The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-02-12
l. OCAI MATT ERS

The WAsHfNdroN JAR LIN the mater Of tb
late hdoeos cor5us, in the case Of Captain Schaum
0erg sfailusian was made to the miserable state 8
the jail, as ain additional reason why the prisone
should be liberated on bail. In connection will
this matter, VI publish the following presentmen
Ct the Grand Jury !. lid before Judge Crawford 81
relative 10 the condition Of the iail
It's internal arrangements and management. W.
sincerely trust Congress may make an appropria
ton during the present session for tn erection Of
more substantial and comfortable jail, Ia 70.
| moter quarter of the city. The following ia the
presentment.
| GRAND JuRY Room, February g, 1859
The Grand Jury having on the 7th instant pro.
ceeded to an examination of the county Jail thau
ieei u 70 pc their imperative duty to declare that
! IN their judgment it is quite inadequate for the
purpose of it's erection, and disreputable to The
metropolis of the Union. II is not only insecure
and III ventilated, but much too small for the nun
per q PRISONERS generally confined therein, and
Ior proper Classification OF them, There are only
elghteea cells for male prisoners whether white or
cocred, sane or insane, or whether under sentence
as Criminals or untried, or in confinement merely
as Witnesses. -Four OF these cells are usually an
proprlated Ter prisoners charged with capital Of
fences; leaving but fourteen for all the others: 40
that 1t frequently becomes necessary to crowd aa
many as SIX or eight in cell, there being often
! from seventy-fve to one hundred under commit
3 s. L
The Grand Jury feel confident that if the honor.
able committees of Congress on the District of Co.
lumbla could be induced to visit this Jail and see
how detective and insufficientthe accommodates
are, and how the unfortunate prisoners are conse
quently huddled together. those committees wonId
be fully satisfied of the necessity for new much
larger, safer, and better arranged jail and fer q
more suitable location for it than the present one.
ana would promptly endeavor to obtain Legislative
authority for the erection thereof Its sitnat;on
should be remote from the centre of the civ ..
the objections to the vicinity of prison are such
as to deter the owners of ground there from build
ing upon it, and hence the comparatively unim
proved condition OF the part of the city near the
one now in use.
The Grand Jury have no design in the foreeo;no
to cast the slightest reflection either on the h9hiS
respected, popular, and efficient marshal, Richard
Waliacn, ESQ.,, or the indetatigable and humane
Keeper, Mr. James M. Wright, and his active as
sistants; but the Grand Jury, on the contrary.
express their entire conviction that those officers
severally have. under existing circumstances, done
All that It was possible for them to do for the
fort Of the prisoners. -
The Jail, consideringits many defects and the
great number OF the inmates, is kept as clean as
can reasonably be expected, and their food is of
good quality, well cooked, and abundant.
The building is heated by furnace and az there
is no proper mode of ventilation it must often un
avoldaby be too warm for comfort or health
W. G16NToN, Foreman.
Inc Hon. IHos. H. CRAWFORD, Judge of the
Criminal Court. #
NATIONAL THEATRE.-Mr. Murdoch concludes
hisvery successful cement at BUR theatre dur
ing the present week, Tonight. His presentations
OF various characters-such as Hamlet, Young
Mirable, Charles De Moor, &c.-have given the
highest qualification to the crowded audiences
nightly in attendance. The play Of .The Rob-
bers will be repeated this evening, by request, in
which ne will appear as Charles De Moor. al
IHAcKERAV's SECOND LEcTuRE.-The second
lecture of Mr.. Thackeray's course will be deliv-
cred this evening at Carusi's Saloon The sub
Jects for this lecture are .sCongreve and Addison.
Mr.. FULLER continues in the same precarious
condition, and his physicians are as yet unable to
pronounce with certainty as to the final result
of his wound. $500
3 CRIMINAL CoURT.-No trials took place before
tins tribunal yeserday-the arties indicted being
generally unprepared Yfs