With the close of the year 1918, your Agent completed 20 years of service at the Philadelphia County Prison and eight years of service at the Central Police Station, City Hall, and in all these years your Agent has not lost sight of the fact that it is the kind word and a kindly grasp of the hand, at the proper moment, that may be the means of turning an unfortunate from the wrong to the right path. Very truly, FREDERICK J. POOLEY, 1/15/19. _General Agent._ PAROLE STATISTICS--EASTERN PENITENTIARY. The whole number of prisoners released on parole, including some who have been re-paroled, from September, 1910, to January 1, 1919 2,773 Number thus released in 1918 510 Whole number returned to the Penitentiary since September, 1910 515 Some of those paroled have died, some have been pardoned and some have received final discharge. Number who should now be reporting 930 Of these, the number actually reporting 728 Number known to be in jail elsewhere 37 Number whose present address is unknown 165 930 Less than six per cent. of the entire number have vanished. It must not be considered that all of these have committed crime. Doubtless many of them have been in the trenches. They have broken connection with the parole officials in order to serve Uncle Sam, who has stated that he will not accept those who have been guilty of felony. From outside sources, we have known that a large number of former convicts have thus endeavored to expiate their former offenses. Much praise has been given to ex-convicts in Canada and Great Britain from which countries many were released in order to join the army or navy. In fact very few of these absconders are supposed to have again committed crime. Nearly every penal institution of the country receives notice of these decampers accompanied by their photographs, so they are easily identified. The few who again committed some crime have thus been detected and either returned whence they came or held with detainers. Probably nearly all of them desire to get entirely away from any restraint or semblance of authority. They make a grievous mistake for they are liable at any time to be apprehended and to be brought back in disgrace. They live the life of hunted animals. Never for one hour can they feel secure. We believe that a penalty should be levied upon those who abuse the privilege of parole. They have violated their word of honor, and should serve additional time.