Word: norfolkers
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Dates: during 1930-1939
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...last straw in the Norfolk controversy was gently laid on by the Boston Traveller yesterday. A vast three inch head across the top of its columns streamed forth the news that Norfolk prison graft had been bared in the Hurley Report; it was not until the story had lapsed into small type that the Traveller admitted two very important things--that the report had not yet been submitted to Governor Ely, and that whatever information the Traveller possessed on its contents came from "persons in the State House close to the Hurley probe." When it had retreated safely into...
...creed is that all of the basic problems, all of the really sensational problems of our society, should not be touched; the large type is reserved for those who are either helpless or insignificant, who can be expected to feel the storm without retaliation. Superintendent Gill of Norfolk presented an obvious opportunity. He is a subordinate state official, engaged in a revolutionary penal experiment, without important political or financial backing. He has, as the administrator of sizeable appropriations, made many important political enemies. Prisons are good copy for the sensational journalist; the common-place of any prison life, skillfully stated...
This was the substance of the report on Norfolk submitted January 24 by W. Cameron Forbes, former Governor of the Philippines, and recently Ambassador to Japan. The report was requested by Governor Ely in deference to a popular demand for an investigation of Norfolk by an impartial authority, at the time when Auditor Hurley's investigation was daily front page news, and public opinion had been aroused by the sensational character of his disclosures. In appointing Mr. Forbes, Governor Ely repeated the injunction against premature publicity which he had made to Auditor Hurley, and which had been violated. Accordingly...
...installed, to be provided with more ammunition than at present, (2) barbed wire fences to keep inmates from a zone 60 feet from the wall and from work being done by outside labor, (3) wages for inmate labor, and (4) ultimate transfer of the entire state prison plant to Norfolk, with five types of prisons for different cases. In commenting upon the report, Superintendent Gill agreed with each of these suggestions, and added that the Commissioner of Correction should be empowered to supervise transfers from one prison unit to the others. The conclusion of Mr. Forbes' report noted that...
With the publication of this report the real issues at Norfolk had been presented to the Governor. On his return from Bermuda February 9, Mr. Ely indicated that he would defer action on the Norfolk situation until he had examined Mr. Hurley's report and considered Mr. Gill's comments on it. "Norfolk is a great institution," he added, "but this ambitious experiment in the rehabilitation of felons must not be menaced by the possibility of failure because of the loss of a large section of public support in a subordinate state official." He questioned whether Mr. Gill, the originator...