a woeful crop 
of crime, insanity, misery and death. 
We would here remark, as we have on previous occasions, that it 
is greatly to be regretted that our City Councils have not yet made 
an appropriation for the building of a House of Correction, by which 
our over-crowded prison could be relieved of drunkards and vagrants, 
who might be made to work and earn their keep, but who, under the 
present arrangement, are supported in idleness, thereby interfering 
with the legitimate business of imprisoning convicts, who are now 
crowded, in many instances, three in a cell, instead of one, as the 
Law requires. There must be some action on this subject, at once, or 
there will have to be an addition made to the prison. The crowded 
condition of the cells will create disease, such as we had last year 
when visited by the spotted fever in its worst form. 
The increase of crime is not confined to our city alone, as may be 
seen from the following extract from the Metropolitan Police Report 
of New York. The Superintendent of the Police says: 
" The number of arrests made during the last quarter, amounts to the unprece- 
dented number of nine thousand one hundred and twenty-two (9,122,) being nearly 
three thousand (3000) more than have been arrested during any previous quarter." 
He says the number of arrests is mainly owing to the great num- 
ber of soldiers, that have been mustered out of military service, in 
our midst, who, finding themselves without employment and without 
means, many of them have, as a consequence, become violators of 
the law, and have fallen into the hands of the police. 
"But the greater number of arrests have been of persons who have followed in 
the wake of our armies for the purpose of plunder and robbery; and now the 
war is over and our armies disbanded, they are forced to prey upon our citizens. 
There is also a large number of the convicts of the Southern prisons who are now 
at large, and are found to be among the most desperate characters that visit our 
city. Most of these men are as yet unknown to our detectives, and consequently 
these officers labor under a disadvantage in these cases. Of the entire number 
arrested, three thousand four hundred and eighteen could not read nor write. 17 
The judicious management of our prison, on the part of the In- 
spectors, continues to be satisfactory, and the management of the 
Superintendent, William B. Perkins, is acceptable to all parties 
concerned. 
The cleanly condition, excellent management, and good ventila- 
tion of the female department, is truly praiseworthy ; and the health 
of the prison generally, under the attentive care of Doctor Henry 
Y. Smith, is good. 
The moral instruction given on the Sabbath, under the supervision 
of the Agent, by the clergy of different denominations, has been 
productive of good, and gives general satisfaction. 
In the case of discharged convicts, the Agent has given particular 
attention to this class of prisoners, and as on former occasions, so 
during this year, he has, from time to time, furnished them with 
necessary articles of clothing, and with sufficient money to meet 
their immediate wants. In some instances he has provided them 
with temporary homes, or obtained for them self-supporting employ- 
ment, or when required, railroad tickets have been procured to take 
them to their distant friends. Many of these were discharged 
females, who were taken to the Howard Home, or to the Rosine 
Asylum, where they will be cared for and instructed in- useful occu- 
pations. Men, in many instances, have been provided with homes 
at the House of Industry in Catharine Street. 
Out of the number of cases released during the year, eighteen 
were proper subjects for the Insane Asylum. Several of these had 
been previously inmates of that institution, and had eloped, or had 
been discharged, and were arrested and sent to prison for various 
offences. The Agent saw that they were discharged and taken to 
the Asylum. 
The general approval of the press, and the continued approbation 
of the Judges of the Court, together with the support and encour- 
agement given by the Inspectors, as well as the kind co-operation of 
the Society, not only encourage the Agent, but cause him to feel 
thankful that he is permitted to continue in this good work, which 
involves so much responsibility. This induces him to persevere in 
the path of duty with increased energy, with the hope that, under 
the Divine direction, his labors may be such as, not only to make 
2 18 
him more useful to unfortunate and oppressed prisoners, but also to 
meet the approval of Him whose blessing is upon all who are sincere 
in their efforts to benefit their fellow-men. 
All of which is respectfully submitted. 
WILLIAM J. MULLEN, 
Prison Agent. 
AGENT. 
The following article from the pen of the Hon. Joseph R. Chand- 
ler, we give as we find it recorded in the Society's Journal for the 
year 1865. It alludes to the labors of the Agent, and is intended 
for the information of those who may feel interested in the Agency. 
As the writer is disinterested, and visits the prison twice every day, 
devoting all his time to the relief and welfare of the prisoners, in 
his connection with his official duties as an Inspector and a member 
of the Prison Society, he is in a position which enables him to know 
precisely what the Agent has done-particularly so, as he has made 
himself acquainted with the history of most of the cases which the 
Agent has had released, he having previously drawn the Agent's 
attention to many of them. 
"Mr. William J. Mullen is still the Agent of the Society, and is constant 
and indefatigable in his labors to carry out the views of those by whom he is 
appointed; and it appears to be greatly promotive of the object of his work, that 
he is also the Agent of the Board of Inspectors of the County Prison; so that there 
is scarcely a beneficial act which he reports to the Society, and receives therefor its 
approbation, that is not, at the same time, quite within the humane and just views 
of the Inspectors. And it is gratifying to know that that body regard with entire 
approval the labors of Mr. Mullen in behalf of some of the unfortunate persons 
that are committed to the County Prison. 
Of course, a large proportion of those who are imprisoned for misdemeanors and 
felony, have committed the crime with which they are charged: they may indeed 
hope to defeat all efforts to prove their guilt, or they may seek to create such doubts 
as may work to their benefit; but many of them are really guilty, and deserve pun- 
ishment. But guilty as they are, they have some rights as human beings, and they 19 
have interests that may claim respect of some one. And even with these the Agent 
has some business. He is to be appealed to for assistance in various ways, such as 
justice permits and mercy demands. He may find something to do in arranging the 
outside business, and especially the family affairs of the criminal, so that, while the 
husband and father may be called to suffer, the innocent wife and the dependent 
children may have all possible aid from what he can secure to them. The business 
of the Agent is only to assist such a prisoner in the use of whatever right is left to 
him; it is not to interpose himself, or his employers, between justice and its legiti- 
mate victims. 
Another class of prisoners are committed on suspicion; and no proof can be fur- 
nished of their guilt, save the somewhat vague exparte oath upon which the magis- 
trate founds the commitment. It might be supposed that no agency would be 
required to save such a prisoner from a verdict of guilty and its consequent impri- 
sonment, and little risk would be incurred, in leaving such a case, generally, to the 
discrimination of a jury, under the proper instruction of the court. But when is 
that judge to instruct the jury, and that jury to try the case ? Such prisoners often 
remain in prison for several months. Not being able to procure bail, they must 
await the sitting of the court, and then just in proportion to their innocency is the 
likelihood that their case will not be acted on; and this from no neglect of duty on 
the part of the prosecuting officer. With the immense amount of business con- 
stantly pressing upon his office, he naturally takes the case which startles most by 
its criminality ; or, when calling up those of minor character, he is likely to take 
those for which witnesses have been supplied. Hence the person suffers longest 
who is imprisoned for some small misdemeanor, that would scarcely have been 
noticed but for the malice of the prosecutor, who, knowing the weakness of his 
case, is willing to wreak his vengeance on the offender by letting him suffer, from 
want of testimony to prove his guilt. Into these cases the Agent at once inquires, 
and, satisfied of the innocence of the accused, or that the offence has been more 
than expiated by the imprisonment which he undergoes on the charges without a 
trial, he proceeds to arrange a settlement with the prosecutor, and, failing in that, 
he forces the case into court, (with the consent of the District Attorney,) and thus 
procures the release of the sufferer, and sometimes the punishment of him who, in 
the indulgence of a bad spirit, brought about that suffering. We do not mean that 
the Agent is the Nemesis of the criminal laws; but it is certaiu that the exposure 
of a great wrong often inflicts a greater injury upon the offender than he had pur- 
posed to the offended. It seems almost impossible to preserve the operation of the 
criminal law from oppressing those who by accident or error may be placed within 
its action. The stranger arrested on a trumped-up charge, is as liable to the prison 
as the most guilty. As a stranger, he is likely to be without friends to go his bail; 
and still more likely to be without means to pay for defence. His case is at once 
brought to the attention of the Agent. And, indeed, it may be said of the Agent, 
with regard to all these matters, that " the cause which he knows not he inquires 
outand some extracts which we shall give from his monthly reports will show the 
results of his labors. 
It must not be inferred that in all the cases in which the Agent interferes, the 20 
prisoner is, oris supposed to be, innocent. The qnestion is not, in many cases, as 
it regards the fact, but as it regards the extent of depravity, and the effect of con- 
tinued punishment, and the effect of the loss of time, and the influence of bad asso- 
ciations, not on the prisoner alone, but upon his family. 
Sometimes the child is arrested for pilfering. Inquiries are instituted as to the 
frequency of the act, the character of temptation, and the chance of saving the 
offender, if legal punishment is withheld. 
Sometimes the parent commits some act of violence, of which he is ashamed, and 
it is evident that imprisonment is only multiplying trouble at home. The Agent 
visits the prosecutor and modifies his feelings, and then procures from the magis- 
trate a discharge for the offender, who perhaps never before saw the inside of a 
prison, and by the good feeling restored, is placed in a situation which seems secure 
from any likelihood of his again occupying a cell. 
Family differences are often healed by the timely interposition of the Agent. 
Coarse habits, some of them on both sides, often lead to quarrels between the hus- 
band and wife, and the one that is strongest, and who does the most harm to the 
other, frequently completes the wrong by sending the sufferer, not always innocent, 
to prison. Hundreds of this kind of cases are acted upon every year; and when 
an Inspector of the prison can find time to acquaint himself with the circumstances 
of the inmates of the cell, he may do much good by exercising his authority to 
dismiss the prisoner, if in his power, or by calling the attention of the Agent to the 
matter. 
There is one class of cases to which, in former reports, we have referred, and 
which are always worthy of the notice of those who visit prisons with a view and an 
ability to discriminate : it is that of Disorderly Houses. All, in cities, understand 
pretty well what this term implies, and all who understand the ways of the city 
know well that the charge might be made with great justice in hundred of instances 
which never reach the magistrate's docket. But in many of the cases that reach 
the prison record, it is found that the prisoner has not been disorderly, has not done 
any thing unusual, has not openly committed any wrong. But the poor creature 
had hired, for one dollar a week, a room of some tenant of the whole house, and, 
in the mutation of things abroad, a person can be found who will pay one dollar 
and a-half a week; and if the one-dollar tenant will not at once come to the new 
terms, nor quit the house, she can be forced to the one or the other by sending 
her down to prison on a charge of "disorderly house." Nothing, of course, is to 
be proved, in Court, against the prisoner, when the day of trial shall arrive. But 
what utter ruin for him or her to await that time! Such persons cannot find bail; 
and so the Agent sees the prosecutor, and the charge is withdrawn, on condition of 
leaving the house,-and thus fraud and falsehood gain the day. Of course, hun- 
dreds of these charges are well founded, that is to say, disorder exists; but even 
in such cases the motive for making the charge is little better than that which we 
noticed above, and the disorder only becomes intorerable when something can be 
gained by bringing an accusation. 
One very important office of the Agent is to receive the prisoner when he has 
completed his time, to conduct him to some establishment where employment may 21 
be obtained-or failing to find such a place, or the prisoner-preferring to go 
" home," the Agent procures for him a railroad pass, and supplies him with clothes 
and means for food till he reaches his destination. Much good in this way has been 
done for young women who, led into vice and crime by city habits, have desired to 
return to their parents. And in this connection it may not be improper to say, that 
the several Railroad Companies having termini in Philadelphia, have been most 
charitable in supplying free tickets, on the application of the Agent, for those who 
would have continued to do wrong, and to come to the prison, if they had not been 
helped away. 
The whole statement of the Agent, of his success in dealing with important cases, 
will prove exceedingly interesting to the reader, as they are creditable to him. 
They will be found at some length in his Annual Report; but not more thnn five or 
six per cent, of all the releases which he procures are mentioned, as most of them 
are regarded as of less interest. But, in reality, the thousands of cases in which 
his interference restores the husband or the wife to the family, or saves a boy 
from becoming a confirmed thief, or a girl from being an abandoned woman, deeply 
concern society, and are thus important. Those who would know how much interest 
these trifling cases have, should see the earnestness of relatives to procure their 
settlement, and hear the thanks of the released for the successful efforts in their 
behalf. 
Of the many thousand dollars saved to the city by the interference of the Agent 
in cases which he settles, we say nothing, as our business is with the humanitary 
side of the question, not with the pecuniary; though at the present moment even 
the latter is not unworthy consideration." 
We also quote the following from the last Annual Report of the 
Prison Inspectors, written by Dr. Biddle, the President of the 
Board, who is fully acquainted with the labors of the Agent. As it 
gives the views of the Inspectors on this subject, we insert it. 
"The services of the Agent, Mr. William J. Mullen, are eminently useful and 
acceptable, in the performance of the peculiar duties which devolve upon him. The 
Board entertain undiminished confidence in his integrity and zeal in the execution 
of the delicate and responsible functions of his office. The records in the Agent's 
Journal furnish abundant evidence that the present system of magistracy is an 
engine of fraud, extortion and oppression. The duties of this officer are chiefly 
devoted to the abatement and restraint of oppressive and illegal acts on the part of 
committing magistrates." 
The following is a Selection of Cases, illustrating the commitments 
and their character: 
Number 1-Was the case of a German boy, who was arrested and committed to 
prison on the charge of larceny. After investigating the case, the Agent went to 22 
the Alderman, and saw that the boy was immediately released. This was a very 
remarkable case. The prisoner was a boy about seventeen years of age, who came 
to this port in a German vessel, and did not understand much of onr language. He 
was kidnapped from the vessel by a man who took him to Trenton, New Jersey, for 
the purpose of putting him in the army, in the hope of getting the bounty. The 
boy, however, refused to enlist, or to give his consent to this proceeding. 
He was then brought back to Philadelphia and put into the hands of a shipping 
master, who had him shipped, and received fifty dollars ($50) of his advance pay, 
no portion of which was given to the boy, but twenty dollars were given to the man 
that kidnapped him and tried to dispose of him at Trenton. The boy refused to be 
shipped, and because he would not, a false charge of larceny was made against him, 
and he was sent to prison. This was done in the hope of frightening him, and in 
this way forcing him to ship or enlist. 
The parties accused him of stealing a coat. The investigation of the Agent 
showed that they had loaned him the coat which they accused him of stealing. 
This charge was made a pretext, to enable them to imprison him until he should 
consent to be disposed of as they wished. The Agent went to the committing 
magistrate, and to the prosecutors, and told them, in a manner not to be mis- 
understood, that if they did not immediately release the boy from prison, that 
he (the Agent) would bring the case before the Court, in such a way that would 
not only insure the prisoner's release, but would, in all probability, result in the 
imprisonment of those who had conspired against this unfortunate young stranger. 
When this had been said to the Aiderman, he sent for the parties, who consented 
to the immediate release of the prisoner. 
This case was truly distressing, as he was a stranger in this country, and without 
friends. It was a clear case of conspiracy on the part of bad men, who were will- 
ing to sacrifice this boy, to put money into their pockets. As it was, he was at 
once discharged and cared for. 
Number 2-Was the case of a colored woman, who was accused of larceny, an 
offence of which she was not guilty, as was shown upon an investigation of the case 
by the Agent. The fact was, that the prisoner had benevolently taken the prosecu- 
tor, who was a white woman, into her house and given her shelter for the night. 
On the next morning, this woman took a portion of her clothing and pawned it, then 
went into a rum-shop, purchased rum and got drunk. She left the pawn-tickets in 
the rum-shop, with her own name upon them. This showed that she had herself 
disposed of the very clothing which she had accused the prisoner of stealing After 
the Agent had discovered this fact, he informed the magistrate, who promptly dis- 
charged the prisoner, instead of detaining her for trial at the next court. 
Number 3-Was the case of a man who was charged with the larceny of two news- 
papers from the premises of one of our principal hotels. The prisoner said that he 
did not steal the papers; that a gentleman, who was a stranger, bought them, read 
them, and then threw them away, when (the prisoner) gathered them up. The 
Agent inquired into his character, and found it good. He had been employed as a 
book-keeper, in a mercantile house in this city, for eight years, and only left when 
his employers gave up business. The proprietor of the hotel, where the alleged 23 
offence was committed, gave the Agent a written statement, to be presented to the 
District Attorney, asking for the immediate release of the prisoner, which was 
cheerfully given by the Court. The prisoner was respectably connected, and his 
prompt discharge was appreciated by himself and family. 
Number 4-Was the case of a colored woman who had been committed to prison 
on the charge of larceny. On an investigation by the Agent, it was ascertained 
that she had received two articles, from the prosecutor, to wash. While in her 
charge, some person, in her absence, had stolen them. The prosecutor was not satis- 
fied with her account of the matter, and had her arrested and committed upon the 
above charge. 
The property was afterwards found in a pawn-shop, where it had been pawned by 
the thief in her own name. The Agent informed the magistrate of these facts, and 
showed that the prisoner had been robbed of these articles by the party who pawned 
them. The prisoner expressed a willingness to pay for the articles, as soon as she 
was able to do so ; but this availed her nothing, and she was committed to prison. 
When the true state of the case was made known to the magistrate and the prosecu- 
tor, the prisoner was honorably discharged. 
Number 5-Was the case of two colored men, who were strangers in our city; 
one had been committed for assault and battery, and the other upon the charge of 
swindling. An investigation showed both of these charges, not only to be false, but 
that the prosecutor himself was actually the guilty party, he having robbed one of 
the prisoners of his watch, and taken from them a bag containing clothing, which 
belonged to both of them. 
All this was done for the purpose of distressing them, in the hope of compelling 
them to enlist for three hundred dollars ($300) each, which was the amount this 
unscrupulous man offered them, being less than half the sum the Government and 
the ward associations were giving at the time. 
As they were British subjects, just arrived from Nassau, and as they did not wish 
to enter the army, they refused his offer, asking him, at the same time, to restore 
their property. He declined to do this, and because they complained of his bad 
conduct, he brought the false charges against them, and had them sent to prison. 
The Agent immediately applied to the Court for a writ of habeas corpus. This was 
granted by Judge Ludlow, and, on being brought before the Court, they were dis- 
charged. The Agent then accompanied them to the British Consul, who took charge 
of them, supplied them with cdmfortable lodgings, and promised, at the same time, 
to send them back to Nassau. He also said he would compel the prosecutor to give 
up the watch and clothing which he had taken from them. 
Number 6-Was the case of a man and his wife who had been imprisoned by his 
sister, upon the charge of larceny. The offence consisted in the wife having taken 
some clothing out of a trunk, and which she pawned for five dollars, to enable her 
to get bread for her starving children. The husband was out of employment at the 
time. It was mid-winter, and they were without fuel to keep themselves and their 
children warm. Their three little ones were really in a suffering condition at the 24 
time when this woman took the things which her sister-in-law had left in her care 
for safe keeping. 
She hoped that her husband would soon get employment, and earn some money to 
enable her to redeem the articles before her sister-in-law came for them ; but her 
hopes, in this respect, were not realized. When the sister discovered that her 
clothing had been taken from the trunk, she was very angry, and, in the excitement, 
sued them, and had them committed to prison 
Thus they were separated from their children, who were left locked up at home, 
with no person to care for them. The Agent immediately called upon the prosecu- 
tor, and reasoned with her, when she consented to the release of the prisoners, and 
expressed her sorrow for having imprisoned them. She at once offered to pay all 
expenses, and they were discharged. 
Number 7-Was the case of two colored women, who were very poor, and earned 
their living by washing. One of them had an infant with her, at the breast. She 
had received some clothing from a man, to wash. When she had finished the job, 
she expected the pay for what she had done, to enable her to get the necessaries of 
life for her family; but in this she was disappointed. The owner of the clothes 
informed her that he had not money enough to pay for the washing of all of them, 
but would pay for a part, and would leave the remainder until he came again. She 
told him this would not suit her, that she wanted the pay for the washing at once; 
but he did not pay her. Subsequently she requested the girl, who lived in the house 
with her, to take the things and pawn them for a sufficient sum to pay herself the 
balance for the washing. 
The owner came for the remainder of his clothing, when she told him what she 
had done with them, and offered him the ticket, that he might redeem them. He 
declined to do this, sued the two women, and had them committed to prison, together 
with the infant. After this, the Agent saw that the things were redeemed and 
returned to the owner, when the prisoners were immediately released. 
Number 8-Was the case of a woman who was improperly committed to prison 
upon a charge of the larceny of a cloak. The investigation showed that the cloak had 
been given her, by the owner, to pawn. The Agent saw the prosecutor, and obtained 
her consent to the release of the prisoner, and to pay the costs. The prisoner was 
confined of an infant during the short time she was a prisoner. She had, also, a 
little boy at home, who needed her care. The prosecutor took charge of him while 
his mother was imprisoned. 
Number 9-Was the case of an old man and his son, imprisoned by his wife, 
upon the charge of assault and battery. She was the second wife, and there were 
two sets of children. She him to put his children out of the house, and to 
retain hers. He refused to this. He and his son were very industrious, and 
were good workmen. They were willing to work for the support of all; but this 
did not suit the wife: she wanted the house to the exclusion of his family. About 
this they quarrelled, and came to blows. The son protected the father, and she had 
them both committed to prison. The Agent succeeded in convincing her and the 25 
magistrate that they were wrong in having them imprisoned. They then consented 
to their discharge, and the difficulty was adjusted by the Agent's interference. 
Number 10-Was the case of a soldier who was on furlough He had been over 
a year in the Libby Prison, and had suffered everything short of death. While 
passing through our city, on his way to New York, some person treated him, drugged 
his liquor, and robbed him of over one hundred dollars, and then had him com- 
mitted to prison upon the charge of abuse. 
The Agent saw that he was immediately released, and gave him some money to 
assist him on his way to New York. 
Number 11-Was the case of two women, mother and daughter, who were impri- 
soned upon the charge of the larceny of five dollars from a sister-in-law. 
The money had been taken by the daughter, who believed she had a right to it. 
This money had been left by the brother, with his wife, to be used for the benefit of 
his sister, if she needed it, during his absence in the army. His sister, one of the 
prisoners, was a cripple, and had been sick for five months. Her mother had nursed 
her and cared for her in the absonce of the son. They were in want of the necessa- 
ries of life, and asked the sister-in-law for some money; but she was selfish, and 
would not give them any, The consequence was, that the sick sister went to the 
trunk, and took out five dollars, and expended it for the benefit of herself and her 
mother. For this they were both committed to prison. The agent went to the 
prosecutor, and convinced her that she and the magistrate had committed a great 
wrong in imprisoning, under the circumstances, the mother and sister of her hus- 
band, in his absence. 
When she was made to understand, in a manner not to be mistaken, that her hus- 
band would, in all probability, hold her accountable for improper conduct toward 
his mother and sister, she consented to their immediate release. 
Number 12-Was the case of a mate of a vessel, who had borrowed seventeen 
dollars ($17), fourteen years ago, from a sea captain. The parties met in about 
ten months after the money had been borrowed, when the prisoner paid seven 
dollars on account. They met again in about a year from this period, when a second 
instalment of nine dollars was paid by the prisoner, which left but one dollar to be 
paid. They then separated, and, subsequently, in about twelve years, met again in 
this city, when a dispute arose between the parties about the balance owing. The 
captain contended that the balance due him was ten dollars, with interest, instead 
of one dollar, as the prisoner said. The result was, the prisoner was arrested and 
committed to prison for the debt. As the imprisonment was illegal, the Agent 
applied for a writ of habeas corpus, and had him discharged by the Court, in time 
for him to take his position in the vessel before she sailed from our port. This was 
accomplished by Judge Allison authorizing his discharge, he was released without 
costs. 
Nueber 13-Was the case of a young officer belonging to the Navy. He had in- 
dulged too freely in intoxicating liquors, and, while on his way home, at a late hour, 
sat down upon the foot-path and fell asleep. Subsequently he was aroused by a 
police officer, who, as the prisoner thought, handled him rather roughly, and he 26 
therefore made some resistance, and tore the officer's clothing, for which he was 
sent to prison. The Agent saw that the officer was compensated for the damage 
done, and the prisoner was immediately released, and permitted to return to his 
position in the Government service. 
Number 14-Was the case of a woman who had been treated with cruelty by her 
husband. He came home about four o'clock in the morning, knocked at the door, 
and asked to be admitted. His wife came down and let him in, but complained of 
his improper conduct, when he struck her on the face, knocked her down, and beat 
her so badly that she became insensible. He then dragged her, by the hair of the 
head, into the yard, at which time the neighbors interfered and prevented him from 
committing any further violence upon her. After he had done this, he went to an 
alderman's office, sued her, and had her committed to prison upon the charge of 
assault and battery,-an offence of which she was not guilty, but, on the contrary, 
her bruised and battered person bore unmistakable evidence of the terrible assault 
he had committed upon her, while he was in a state of beastly intoxication. Not- 
withstanding all this, which was self-evident, she was committed to prison upon 
the testimony of this drunken husband. 
The case was immediately investigated by the Agent, who saw her neighbors, all 
of whom spoke well of her, and were willing to bear testimony to the inhuman 
treatment which she received from her husband. When the Agent made known 
these facts to the aiderman, he at once gave an unconditional discharge, withou. 
costs, and she was permitted to return to her home and take charge of her children 
Number 15-Was the case of a respectable Jewess, who is a widow, having two 
children, one a boy, in Girard College, and the other an interesting little girl. Her 
opposite neighbor had quarrelled with her, and had broken down her grape-vines 
and flowers. For this the prisoner had sued her, and had her bound over to appear 
at Court, upon the charge of malicious mischief. As soon as this was done, the 
party sued her, before the same magistrate, upon the charge of assault and threats, 
an offence of which she was not guilty. As she was poor, and unable to find bail, 
she was committed to prison. Her little daughter went to the College and informed 
her brother of their mother's imprisonmen. The Superintendent of the College 
gave him liberty to go and look after the case, provided he would return by ten 
o'clock in the evening. He came to your Agent, in the prison, accompanied by his 
little sister, and begged, in tears, for the release of their mother. The Agent took 
charge of the case, went to the prosecutor, and prevailed upon her to accompany 
him to the alderman's office, and give consent to the settlement of the case, with 
the understanding that the prisoner should withdraw the charge that she had 
brought against the prosecutor. This was agreed to, and both suits were settled to 
the satisfaction of all concerned. In this manner, through the Agent's interference 
the prisoner was released in a few hours after she had been committed. 
The children were greatly rejoiced at the liberation of their mother, and the boy 
had the satisfaction of taking the discharge of his mother to the prison, about nine 
o'clock in the evening, in time to enable him to return to the College by ten o'clock, 
as he had promised. 27 
Number 16-Was the case of a mother and her daughter,-the latter had an 
infant at her breast. They were wrongfully imprisoned, upon the testimony of a 
drunken woman It was a charge of assault and battery, which consisted in the 
prisoners having put the prosecutor out of the house, as she was making a noise, at 
a time when two females were lying sick of the typhoid fever. When the case wag 
properly explained to the magistrate, by the Agent, the parties were at once 
released, and were permitted to return home and resume the charge of their sick 
friends. 
Number 17-Was the case of a beautiful, and an innocent, girl of about seven- 
teen years of age, who was the only child of a widowed mother. She had been 
raised with great care, but the mother had over persuaded her to marry an elderly 
man, whom she did not like. He was in good circumstances, and able to make her 
comfortable; but, as she did not like him, she left him, and again married a young 
man, who was more congenial to her feelings He was not a good man, but made 
himself agreeable to her, and took her to live at a disreputable house. When her 
mother and her first husband discovered where she was living, they took her 
away and placed her in the House of the Good Shepherd. Subsequently, the 
second husband induced the woman who kept the house of ill-repute to accuse 
the girl of having stolen an article of jewelry, of the value of thirty dollars; 
this charge wns a fictitious one, made for the purpose of bringing her out of 
the benevolent institution by a process of law, with a view of entering bail for 
her, in order that the parties might again get possession of her. 
When the Agent, upon inquiry, ascertained that she was not guilty of the larceny, 
he procured her release from prison and placed her in the hands of her mother, 
who took her back to the House of the Good Shepherd, where she will remain under 
the care of the Sisters of Charity, and will receive such instruction as will tend to 
make her wiser and better. She promised amendment in future, and the sincerity 
of her repentance was evinced by her frequently shedding tears. 
Number 18-Was the case of a woman who had been committed for a debt of 
eighty cents. She was a respectable woman, a school teacher by profession. The 
Agent applied for a writ of habeas corpus, and had her immediately brought before 
the Court, when she was discharged by order of Judge Allison, who said, " This 
woman has been sent to prison for a debt amounting to eighty cents, and when 
brought up the prosecutor refuses to appear and testify, and this has happened 
in a Christian country. Let her be discharged " While making these remarks the 
manner of the Judge showed how much he disapproved of this illegal act on the 
part of the magistrate. 
Number 19-Was the case of a sailor who had been committed by mistake upon 
a charge of threats. He was not the man whom the magistrate intended to commit 
for the offence, the real offender had entered bail and was at liberty. By some mis- 
take at the station house, the commitment got into the hands of an officer who 
served it upon this innocent man, and he was taken to prison, where he was de- 
tained about a month before the Agent was able to effect his release, notwithstanding 
his repeated efforts to convince the magistrate of his mistake. 28 
Number 20-Was the case of a soldier who was accused of stealing several hun- 
dred dollars. A handkerchief was found in bis pocket, which, on investigation, 
showed had been placed there by another person. This handkerchief belonged to 
the prosecutor, and had been placed in the pocket of the prisoner while he was 
asleep in a restaurant, where it was said the robbery was committed. The Agent 
succeeded in finding a witness who saw the transaction about the handkerchief, 
supplied the prisoner with counsel, and he was honorably acquitted by the Court, 
as he was not guilty. 
Number 21-Was the case of three young men who belonged to a government 
steamship, and were on their way by railroad from New York to Baltimore. They 
were suspected of taking part in a fight which occurred in the cars, but upon investi- 
gation it appeared that they were in no way connected with the affair at the time, 
other than they were passengers in the cars. As they were strangers and had been 
improperly imprisoned, the Agent saw that they were promptly released and allowed 
to proceed on their journey through our city. 
Number 22-Was the case of an interesting young girl about sixteen years of 
age, hailing from the State of Delaware. She was committed upon the charge of 
larceny of a few articles, the value of which was less than one dollar. The Agent 
obtained her discharge from the aiderman and took her to the Howard Home, where 
she will remain for one year and receive such instruction as will tend to her future 
well-being. 
Number 23-Was the case of a soldier who had been committed upon the charge 
of deserting his wife. He had been wounded at the battle of Cold Harbor, and was 
still in the service. He had been sent to the hospital at Chestnut Hill, as his 
wounds were not yet healed. While there he was arrested, taken from his sick bed 
and committed to prison upon the testimony of his wife, who charged him with desert- 
ing her. All this was accomplished upon the authority of the Guardians of the Poor, 
in whose name this sick soldier was imprisoned. He has received but a small por- 
tion of his pay in sixteen months. As he was suffering for want of surgical assist- 
ance, such as he had been receiving in the hospital, the Agent applied to the Soli- 
citor of the Guardians and had the prisoner released, and saw that he was supplied 
with sufficient means to enable him to return to the hospital where he belonged. 
His imprisonment was not only unjust and cruel, but was a flagrant violation of law, 
inasmuch as he had not, in any case, deserted his wife. 
Number 24-Was the case of a discharged soldier who was charged with wife 
desertion, a charge of which he was not guilty. On his return home from the army 
after three years service, he purchased a barrel of flour, three tons of coal, which 
were then in the cellar, and gave his wife three hundred and sixty-five dollars (365). 
He then procured a job of work at tailoring, and was at work on this at his own 
house when he was arrested and committed to prison, on the testimony of his wife 
upon the charge of deserting his home. He was scarcely in prison when the Agent 
had him released, by making a statement of the facts to the Solicitor of the Guar- 
dians, who at once consented to the discharge of the prisoner; and thus he was 29 
liberated from this most absurd accusation, which it is difficult not to believe, was 
instituted by his wife for the purpose of getting him out of the way in order to 
make room for another. 
Number 25-Was that of two young men who were tried and convicted upon the 
charge of stealing twenty dollars ($20). The investigation showed that one of the 
parties was a discharged soldier, that he was insane, that he did not steal the money, 
and that he had nothing to do with taking it, but he was afterwards seen in com- 
pany with the thief who gave him a portion of the money. When this explanation 
was given by the Agent to the Court, accompanied by a certificate from a physician 
which showed that he had been an inmate of an insane asylum, the sentence was 
reduced by the authority of the Court from eighteen months to four months imprison- 
ment. This reduction of sentence rejoiced the heart of his widowed mother, who 
gratefully thanked the Agent for his interference which had resulted in lessening 
the suffering of her unfortunate son. He was a youth of about nineteen years of 
age, and was in prison for the first time. 
Number 26-Was that of a man who had been tried and convicted upon the 
charge of assault and battery, and sentenced to eleven months imprisonment. He 
had an interesting family, consisting of a wife and three children that were in a 
destitute condition, which was occasioned by his imprisonment. In view of this, 
and to save them from ruin in their helpless state, the Agent procured from the pro- 
secutor a letter to the Court, asking for the immediate discharge of the prisoner. 
This was cheerfully granted by Judge Allison, who reconsidered the sentence of the 
prisoner, and he was released. There were mitigating circumstances which war- 
ranted this course, as it was afterwards shown that he got into the difficulty by en- 
deavoring to prevent two men from beating and seriously injuring another man while 
he was down and unable to help himself, and thus while in a state of excitement he 
struck the party who prosecuted him. He was an industrious man, whose previous 
character was good; his release gave universal satisfaction, especially to his family 
who much needed his support. 
Number 27-Was the case of a poor woman who was tried and convicted, together 
with another woman, upon the charge of larceny; they were sentenced to one year 
each. Upon an investigation by the Agent, it appeared that they got into the 
present difficulty by one of the women taking out some shirts to make; she being 
destitute of the necessaries of life at the time, and the prisoner having a family of 
children in the same condition, she consented to take the shirts and pawn them, 
when requested to do so by the other party who had received the shirts to make up. 
She did this with the understanding that they were to be redeemed, made up and 
returned to the owner, but before they had succeeded in doing this they were 
arrested, tried and convicted. When the case was explained to the Court, Judge 
Thompson reduced the sentence of the one that pawned the shirts from one year to 
three months imprisonment. 
Number 28-Was the case of a young soldier who had lost his arm upon the bat- 
tlefield. He was taken to the hospital, and after a protracted detention there, and 30 
before he had fully recovered from this injury, he was taken to his home in a feeble 
and exhausted condition. Soon after this he became sick of the typhoid fever, and 
while he was not yet out of danger from this disease, and when he was sick and 
delirious, he got out of his bed and took some clothes belonging to his sister-in-law 
and pawned them. When she discovered what he had done she became very angry 
and quarreled with him, when he in his frenzied condition struck her. This pro- 
voked her, and in the excitement of the moment she went to a magistrate's office, 
sued him, and had him committed to prison upon the double charge of assault and 
battery and larceny. Subsequently he was tried, convicted and sentenced to three 
months imprisonment for the assault and battery, with an additional sentence of 
eighteen months for the larceny. When his respectable sister, who resides in Bal- 
timore, heard of this, she came immediately to this city and informed the Agent of 
all the particulars. The physician that attended him was seen, as was also the pro- 
secutor, who gave a letter to the Agent, in which she acknowledged her error in 
having prosecuted him, she regretted this the more as she was now satisfied that he 
was not fully in his right mind at the time when he committed the offence. When 
the Agent informed the Court of these facts, Judge Thompson reconsidered the sen- 
tence and released him from prison. He was then taken charge of by his sister, 
who took him to her home in Baltimore with the intention of caring for him in 
the future. 31 
SCHEDULE 
Of the offences of which the parties were accused, showing the number of cases discharged 
from the Philadelphia County Prison from January ls£, 1865, to January 1866, 
through the interference of W. J. Mullen, Prison Agent, their further detention not 
being deemed necessary, as it did not appear, upon investigation, that they were guilty, 
or if so, as was the case in some instances, the punishment they had already suffered 
was regarded as sufficient. 
OFFENCES. 
January. 
February. 
March. 
April. 
•Xej\r 
June. 
"5 
August. 
1! -joquioidag 
| October. 
November. 
December. 
TOTAL. 
Assault and Battery 
10 
15 
15 
25 
35 
30 
43 
63 
58 
40 
29 
37 
400 
Misdemeanor 
11 
10 
36 
18 
18 
25 
33 
40 
55 
49 
25 
45 
365 
Larceny 
8 
21 
16 
24 
14 
29 
32 
30 
29 
14 
16 
16 
249 
Malicious Mischief. 
3 
5 
2 
7 
8 
1 
6 
5 
8 
3 
11 
8 
67 
Disorderly House 
2 
2 
4 
4 
4 
4 
3 
8 
2 
3 
1 
4 
41 
Wife Desertion 
2 
1 
3 
2 
2 
3 
1 
14 
Abuse 
i 
4 
5 
5 
15 
12 
4 
3 
5 
1 
55 
False Pretences 
2 
2 
1 
1 
6 
Absonding Apprentice.. 
i 
i 
1 
o 
Concealed Weapons 
i 
i 
i 
i 
2 
3 
2 
3 
14 
Nuisance 
2 
2 
i 
3 
2 
10 
Assault and Threats 
1 
5 
7 
5 
4 
5 
16 
7 
ii 
4 
5 
6 
76 
Mutiny 
5 
5 
Riot and Inciting to Riot 
... 
i 
3 
5 
2 
3 
i 
15 
Suspicion of Larceny.... 
2 
1 
1 
2 
6 
Perjury 
i 
2 
i 
i 
2 
1 
8 
Indecent Exposure 
4 
i 
2 
3 
10 
Illegal Voting 
... 
3 
i 
4 
Adultery 
2 
... 
i 
i 
3 
*4 
2 
13 
Infanticide 
1 
... 
1 
Passing Coun'ft Money, 
1 
i 
... 
2 
- 
- 
Total, 
42 
71 
88 
98 
95 
118 
167 
188 185 
200 
108 
130 
1410