The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-01-05
OUR POLAND.
Law I'm South Carolina.
A LOOK At THE YoRKvILLE JAIL
3ai AND ITS INMATES How
-8g THINGS ARE DONE sEy-
as EN- YEARS AFTER THE
H. ad WAN.


asl EN- YEARS AFTER THE
'a aJ WAR. e,
lYorkviile Ceres. to Cincinnati Commercial
We soon came in sight of the Jail, a
large three.story brick building. heavy
CRATES in all the side windows, from
each one of which peered as many
faces as could get to it. The prison
ers were enjoying the balmy October
breeze and warm sunlight as best they
could. In front OF the Jail were
quite crowd Of people who had
come on horseback and in carriages
from distance. A large portion OF
them were ladies. Indeed, all ages
and conditions were represented
There was the wife Of q rich planter
in her carriage, who had come 10 see
her imprisoned husband, with her lit
tie children clinging to her skirts and
looking up at the great iron-bound
windows in terror. Then there was
mother who had come from the mp
per part ofthe country 10 see her son,
and daughter TO see her father, q
father TO see his son, a sweetheart to
her sweetheart, and SO on through the
whole range of social aud domestic
relations. They all brought some
thing, il nothing but flowers. You can
imagine what sensation it would
make in some interior county in Ohio
for armed soldiers to suddenly appear
and clap hundred citizens in jail
without warrant or process, taking
them in many instances out of their
beds at midnight, how it would draw
out their friends and relatives and how
wide spread sympathy would be.
Forty or fifty people are let in at a
time, and after they have spent short
time with their imprisoned friends
they are turned out and a new set
turned in. This is kept up until all
are afforded an interview. short though
it may be, but better than none.
We passed in by armed sentinels
up the steps 10 the second story, where
Captain Ogden conducted US through
the building, allowing us to go in
among the prisoners, examine their
cells, and giving US more liberty than
is usually accorded to visitors. Not
so much from this courtesy as from
the fact that he deserves it. let me
state that Captain Ogden does all he
can TO make the prisoners comforta-
BILE, and they all speak of him in the
highest terms. II one has to be III
Jail. the next best thing to being out
is, to have kind and humane jailor.
In the second story there are no
cells aud here are confined the better
class of prisoners-that is, such as are
merely accused of belonging TO the
Ku klux without any other specific
charge. Up stairs in the cells are the
greatest number, and those who are
considered the worst class" The
poor and rich, educated and intelli-
gent. high aud low, are all mixed to-
gether on both floors. If a man is
considered q bad case, he is put ON
the third floor in cell, no matter how
high his social position or how great
his wealth. The Jail is a complete
leveler. A number of the cells have
each n negro in them, thus enforcing
the cardinal doctrine ofnegro equality.
Manyof those in the cells, aud all
below, are good looking set of men
above the average, in fact. Indeed,
when all classes OF society have con.
tributed so literally to ill mp the Jail
a number of apparently well-behaved
and good looking men would neces.
sarily get in. That there are a mum,
Der Of innocent men in with the guilty
have no doubt, but this cannot he
determined until the testimony il
prepared and the trial comes off.
For two hours l remained in the
Jail looking at the curious spectacle
To see some good looking. we'll dress
ed men looking out from behind iron
bars at their wives End children wa.
painful novelty. s q
Those in the second story are con
fined in rooms, each door opening in
to the hall, having two holes Gu,
through it. These are to be taker
away, however, and iron CRATES pu,
in. One OF the rooms is reserved a.
a sort of reception room, to whicf
the prisoners are taken 10 receive theil
friends. Each man who has q FRIEND
calling to see him is allowed to b,
out ten or fifteen minutes. As eacl
prisoner emerges from his cell, he il
followed by an armed soldier, wht
keeps close to him until the "inter
view" is over.
The first crowd of visitors ar,
turned out, and another "fioorful le
in. A mother in deep distress inquire
for her son, He is up STAIR" says tn
officer. Oh, that up stairs has an ON
inous meaning, and the mother know
III. Her son is in a cell. "Can g,
and see him!" she asks. "No, but tn
guard will bring him." The guar,
goes up stairs, a great iron door turn
on its rusty hinges and he brings tn
young man down. He is a manly
handsome fellow, with fine head an,
an honest face. The poor mothe
falls upon his neck and weeps, an
then, after the first outburst of grie
she asks hundred questions, that OF
ly mother will ask. DO you hav
enough to eat? How do you sleeE
Amt the nights cold without any fire
Is the man Kind to you? Don't yo
need clean clothes? Here, 4 hay
brought you some, and here is som
cake and a few apples. and q ne
pair of socks that sister knit, an
don't you want pair of boots, an
amt you afraid OF your lungsw An
thus the poor mother goes on until Il
officer calls out "time up. come on
! and the young man is hurried out
his cell. sou 49, 600
: Another mother talks to every or
she meets, declaring that her son is i
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