r"i d o
10 The Statesman. Salem, Ore- Tuesday. November II. 1 941 "
Women Behind State Pen Bars
Live in Clean Surroundings,
But Need Mental Rehabilitation
By Marguerite Wright
. Staff Writer, The Statesman
Mrs. Helen Rookard, 29-year-old Creswell housewife and mother
who shot and killed her husband, this week joined the women be
hind the barred windows of , the state penitentiary. Her case is
similar to those of the seven other women serving time for murder or
manslaughter women whose misdeeds caughtthe attention of the
curious public for a short while, but who are forgotten as soon
as the iron gate clicks shut behind
them. . ?
Of 1180 penitentiary inmates,
only 24 are women, but that num
ber is abovevihe 12 to 15 average
enrollment, 'according to Deputy
Warden E. C. Halley. The present
total is the highest . since 1930
when there were 32 women in
cluding federal prisoners who are
no longer housed by the state. The
wards could accommodate 40 if
necessary.v
Despite these figures Mrs. Ruth
Halley, prison matron for the last
24 years, does not think crime
among Oregon women is increas
ing to any appreciable degree.
The present number is a tempor
ary jump reflecting the national
postwar increase, she said. " War
time tension and easy money were
given as possible causes.
Average Age 31
These women are young, "Their
average age is around 31, 11 of
them being finder 30 and four
whose ages are unrecorded They
represent 12 counties and all but
one are white. Their terms range
lrom two years to life, but the
live "lifers" may apply for parole
every seven years. Only one wom
an remains from prewar years; 10
were admitted in 1946 and nine
this year.
Murder (five cases) and forg
ery (si) are the most common
crimes. Three women are in for
manslaughter and two each for
the following: "Larceny, robbery,
contributing to the delinquency of
a minor, assault with -intent to
kill and assault with a dangerous
, weapon. Most of the women .who
committed murder or manslaugh
ter killed their husbands and their
cases are nearly identical: illicit
relations, conjugal jealousy, beat
ings and drunkenness.
Didn't Know Better'
Sex, liquor, poor home environ
ment and inherent character de
ficiency are the main reasons for
crime by women, the matrons be
lieve. "Easy money" is often the
motive and revenge is involved in
many cases. Most crimes are com
mitted impulsively while under
emotional stress or the influence
of alcohol; "I didn't know better"
is rarely given as an excuse for
a serious offense. Mrs. Halley es
timates the inmates' intelligence
is about average. ,
Poor home environment's un
doubtedly the basic cause in many
cases; children acquire their fun
damental attitudes before they
begin school. Parents are respon
sible for, the individual's concep
tion of herself in relation to so
ciety and her knowledge of right
or wrong . . . and a pseken home
is no place to acquire construc
tive attitudes.
But education in schools could
be a telling factor in crime pre
vention, Mrs. Halley believes.
Matter-of-fact sex education, more
emphasis on individual responsi
bility and psychologically sound
instruction on human (especially
marriage) relationships .should be
undertaken more extensively by
public schools, she suggests. With
compulsory education now in ef
, feet, children from every social
strata can be taught basic re
quirements for social living.
Sex remains the major problem
In the penitentiary although little
is being done about it Homo
sexual practices are prevalent
mong some inmates and seem to
be increasing., The confirmed les
bians, whose original crimes stem
lrom their homosexual tendencies,
re teaching perverted habits to
their sexually normal companions.
Curbing by authorities of this
condition is complicated by the
fact that three to eight women
sleep, together in the wards. Mrs.
-Halley and Matron Lucille Davy
were emphatic in their belief that
, Individual sleeping rooms are the
only solution. This would entail
construction of a new women's
section or extensive remodeling
of present quarters.
Living Conditions Good
Although no prison is intended
to be a pleasant place, living con
ditions here (except for recrea
tion) are good almost as good
those in the University xf Ore
gon women's dormitories, for in
stance. There is a separate kit
chen for the women, dining room,
bathroom with several tubs and
showers, sitting room with piano,
laundry where inmates do their
personal wash, separate rooms for
"fish" (newcomers) and wards
with beds, closets, other furniture.
Everything is kept spotlessly
clean by the inmates and the food
is no worse than many . college
students get in their dining halls.
The Thursday dinner menu in
cluded veal, gravy, potatoes, car
rots, broccoli, bread, butter, milk,
coffee and fruit jello all taste
fully prepared.
During the day the barred doors
to the wards are kept open and
prisoners are allowed to visit each
other and use the sitting room
when their duties arte completed.
They have access to the prison
and state library books, and their
handiwork is sold in the peniten
tiary lobby.
Facilities Inadequate
Recreation facilities are inade
quate. Whereas men inmates see
movies and participate in outdoor
sports, women are only allowed
outdoor walks under a matron's
supervision. Mrs. Halley and Mrs.
Davy feel that an outdoor yard
where inmates may do as they
please is required.
There is little evidence that a
term spent in the penitentiary is
going to mean the inmate will
emerge a better woman and a
better citizen. There is no defi
nite program to salvage these
women. The Gideon organization
is planning to establish a Bible
study class soon and clergymen
occasionally visit the wards, but
the matrons believe regular
psychiatric service in an integrat
ed program is called for.
Prisoners Psyehoanilized ;
A Portland psychiatrist i inter
views each woman as she , enters
but he is not required to 'report
his findings to the matron. One
inmate's record notes that she may
be a victim of schizophrenia. She
may eventually become insane,
but with regular treatment from
a competent psychiatrist this
young woman's chances for re
covery would be increased and
she might become a useful mem
ber tS society.
Prison sentences are token pay
ment to society for infractions of
its rules and customs they are
punitive. Actual "payment" for
crime depends on an individual's
psyche as Dostoevski showed
in his "Crime and Punishment."
Atonement for sin presupposes
confession of guilt atyi inmates
'with delusions of persecution will
-leave prison with no better chance
Valley Obituaries
Nellie E. McLaughlin I
WOODBURN, Nov. 10-rFuneral
services for Mrs. Nellie ' E. Mc
Laughlin, 58, who died early Sun
day at a Portland hospital after
two months illness, will be held
at 2 p.m. Wednesday from the
Ringo chapel with burial in Belle
Passi. Mrs. McLaughlin, resident
of Hubbard for the past 50 years,
was born in Mt Hope. Kan-. April
21, 1889. -She was a member of
Pythian Sisters of Hubbard.
Survivors are the widower,
John Elton McLaughlin of Hub
bard; three sisters, Mrs. Sadie
Callister, Siletz; Mrs. Katherine
Stuwe, Woodburn, and Mrs. Lillie
Stuwe, Canby; and three broth
ers, John H. Blosser, Salem;
Charles FJ Blosser, Drain, and
Chauncey L. Blosser," Cottage
Grove.
I BeachTCalif.; a grand nephew an
three grand nieces.
Funeral arrangements are in
charge of Howell-Edwards Company.
r-Jp O ODD OOP OODO Qd o
aTby the health association and is i i , Silverten Hills Joe Tulare
John Rnss
MT. ANGEL John Russ, 63,
died Monday at his home near
Brooks. Funeral services are to
be held at the Unger chapel here
Wednesday at 2 pjn., with inter-;
ment in the local Calvary cemetery.
He was born in Sleepy Eye,
Minn., March 19, 1884, and had
lived in Oregon for 57 years.
Survivors are four brothers,
Frank of Portland and Peter, Jo-
seph and Andrew, of Brooks; two
sisters, Mrs. Mary Millef, Roches
ter, Ind., and Mrs. Frances Udelle,
Gray land, Wash.; and three nieces
and nephews.
Mollie Jane Marks
PEDEE Mrs. Mollie Jane
Marks, widow of the late George
Marks, died November 5 at the
home of her daughter, Mrs. Ches
ter Chambers, in Kings Valley,
after several months illness.
Born aULewisville, Polk coun
ty, Feb. 4, 1871, she was the
daughter of Anderson and Corne
lia Taylor. She attended elemen
tary school at Montgomery and
high school at Walla Walla, Wash.,
and was graduated from the Ore
gon College of Education,
f After teaching two years in
Polk and Benton counties she
married George Marks at Lewis
ville in June, "1895, and they lived
at Summitt. The Taylor farm at
Pedee is the one now occupied
by the R. Van Den Bosch family.
She was a member of the Evan
gelical church.
Survivors are three daughters,
Mrs. Chambers; Mrs. M. B. Clark,
Summitt; Mrs. Hugh Van Loan,
Monmouth; one son, George
Marks, Summitt; one sister, Mrs.
Lillian Johnson, route 2 Corval
lis; one brother, Dick Taylor, Mc
Minnville; five grandchildren and
two great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at
CorVallis Saturday. The Rev. E.
A. Fogg of Portland officiated, as
sisted by the -Rev. Howard Perry,
pastor of the local church. Burial
was in the Kings Valley cemetery.
David M. Burnett
JEFFERSON, Nov. 10- David
Mayes Burnett, resident of Jeffer
son for the past 25 years, died at
his residence here Sunday at the
age of 77 years.
He was born near Silverton, Oct.
11, 1870, the son of Thomas M.
and Nellie Mayes Burnett, and bad
been a farmer all his life. He was
a member of the Jefferson Chris
tian church, Jefferson lodge 33,
AF & AM, and the Sidney-Talbot
Farmers Union.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs.
Pearl Burnett of Jefferson; two
nephews, Milton Burnett of Oregon
City and Floyd Burnett of Long
to get along than before. For this
reason the matrons at the peni
tentiary feel that prison sentences
should also be curative: their at
titude is not one of punishing the
inmates but of trying to save
them from further mistakes.
BACK! ... AND
BETTER Ulan EVER
F
v
(hit
the beer
everyone
is demanding
couhuu UfwiHfS. ik ucoaa. vua
The following Salem Used Car
Dealers will be
ChO
All day Tuesday, November 11th,
1947, in observance of
lay
ORVAL'S USED CARS
SHROCK MOTOR CO.
SAM'S MOTOR CO.
LES' MOTOR COMPANY
BURGOYNE MOTOR CO.
ELSNER MOTOR CO.
DURAND MOTORS
QUALITY USED CARS
SALEM USED CARS
MURPHY USED CARS
CAPPS USED CARS
HATFIELD'S USED CARS
STEVEN'S USED CARS
A. B. C. MOTORS
SQUARE DEAL USED
CARS
CHEFFINGS USED CARS
ED ANDERSON USED
CARS
Swegle Parents
Meetings Planned
S WEGLE two important
meetings are scheduled for the
parents of children living in the
Swegle community this week.
Wednesday at 8 p.m. all mothers
of the community are asked to
attend a meeting sponsored by
the Marion County Public Health
association for the purpose of in
troducing the plans for organiz
ing more study groups in social
hygiene and family relations. Sev
eral of these study groups were
organized last summer by Mrs.
Earl Huckstep and those mothers
who have studied the lessons are
enthusiastic about the classes and
would like to have all mothers
take part.
A speaker from the health of
fice will be present' All material
used in the classes is furnished
made possible through the sale of
Christmas seals. The classes are
nationally sponsored by health as
sociations and the Parent-Teacher
association.
Thursday night will be open
house at the school for all par
ents of school children enrolled
at Swegle. These open house
nights are planned for all schools
in the Salem district for the pur
pose of introducing the teachers
and acquainting the parents with
the work done in the schools. All
class rooms will be open.
Valley News Oriels
Union Hill MrS. Floyd Fox will
entertain the Home Ec club Wed
nesday afternoon. Suggestion for
Christmas gifts" will be discussed,
Mrs. Byron McElhaney leading.
ML Angel Mr. and Mrs. Her
bert Berry are announcing the
birth of a son, October 29, at Sun
rise sanitarium, Hubbard. The
baby, named Joseph Anthony,
weighed 7 pounds and 1 1 ounces.
Out of respect to the boys
who gave their all for
their country we will be
closed all day
Today, November lllh
ST All BAKER II0T0RS
Dodge - Plymouth - Dodge Job Rated Trucks
525 Chemeketa Street
nas
sold his four-acre ranch and plans
to spend the winter in Portland.
Brooks Guarden club will
meet Thursday with Mrs. Dollie
Ramp for 1 o'clock ; luncheon.
p,o o, o p
Swede Regular executv
board meeting of Swegle Parent
Teachers association at the
school house Wednesday at 3:30
p.m. Meeting was postponed one
day because of the holiday.
ALL HOHOB
to America V Flchf !ng Clenl
To men who wear the uni
form of the United 6tates
Armed Forces Army,
Nary and Air Force, Ma
rines and Coast Guard
the people of this nation
owe a full measure of re
spect and gratitude. They
have volunteered for one
of the most Important
tasks ever, shouldered by
a body of young men
the preservation of peace
In an uncertain world. For
that great service to man
kind, we honor them.
ON ARMISTICE DAT RISOLVI THAT
AMEX1CA SHALL STAY STRONG
bmrmt art .
Air Deserve Assn.
745ih Very Heaw
Bombing Squadron
1tU lenient Vide
ROUTE 1, BOX 102, CLACKAMAS, OREGON
cays: Wg amazlng
flfa'e tacExG Ohafl clocfriciffy
We were certainly surprised at the many and varied tasks that elec
tricity performs here in the Northwest, states Mr. Usher, owner and
operator of the Hazelfern Dairy. "In EHwood, Nebraska where we
came from, there weren't even electric lights on our farm and with
out electricity there's just too muck work to do. I would hate to
operate my present dairy farm with a herd of 65 cows, without its
daily help. Why, we use it for our ensilage cutler and blower, milking
machines, cream separators, bottle washer, bottle capping machine.
ice machine, water warmers, and well pump, to name just a
Modem living is "Electrical living"
. . .the Finest living in the World
O There's just nothing to compare with the convenience and efficiency
of modern, electrical living. Consider the comforts it brings allowing
you to whisk through your housework in record time . . . giving ease
and speed to cooking on a clean, cool electric range ... all the hot
water you need on wash day (AND an automatic washing machine
to do the strenuous work!) These electrical "servants' give you more
leisure time, more time to relax and enjoy life. These are the comforts
that make living real living.
v
Make your home "All-Electric." An electric range and water
heater will qualify you for the PGE "All-Electric Home" rate. Be
sure to apply for this rate at your nearest PGE office.
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- ' I ' ? J i . .
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few." -V. - 1
" ' ' ' ' " ' y' .: ' , .
Tho Ushers use those appliances
Jr m T All-Electric Home
The PGE "Alt-Electric Home"
rate is available anywhere
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EcnnavZfo Powr Distributer,
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