The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-11-28
The Territorial PrisOn-ImpOrtant Pre-

sentiment.
The frequent escape of prisoners from the
Territorial Penitentiary, at Saltwater, has
been matter of considerable discussion
throughout the Territory-so much so that
at the recent sitting of the District Court of
Washington County, the subject was pre-
sented by the Grand Jury as follows:
We, the Grand Jurors in and for the Coun-
ty of WashintOn and Territory of Minnesota,
at the General Term of the District Court of
the Second Judicial District, held at the
Court House in the City of Saltwater, on the
I'd day of November, 1857, beg leave to sub
NIT the following report to this Honorable
Cont.
That in pursuance of our duties, we have
visited and examined the Territorial Peniten-
tiary, situated in the City of Saltwater, NJ.
L., and found F. r. Delano, Warden, and
Michael McHale, Deputy Warden, in charge
thereof, and with them made a personal in
srection of the same, and find that there is
now confined in said Prison six prisoners,
that since April, 1855, there have been elev-
en- escapes of prisoners, and that five persons
have been discharged and set free by the Of
ficers of the Prison for the reason that the
County Commissioners of several Counties
from which they came have not paid their
board in advance, many Of whom were COM
mitted for high crimes, and some of them for
the highest crime known to the law, to-wit ::
murder" as shown by the records of the
Prison.
1t further appears to this Grand Jury that
from the negligent and careless manner in
which the offices of the Prison are conduct
ed, that one Abel Wilcox, who was commit
ted on charge of murder, escaped, as shown
by the records, "by means unknown to the
Warden" that no reward was offered and no
steps whatever have been taken for an appre-
hension. And it further appears, that on the
morning of his escape, the cell in which he
was confined was found locked and in good
order, with no marks Of violence thereon or
about the same, but that his escape must
have been made with the assistance and priv
ity of some person or persons connected with
the Prison and having access to the keys
1t also appears that the keys to the Prison
and cells were kept in so careless manner
in the Office that they were accessible not
only to persons in and about the Prison, but
to outsiders
1t was also found OH such examination that
one Maria Robin, committed on charge of
selling spurious liquors to Indians within the
Territory of the U. s., escaped, in the words
of the record, "by leaving the Prison." and it
is q matter of astonishment to this Grand
jury that she should have so magnanmous-
ly consented to leave the Penitentiary be-
hind her. The Grand Jury also find that
within the past two years there have been
numerous escapes of prisoners, which, if the
manner and means could be ascertained
would cast deep shadow over the fair fame
of our Territory, and consign the officers of
the Prison to any place but an Office of trust.
1t is the opinion of this Grand Jury that
the Prison with some slight repair, is, in its
present state sufficient, with due care and at
tention on the part Of its officers, for the safe
keeping of a limited number of prisoners, but
that an immediate enlargement and improve
ment is absolutely necessary for the increas-
ing wants of the Territory, and to put it in
Il state of permanent security.
From the best information obtainable. suf-
ficient appropriations have been made by the
Z. S., and contracts entered into for the COM
pletion of an addition to the Prison contain
ing ten new cells, but from reasons unknown
to this body, said contracts have never been
fulfilled, and we are Of opinion that the res
possibility lies principally at tn. hands of the
Inspectors of the Prison, who should receive
a rebuke from the proper authority.
An Act has been presented to this body,
to have been passed at the late
Railroad Extra-Scssion of the Legislature of
this Territory comforting upon the officers of
the Prison almost unlimited powers as to the
receiving, safe-keeping, and discharging of
prisoners under which they claim the right
to set the order or judgement CT any court
committing for trial at defiance unless the
board of prisoners shall be prepared by the
County from which such prisoners are sent.
Thus they do not receive a prisoner unless
his board be prepaid for five weeks at the
rate of $500 per week, and sufficient
amount of clothing furnished, and at the end
of that period, should the county neglect to
prepay his board they discharge the prisoner
and are exoneratei from any liability for his
safe keeping, and for so slight reason, per-
sons guilty Of all crimes known to the law,
are turned loose upon the community, and al
lowed to go "Scoh .f'ce.''
There are other features in this Act which
are equally obnoxious, and it is a matter of
surprise that an intelligent Legislature could
be found who would pass such an Act, and
still more surprising that person holding the
high position of Executive of this Territory
should lend his official signature to the same.
We take this occasion to respectfully call
the attention of the Executive and approach
ing Legislature to the provisions of the Act
and to the general management of the Terri
torial Penitentiary.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
]. f. McKUSICK, ALFRED WRIGHT
II. w. GREELEY, SALIVA TRUSSEL,
THOMAS WRIGHT, J. X. MEREDITH
JAS. SIIEARER, JAS. X. MOORE
VIM. G. PENNEY, Z. d. FARMER,
VIM. p. SPENCER, A. d. KINGSLEY,
GEORGE HARRIS, G.. HOLT,
WM II. MOWER, SAMUEL CROFT
s. PARTRIDGE.