The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-04-27

are lnuceQ luucScIlDaule anu uhiuihoinapie'
In the name of our common humanity, letus
so arrange matters as that never again in
Richmond shall poor, suffering, nervous,
irresponsible person be consigned to Jail.
RICHMOND, April "a, 1874.
Editors Dispotch,-I beg to invoke your
influence in matter of humanity. am en-
couraged to do this from some strong points
made in your paper several months ago 10
regard to the death of Il white woman "a
lunatic), from Chesterfield county, VINO dled
in the Jail Of this city.
Several weeks ago placed genteel white
woman in the College Hospital, who was at
once aJiudged q lunatie, and application
made to the asylum at Williamsburg for adj
mission. Several applicants were ahead of
this one, and the prospect of this young
woman's admission is very remote. She is
now at an expense Of Sl4 per week-S7 of
this will, learn, be paid by the State; lam
responsible for the other bali.
This woman has no relative in five hum
dred miles of her, and is properly charge
able to the public. She has now TO be sent to
Jail, to be the companion Of the "chain.
gang" and to breathe the atmosphere and
listen to tue lewd songs Of others worse than
these. She hus violated no law, but is as in
nocent as the best of us. Why contine her
with va9abonds and felonS? Does not hui
manity shudder Mt the thought If any one
deserves the sympathy and protection Of the
community it Is the man or woman who has
lost his or her reason. The visitation is en-
tirely proyidentiaI. The adult is rendered as
helpless rs the infant. The guiding power OF
the judgment is gone, but some Of the sensi-
biIities are sound if not acute. The sur.
roundings of dark, gloomy Jail are well
calculated to increase the excitement ano
intensity the gloom Of such patient. line
midnight horrors no language can describe
The only plan that occurs to me by when
these miseries can at least be alleyiated is to
fit uD in wing of the Almshouse, in the
INNER story, say six small rooms, which can
he done at small expense, say $500, and lei
the officers of that institution take charge o.
these patients. 1t is rare that there are more
than five or six persons awaiting admission
into the State asylums. The cost Of main
tanning the inmates of the p0or-house i!
twenty five cents per day. This would give
the city seventy-tive per ceut. profit, an(
would soon pay for the expense of the fit
ting up. ANY further profit might go to th,
surgeon aud superintendent for the extra
labor bestowed upon these patients. The Cit,
Sergeant. 1 know, would be glad ii such an ar
rangement could be made. | know it is re
pugnant to his feelings to send these person
to Jail, but at present there is no help for it
As before stated, he is authorized to pa.
seven dollars per week, and no more. Isur
, pose the "Committee of the Poor" woul
hardly feel authorized without the order G
the Council to make the arrangements re
commended.
In conclusion, again beg you to use you
7 influence with the Council for the adoptio
T of the above suggestions, or to devise som
: better plan by which the wretchedness (
these our unfortunate fellow-beings may +
at least mitigated. I would also most r.
I specially invoke the influence of the Mayo
e and the Sergeant of the city to aid in th
+ work of humanity. ~
WILLIAM W. PARKER, N. D.