The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-12-03
THE STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND
REFORM.
THE KENOSHA JAIL.

REFORM.
THE KENosHA JAIL.
Last week we made some statements and
suggestions, in relation to the past and future
visits, of the State Board of Charities and
Reform, to Kenosha and the Kenosha jail.
These statements aDd suggestions have called
from the Wisconsin State Journal the follow
ing:
THE KEEosHA JAIL.-The Kenosha Tsle-
graph complains that the State Board of Char
tiles and Reform do Lot notify the county
officers of intended visits, or call on the
officers -while there. 1t is apparent, we think,
that these visits, to do the most good, should
be nnannounced, as it is important that
public institutions always be In reasonably
good condition.
We learn that Hon. II FL. Giles, President
of the Board, appeared before the Ke2osha
County Board, while in session, last year,
and made an effort to influence that body
to reform what was styled "The black hole
under the Kenosha Court House." He called
on the County Clerk, Mr.. Nichols, to visit
the Jail, this summer, and they tEen found
1t much improved in ventilation and clcanli-
ness. But he still regards it q disgrace to
the county of Kenosha. 1t is not SO much
the condition, as the situation, Of the jail
under ground, OF which they complain.
The State Journal, generally reliable and
truthful, is neither in the foregoing. It is
not true that the Kenosha Telegraph COM
plains thai the State Board of Charities and
Reform do not notify the county officers of
intended visits, or call on the officers whilo
there. We made no complaints, and espec-
tally none about the Board not notifying the
county officers of their intended visits. On
the contrary, we suggested that, at their
next visit, they should take time to visit our
Jail and poorhouse at seasonable hours,
as well as at unreasonable hours, if they think
it advisable to make unannounced unseason
able visits"
Though not exactly untrue in words, what
the Journal says about Hcn. H II. Giles Pres
iGcnt of the Board, appearing before the
Kenosha County Board, while in session, last
year, is Intended to convey false impression
When Mr.. Giles was here year ago, attend
ing Court as defendant In the railroad suit
OF Hon. r. 8. Houston against the St. Paul
Railroad Company, for damages for the right
ofvay through his farm, he appeared before
the Board of Supervisors then in session, and
made some remarks about the jail. The
Board of Charities and Reform have never
been here when the Board of Supervisors
have been in session, consequently the one
could not call on or be called on by TIE other.
Nor have the Board of Charities and Reform
ever called on the County Clerk, who is The
agent of the Go unity or the Chairman of the
Board Of Supervisors. MI. Giles may or may
not have called on Mr., Nichols this--last-
summer, 10 visit the jail, hut Mr.. Nichols is
Clerk of the Circuit Court, and is not County
Clerk, and never was. In all these respects
the Journal failed to learn the facts, and
may have to fall back on incorrect statements
of Mr.. Giles for it's information.
The Journal says It is not 80 much the
condition, as the situation, of tie jail, under
ground, OF which they complain. It is
strange that the Board of Charities and Re
form will persist in the statement, aud the
Journal repeat it, that the Kenosha jail is
underground, when it is SO demOnstrably
false, and to speak Of it as "The black mole
under the Kenosha Court House, when there
has never been a death and scarcely any
sickness In the jail. But, as they do so,
we feel 1t our duty to make farther state
ments of facts in relation to the visits and
reports of the Board, and the situation OF the
jail.
The first visit of the Board was made, as
we are informed, by Samuel ID. Hastings
Mary E. B. Lynde. and William c. Alien
They arrived on the then o'clock train and
found their way directly to the jail, before
the Sheriff had finished his breakfast, ard
immediately found their way into the jail
and through every part of It, including the
sleeping rooms. It so happened that morn
ing that one of the prisoners, or one of the
insane, had had On attack of cholera morbus
and the ejecte, in place Of finding their way
into the pot de chamber, found their way or
the floor. Besides some of the insane are not
always the most tidy Of people in theil
sleeping rooms. And it is quite rrobao ole
that the visitors found some Of the sleeping
rooms in condition not the most pleasant te
behold. But, however this may be, as the
Journal thinks these visits, to do the most