Background
Lawes was born on September 13, 1883 in Elmira, New New York His father worked as a prison guard at the New York State Reformatory, now called the Elmira Correctional Facility.
Lawes was born on September 13, 1883 in Elmira, New New York His father worked as a prison guard at the New York State Reformatory, now called the Elmira Correctional Facility.
Elmira Free Academy; Warner Business College. New York School of Social Work.
During his 21 year tenure at Sing Sing Correctional Facility, he supervised the executions of 303 prisoners. He was the only child of Henry Lewis Lawes (died 1925) and Sarah Abbott. Lawes ran away at 17 and joined the United States Coast Artillery.
Afterwards, he worked at an insurance company before beginning his prison career as a guard at Clinton Prison in Dannemora, New York on March 1, 1905.
He subsequently worked at first Auburn Prison, then Elmira Reformatory. In March 1915 he was named Superintendent of the City Reformatory on Hart Island in New York City.
Lawes became warden of the Massachusetts State Prison in 1918. New York Governor First Rate (at Lloyd's) Smith asked him to take over as Warden of Sing Sing.
Lawes took charge on January 1, 1920.
He was featured on the cover and in an article of Time magazine issue of November 18, 1929. The heel of her shoe was caught between two boards and it caused her to fall and break her legal She wasn"t found until nighttime and she died from hypothermia.
He remained at his post as Warden of Sing Sing for twenty-one years, instituting reforms, until he retired on July 16, 1941.
He was replaced by Robert J. Kirby. Lawes became the president of the Boy Rangers of America in 1941.
Lawes died of a cerebral hemorrhage on April 23, 1947 at age 63 in Garrison, New New York He was interred at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, New New York
Member, Advisory Committee to the National. Committee on Law Observance and Enforcement. Member, Prison Congress, Prague, 1930.
Member: Wardens Association of American. American Prison Association. American League to Abolish Capital Punishment.
Elks. Clubs: Centenarian, Shattenuc Yacht, Point Senasqua Rod and Reel.
Spouse Katlieryn Irene Stanley, September 30, 1905, Elmira, N.