The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-06-06
ReDort of the Grand jury,


The Grand Jury of this County fin
ished their labor on Saturday morn
ing last and were discharged. The
! subject of the malfeasance charged n =
on Tie Sheriff and Jailor, claimed a
large share of their attention, and near
ly a score OF witnesses were called be-
fore them and examined upon that
subject. The following is their re-
port i'll reference to the matter:
To the Hon. z. B. Conaat, .Juclge Of
Common, Pleas, AT the bay Term Of
said Court
said term respectfully submit the fol-
lowing report
First, that they twice during said
term visited the Jail in a body, and
on inquiry found that the prisoners
have rs good food as they can expect,
that no complaints were made of ILL.,
treatment. that the accommodations
are as good as can be expected with
the means at the Jailor's command,
that their habits are as correct as the
condition of the jail will permit, and
that the cleanliness of the Jail COM
pal Cc 1dNOia iapt9 HitiA tioe W 1Oi iiCi
years.
They further find that no rules or
regulations are in the Jail. and were
informed by the Sheriff that none had
been furnished by the Judges of the
Court of Common Pleas for the last
three years. No copies of the Bible
or Testament were found.
They further report that the SANTA
nv condition of the Jail is a standing
disgrace to the County and to the
County Commissioners. They find
that there is no water closet in the
Jail. One Eofthe lower Gells is used
fora water closet, and the stencil is
overpowerinS. although the bucket is
daily emptied, and filed with cold wa
ter That the bucket can only be emp
tied by carrying it through the Kitchen
OF the Jail, and the odor taints the air
ofthe whole prison. None ofthe lower
cells are fit to impfisOI prisoperS.in,
being damp and unwholesome. Nor
can the jail be considered safe. Steel
saws can be passed Trough the crew
ices between the stones of the walls.
The stone itselfis soft, and near the
ground, is DAMP and can be easily
crumbled to pieces Persons outside
the buildings can pass tools through
the grating of the window of the
Jail. near the privy, concealed by the
engine room. Liquors can be. and
there is every reas Dn 10 believe
have been introduceds to the prison
ers through the same window. They
find that no arrangements have been
made by the County Commissioners |
bv which the Jailer can be reimburs- !
ed for expenses incurred for wash |
ing of clothings and bedding, lights, |
soap, bedding destroyed by prisoners, |
The compensation allowed the Jailor |
is insufficient and is Of itself q suili-
cient cause to prevent a suitable per- |
son from taking charge of the Jail.
They farther find that there has |
been negligence in the freedom grant
ed to certain prisoners, sent here from
Trumbull county for confinement in |
the. county Jail, but more blame has
been laid upon the Sheriff Than he de-
serves. They find that one person I
was sent from Warren to be confined 4
thirty days and to pay q fine with or
ders (from fhe Sheriff of Trnnbuli
county, TO be let out when the thirty
days were expired, anil that the order
was complied with. That one Van
gortler was sent on fine and costs.
hat he paid all but S5, 75 OF the fine
md was discharged by the Sheriff;
hat he returned in a few days and
paid the rest.
That the report that prisoner has
been seen on the streets in company
With woman of unchaste character,
he offence being alleged to- have oc-4
;urred on the evening of Sunday, the]
9th of May. and Published in the Por-
age Co. Democrat, is without found y
Ition. Ia
The Grand Jury further find that /,
he Jailor has been negligent in the
discharge of his duty. But that more :.
,lame has been laid on him than he :
deserves. They find that during the n
winter, a ceiored woman from War
en-, sent on a fine, was allowed to as
ist in the work of the kitchen. That
vhen the Jailor's family were sick, q,
prisoner from Warren was allowed to
ssist in the work, and afterwards al
owed privileges in the Jail building,
which although the Jury do not con-
ider as amounting to a crime, yet it
5 deserving of severe censure. They
md the insufficient compensation al !
owed to the jailor to mitigate the Of
ence of allowing prisoners to perform
lbor in the Kitchen OF the Jail. They
rye the Commissioners to allow such
to the Jailor as will in- E
uce proper and responsible person
D take charge of the Jail, and CEN: !
ure the Commissioners for not hav- L
lg taken such action before. They
o not consider the present JailoP a y
roper person for the position, and Q
ensure the Sheriff for retaining him. :
The Grand Jury recommend that I
ratings of fine meshes should be pro- 4
ided for the windows, and that the1
enalty for pushing the same away be tt
IMPRISONMENT in the cells, and that '
he walls be lined with boiler iron, to
revent escape. 4
The above report, is respectfully g
nbmitted. H0s~' u
CHARLES W.ALDRoN, - b.
81. BALDWIN, Foreman.
Clerk of Grand Jury.
II n