Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1859-03-23
Report of the Grand Jury on the Jail.

nnole. oullOifS nun us lOOuudhtOh " II
roof. In short We consider it a Nuisance
and a disgrace 10 the citiz-n sof the
county, and this enlightened age.
And we beg leave al this lime, to sug
gest 10 the Hon. Board of Commissioner,
to keep the subject Of building a new
Jail before the tax payers of the county;
at all times bearing in mind Tint taxation
is burdensome, and that we only wan
such a iailb uildins as the necessitie les
Of the case require. In which lsndablf
enterprise we as citizens, agree TO iendei
allIhe assistance in Cur power.
AARON DAVIS.
Foreman Of he Grand Jury.
March Term, 1889.
Ordered that the report Of the Grand
Jury, in reference to the condIion of the
county Jail be entered on the Journal Of
this court, and that the clerk cause thu
same to be published in the newspapers
of this County.
The STATE OF ONO,
;" Trumbuli County.
CorRr OF COMMON PLEAS,
March Term. 1889.
1 hereby certify that the foregoing is
truly taken, and correctly copied from
The Journal of said court.
ALaoN D. WEBB, Clerk
We hope the voters of this county will
carefully read the report of the last Grand
Jury. on the Jail. 1t is but one of a num-
Der of the same kind, which have,
year after year, been spread before ihe
people. and it remains for them to say
whether it is. or is 10 to their credit that
such a stale of things should exist. and
whether it is their will that it should long
continue. Not a single Grand Jury which
has examined the Jail within the last five
years. hut have reported it a nuisance
The jurors are drawn from all parts Of
the county, and belong to all political
parties ; it cannot therefore be claimed
ths: they are Influenced either By local
p~rjvdices, or part san feelings, and yet
they have. year after year. unanimously
reported the necessity Of a new jail. We
believe il TO be impossible that any intel
ligent man who possess the ordinary feel
ings of humanity, can examine that build
ing. can pass through its damp dungeons,
can see The sickly faces o ftbose who have
teen long confined within its walls, and
not feel in his heart, that it is a disgrace
TO any civilized community The jurors
have done no more than justice to the
sheriff. and to Mr.. Weston. in who's
charge the jail now is-when they say it
is as well and clearly kept as it can be
in its present condition; and yet, not
outstanding the utm ost exertions Of
these gentlemen and their assistants.
such is the dampness and rottenness of
the building. itself, that it is utterly I'm
ct for the habitatiou of any human being.
There are plenty of farmers in this coun
~. some of whom we presume. vcted
last fall. against a new ial, whose horses
and cattle are better housed during the
winter. than the criminals and the insane
men and woman confined in that building.
We have heard it urged by men who
Object to any outlay for this purpose,
.ha, IL a man commits a crime, it does
not matter low bad may be the place in
which he is confined, nor how soon the
effect of that confnt ment may end his
life, and rid the county or state Of the ex
pense. 1t is enough to say in answer 10
these arguments, that whoever utters
such sentiments are either more than half
barbarisns. or they do not believe what
they say. Society has the right TO de
priye criminals of their liberty, in order
to tske from them the power of ipjuring
others. and to afford a wholesome exam
pie to those who may be disposed to fol-
low in their track, but i; has no right TO
deprive, even a criminal of his health, and
take from him the means of maintaining
himself honestly. when the prison doors
shall be opened and be walk out a free
man.
Il is often the case that men are az
eused of a crime, are imprisoned for
some weeks, or months. and when they
come before a Jury, are acquitted hon
orably. What kind of Justice or In
mainly is that which furnishes such a
place as the trumbull County Jail. in
which to confne men who have never
been proved guilty
But worst of all, is the case of Tie
insane persons who are brought there
for safe keeping. No man can say how
1907 himself, his wife, daughter, or son
may be deprived of reason, and it may
be Necessary for his. or her safety. as
well as for that Of the family or com
munity, iba; he or she be confined. and
there is no oiher place than this same
Jail provided. in case the Asyium's
sre full, or the individuals be pronouR-
ced incurabie.
GoprY's Llpris BOOK. for April. has
come to hand, FLIED. as usual. with all
kinds of patterns for the season, and mat