Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-02-19

THE IRREPRBssIBLE CONFLICT IN COUNTY
MATTERs.-The County Commissioners yes
terday forwarded the following communica-
tion to Sheriff Armstrong, in reply to his
protest of the l4th instant, against the re ten
lion of Mr. Shockley as Superintendent of
the Jail:
"The Commissioners have considered your
communication of the l4th instant, in which
you state that you are in Continual and WE'LL
grounded fear that ESCAPES will occur, and
the subordination of the prisoners be seri-
ously interfered with in the present County
Jail under the present arrangement where
by the comfort and sustenance of the
prisoners is provided for by the Board, while
their safe-keeping is in your custody. The
Commissioners have no desire to embarrass
you in the discharge of your duties, and are
fully aware of the responsibility you are
un6er, and they are therefore willing, in car
rying into effect the act of March is, 1850 to
consult with you and devise a mode agree
able to both parties.
"As some misaDprehensiOn Of the 1aW and
the action of the Board has arisen, it may be
well briefly to advert to it: Prior to the act
of March l6, 1860, the law made it the duty
of the Sheriff ito provide fuel, bedding,
clothing, washing, nursing and board gener-
ally, and all other necessaries, for the COM
fort and welfare of the prisoners for which
he was TO be allowed such compensation as
should be prescribed by the Commissioners,
not exceeding forty cents each per day. The
act of March l6 1860, authorized and re-
quired the Commissioners, whenever they
should deem it for the best interest of the
County, for the welfare of the prisoners SO to
do, TO notify the Sheriff that they will pro-
vide for the sustenance and the comfort of
the prisOners,' in the County Jail, aud it is
thenceforth their duty, at the expense of the
County 80 to provide for such prisoners.
Before the election in October 1860, the
then Board of Commissioners (Messrs Nc
Maxim, Ridgway and Goepperl resolved
under this law SO to provide at the expense
of the County, from the time the act took
effect, tO.wit: the 7th Of danuary, 1861. la
order to do so il is necessary that some one
shall receive and control the supplies, super
intend their distribution, and have the food
prepared and|cookedi or, in other words, il
is necessary that the County shall employ
the same agents that the Sheriff under the
previous law employed.
"If there be any just cause of complaint
against any one of their employees. the Board,
on its being made manifest, will Immediately
remove the person charged. The COmmis
sioneTs DO not claim that they or their serv-
ants have the right 10 interfere with the safe
keeping, or to have intercourse with the
prisoners, except so far as may be authorized
by the rules and regulations for the govern
ment of the jail, prescribed by the Court OF
Common Pleas, and in order that there may
be no cause of complaint the Commissioners
will direct those in their employ 70 furnish
food iD such part Of the jail at such time and
in such manner as shall be designated by you
while, therefore, the Commissioners can
not accede to your request to give you the
feeding of the prisoners while they remain
In h. avnk soAln halfazfurx u he haut
interest of the county, that they should ex-
ercise their authority under the act of March
l6, 1850, they desire TO act in harmony with
you. (Attestl
"H0WARD MATTHEW'S,
"Audit0r of Hamilton County"