JUSTICE - EMILE ACOLLAS(La Châtre1826-1891,Jurisconsult, one - Lot 480

JUSTICE - EMILE ACOLLAS(La Châtre1826-1891,Jurisconsult, one of the founders of theLigue de la Paix, friend ofGeorges Clemenceau, an avenue in Paris is named after him) / Correspondence of 11 autograph letters signed in 1891 on the subject of prison reform, to his friend Maurice (probably the deputy Maurice Berteau): on Millerand ("is he really the man of energy and resolution that is generally believed, for my part, I doubt it very much"; "Ah, my old Maurice, I didn't need much flair to guess that you were going to be rapporteur. You are, all the more reason for me not to let you go"; "My dear friend, as discreetly and confidentially as possible, the Minister is scared to death of you; I have it from him. As for H. [Herbette, Director of the Penitentiary Administration], he's in over his head, word from Damagny to me [Secretary General at the Ministry of the Interior]. In the meantime, and following the incident I told you about, whether it's because of the same fear or for some reason I can't quite make out, he's got the Inspectorate General and H. fighting a battle that can only go so far. Let's work, that's the best. Come in the middle of the week at your convenience. And at your place or mine"; "My dear Maurice, I didn't go to see you this morning in Paris, because I understood from your letter that you wouldn't be there. Moreover, not only the broad outlines, but even the terms of your report were apparently already decided. I have no doubt that you remained entirely faithful to our two or three fundamental points of view: the transformation of central prisons; the question of cell regimes, about which you will never be able to say enough bad things from a financial point of view, as I have just been convinced once again during my tour this year; and finally, the allusion to small district prisons and the increasingly imperative need for judicial reorganization. On the subject of children, the return of the administration of the mayor of the commune, as in Belgium, to the courts for those of art. 66 (nothing that has the appearance of a conviction) is an organization that restores, or better said, institutes for the greatest number, family life. As far as ministers of religion and doctors are concerned, I reinforce the opinion I have expressed. For my part, I would conclude that the administration should invite the evangelical spirit of the former, and the very real benevolence of the latter, to lead them both to renounce all treatment. They should be rewarded for their selflessness. Lastly, we must not think of doing away with the canteen, even in small prisons, as the head wardens are unanimous in saying that it is the only stimulant for work. This, my dear friend, is the basis of a general report that I'm in the process of drawing up myself, because although I'm no longer very interested in subjects of constraint, and although I'd like to get back to the studies that have been my life's work, I'm going to continue what I believe to be the good fight for the reform of our prisons. And already, during my tour, following my second article, several of our directors, not the least of them, have written to offer me their support"; etc.