The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-06-26

As is the custom, the Grand jury Wis.
tied The Almshouse, in body, and were
kindly received and Hospitality entertain.
ed by the oversaer of the poor, Mr.. Chns.
Worthiugtan, whose sympathlz kind
heart peculiarly fits him for the position
he occupies.
We we're first shown the apartment f
white woue en-, and found it closed, aud
with some appearance of comfort. Here
we were shown an insane woman, whom it
is necessary to contl to her room, to a
certain extent. She is the daughter of
one who at one time occupied prominent
position in life, and was well and extern
sively known, and who was one of the de.
tenders f his native State in the war f
1924 She was confined in misera-
bic pen, uud the STEPS, about five feet
wide by six or seven long, without sin
gle comfort or convenience, and this was
the only place the overseer had for her
This we all felt to be disgrace not only
to our county, but to Chris ian commu-
nifty and to humanity. She shou be
Immediately seat to the Maryland Hos
pital.
We rcxt visited the rooms set apart for
the white men. We found these entirely
insufficient, the inu ates being crowded to
excess, and without any comforts or con.
veniences, as are all the rest IF the miser-
aGle novels We saw.
There are some twenty FIVE or thirty
persons at the A!mshouse-a large major
ity OF whom are negroes.
The buildings are old, dilapidated and
inconvenient, being built without regard
to comfort, convenience or ventilation, and
are entirely unsuited to the purposes for
which they are used.
The overseer's house also needs imme-
date repairs, and We hope they will be
made at once.
We would respectfully but earnestly
recommend, that all the land on the east
side of the road be sold, as soon as practi.
cable, as this part is of no practical bene-
fit and the proceeds of such sale be appro-
priated to the improvement Of the other
part. . ..
We would suggest that the peoples re,
personalities give this subject their spe
cial supervision and attention, if not from
sense of du,y, then from d sympathy for
suffering humanity.
Buildings should be constructed by
competent architect, with bath rooms, &c.,
and the whole enclosed By substantial
pailed fence. Shade trees should be
planted within the enclosure, where the
inmates could take exercise and air them
selves (by compulsion, if necessarily with
out danger of their wandering away or be
ing troublesome.
We would recommend more particular
ly an apartment for the insane.
We visited the place where the Sheriff
lives and the prisoners are confined, called
a Jail. We were very Hospitality enter
tanned by Mr. William Young, Sheriff,
and by him shown the building and pris-
oners. We found in the Jail, three in
sane men-nne white and two black-and
five negro men and one negro woman,
awaiting trial for stealing.
We woull suggest that every man be
taxed, equitably and equally upon every
species Oh property \StockS auu ponus
more particularly and then as soon as
that is done, we would say that the Jail
should be RACED, and new one erected, in
which prisoners can be kept, without the
most desperate constantly escaping. 2
- Some prisoners are only held for fur
Tier appearance at court, and should not
be punished, until proven guilty. For
them, apartments should be provided,
where they can have light and air
The drainage should be Immediately at
tended to, or pestileuce may be engeuder-
dered and spread, endangering not only
the Sheriff and his family, and the prison
ers, but also the citizens of the town.
We would call the attention of future
Grand Juries to distractions in the high.
ways, aud also to close scrutiny of the
amount paid for licenses, we believing that
considerable frauds are perpetrated upon
the revenues of the State, by parties OBJ
tanning licenses for less amount than the
true value of goods kept on hand at the
principal season Of sale. W /
GEO. THOS. HAYS, i