1143 EDMONTON DAILY
NOV 13, 1907

PENITENTIARY
McCAULEY, Mathew 
STEDMAN, Richard Henry 
FORIN, Alexander M.D. 
JOSEPH, John 
McDOUGAL, John 
TURGEON, Cleophas? 
THERIEN, Joseph 
McQUEEN, David George Rev. 
STEDMAN, Settrude 
COWARD, William
TRUSCOTT, Sidney 
MAY, Thomas 
HASKELL, R.L. 
URPUHART, Frank 
SALZL, Matthew Joseph
TAYLOR GEORGE Elliott 
DOUGLAS, James 
COWAN, Martin Henry 
DAVIS, Joseph Howard 
ROEY, James 
CUMMINGS, Edgar 



The report of the Minister of Justice on the 
penitentiaries of Canada has just come to hand, 
and contains much valuable information in 
Edmonton. The period over in the report is for 
the nine months ending March 31st and though 
conditions as to the number imprisoned etc. have 
changed somewhat since that time the mets in 
general are applicable to the penitentiary at 
the present time. 

The Warden, Matthew McCauley, in his report says

"On August 1, 1906, there were 25 convicts, and 
at the end of the fiscal year there were 57 male 
convicts"
"The present building was almost surrounded with 
a thick growth of poplar and willow, and it 
looked a hard, proposition to commence work 
there with a gang of convicts. We have succeeded 
in clearing off about fifty acres and cutting 
seventy-five cords of wood, leaving still a 
large amount of work in taking out the stumps 
and routs. 

The brickwork and the roof of the new workshops 
were finished before the cold weather set in, 
and the building was completed in the winter. 
These shops we are using at present for a 
temporary prison. In them we have fitted up 108 
cells, a kitchen and a room used for a chapel. 
All are well finished and a credit to any 
institution. 
"There were no accidents during this fiscal year 
and the health of the convicts has been good.
"I regret that we have had one escape and that 
there were tow unsuccessful attempts to escape 
during the year.
"The discipline of the prison has been good and 
the deputy warden deserves great credit for his 
constant and untiring supervision day and night. 
We have a staff of officers of who any warden 
should be proud.
"I beg leave further to report that the only 
difficulty in retaining good capable men is the 
insufficient salary. Common labors here get 
$2.50 per day, carpenters received from $3.50 to 
$4.50 per day, the Edmonton city police get an 
initial salary of $60 per month, which increases 
$5 a month each year until a maximum of 475 is 
reached. As rents and the cost of living here 
are so high, salaries should be increased 
accordingly. 

The medical health officer, Dr. Alex Forin, says 
"The health of the prisoners has been good. 
There have been no serious cases with the 
exception of one of dysentery and one of 
diphtheria. The change from Manitoba 
penitentiary to Alberta of 24 inmates made 
change of water etc. seemed to derange the 
alimentary crimal? of most of them for a short 
time.  The extra severe winter was trying on the 
health of both officers and convicts. Resulting 
in considerable attacks of colds, la grippe and 
rheumatism. There were no accidents and no 
deaths. 
"the heating and ventilation of the penitentiary 
was very satisfactory and the sewerage seems to 
be excellent, notwithstanding the somewhat 
overcrowded conditions, until the temporary 
prison is finished. On account of the limited 
number of cells, no part was set aside for the 
hospital ward, and I cannot very well divide my 
cases into hospital and dispensary. 
"The health of the officers was perhaps, not up 
to the average on account of the exposure during 
severe weather and la grippe was prevalent. The 
number of days absent on account of sickness 
among officers was eighty-four and a half days, 
and there were one hundred and twenty-five 
prescriptions dispensed for the officers 
realizing $19.75 The drug dispensed to the 
convicts amounted to $44.23

The chaplain, Rev. Dr. McQueen reports as 
follows
"I WAS DULY SWORN IN AS PROTESTANT CHAPLAIN ON 
August 3, 1906, at which time there were 
nineteen Protestant prisoners in the 
institution. The first service was held on 
August 5, with nineteen convicts in attendance. 
At the CLOSE OF THE FISCAL YEAR THERE WERE 
THIRTY EIGHT IN CONFINEMENT. If one may judge by 
the attention given and the interest manifested, 
the services held each Sunday morning have been 
appreciated by the prisoners. Some of them, 
indeed, have spoken of their having received 
good from the spoken word. 
"The services could be rendered more attractive 
by the procuring of a small organ to assist in 
the service of praise, though this has been a 
very well carried on by the prisoners 
themselves, who have joined heartily in the 
singing of the hymns. There is a good library, 
which is well patronized by the men.
The report of the Roman Catholic chaplain, Rev. 
Father The ridin, was as follows.
"The convicts who have attended the religious 
services during the year have been kept 
regularly every Sunday morning, and the 
prisoners showed not only good behavior but on 
every occasion listened very attentively to the 
teachings of the Christian doctrine, which was 
explained to them. I have no doubt that when 
there will be proper accommodations, purposely 
set apart for religious service these will 
produce still better influence on the men.

The school instructor, Sydney J. T?ett reports 
that 14 were enrolled in the school The pupils 
being foreigners he attempted to teach reading 
writing and dictation only with encouraging 
results. 
The matron, G.S. Stedman, states when reference 
to the female ward that it contains seven cells, 
and that it is empty and that it has been empty 
ever since the prison was opened in July last. 
During the period from July 1906 to March 31, 
1907, not one female was convicted and sentenced 
to the penitentiary in Alberta, Saskatchewan, 
Manitoba, British Columbia or the Northwest 
Territories of Canada.

The 57 prisoners in the penitentiary came from 
the following places, 40 being from Alberta and 
17 from Saskatchewan.

In Alberta
Calgary 11
Edmonton 7
Fort Saskatchewan 1
Lethbridge 3
Macleod 14
Medicine Hat 1
Red Deer 2
Wetaskiwin 1

In Saskatchewan
Maple Creek 3
Moosomin 6
Prince Albert 1
Regina 7
In the period there were 55 convicts serving 
first terms and 2 serving second.

The offences upon which the convicts have been 
imprisoned are;
Assault 2
Assault and robbery 1
Aiding and abetting suicide 1
Bigamy 1
Buggery 1
Burglary 1
Cattle stealing 4
Forgery 1
Forgery and Uttering 1
Forgery and Jail Breaking 1
Horse Stealing 15
House Breaking and theft 1
Housebreaking with intent to commit an 
indictable offence 2
Indecent assault 1
Killing a calf with intent to steal the carcass 
1
Manslaughter 1
Murder 1
Obtaining money by false pretense 1
Obstructing a railroad 1
Rape 2
Shopbreaking, theft and escaping from lawful 
custody 1
Stealing and receiving stolen property 1
Theft and forgery 1
Theft, Forgery and uttering 2
Theft 6
Uttering 4
Shop Breaking and theft 2

Fourteen prisoners are sentence to two years, 
one for two and a half years, 14 for three 
years, 9 for four years, 10 for five years, one 
for six years, 2 for ten years, 1 for fourteen 
years and 1 for life.

Of convicts under 20 years of age there are 7, 
between 20 and 30 years 33, between 30 and 40 
years 8 between, between 40 and 50 years 6, 
between 50 and 60 years 3

There are 15 total abstainers, 32 temperate and 
10 intemperate.
Forty-five are married, nine are singe and three 
are widowed.
Pardons were granted to 
JEFFREY, J.L. imprisoned at Winnipeg for theft
LOCKHART, R, imprisoned at Edmonton for theft 
and
CROW, Jack imprisoned at Macleod for cattle 
stealing.

The religious creeds if the convicts are as 
follows,
Roman Catholic 19
Church of England 17
Presbyterian 9
Methodist 5
Lutheran 3
No creed 4

The names and salaries of the officials are as 
follows

McCAULEY, Mathew - Warden $2,200
STEDMAN, Richard Henry - D/Warden $1,500
FORIN, Alexander M.D. - Surgeon $1,200
JOSEPH, John - Cashman accountant and 
storekeeper $1,200
McDOUGAL, John - chief trade instructor and 
mason instructor $1,000
TURGEON, Cleophas? Engineer and ? $,1000
THERIEN, Joseph A. Rev. - Roman Catholic 
chaplain $800
McQUEEN, David George Rev. Protestant chaplain 
$800.
STEDMAN, Settrude Louisa Matron $500
COWARD, William, Steward and baker instructor 
$900.
TRUSCOTT, Sidney - School instructor hospital 
overseer and warden's clerk $900.
MAY, Thomas - Chief Watchman $900
HASKELL, R.L. - Carpenter instructor $900
URPUHART, Frank - Taylor instructor $800
SALZL, Matthew Joseph, shoemaker instructor 
$800.
TAYLOR GEORGE Elliott - Keeper $800
DOUGLAS, James - Guard $700
COWAN, Martin Henry - Guard $700
DAVIS, Joseph Howard - Guard $700
ROEY, James - Guard $700
CUMMINGS, Edgar - Guard $700