Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-06-04

In the report of the Grand Jury,
which concluded its duties last Thurs
day, to the Judge Of the Common
Pleas Court, we find the following ia
reference to the management of the
County Jail, which speaks volumes for
the efficiency of Sheriff Cochran:
"They further re-
port that they have examined tine Jail
as required by law, and also the Regis
ter kept by the Sheriff of his proceed
ings, and have found that the Jail has
been kept in every particular as regui-
red by the rules and regulations prescri-
bed Tor it by the Sheriff; that the condi-
tion of the Jail and public buildings
under the care of Sheriff Cochran L. as
perfect as it could be, and that he is en-
titled to special commendation for the
faithful manner in which he has dis
charged his duty"
(Signed) ssR. l.. RILEY,
.,E Foreman"
We presume that the marked im-
provement in the cleanliness and keep
ing of the Jail and public buildings
has attracted the attention of the Jury
to such an extent as to induce them TO
make the above very fiattering report.
Wemust confess that we don't know
exactly how q prison should be kept.
We do know that the subject Of their
proper management is being discussed
in almost every civilized country. The
question is not altogether how crimi-
mails shall be secured, but how shall the
penalties of the law be meted out upon
the most humanitarian principles. The
era of filth, vermin, contagion and dis
ease is passing out of civilized prison
discipline, and the era of well-regu-
lated sanitary system is being encour-
aged.
Sheriff Cochran should feel proud
that fifteen of his countrymen have
said under their oaths, that he is enti-
tied to especial commentator for the
manner in which he has discharged his
duty.
While we are upon this subject, we
will call the attention of the public to
another evidence of the advanced ideas
of our people in regard to the public in
stitutions of our county. 1t was a
grand step up from the practice of the
barbaric age, when our magnificent In
firmary building was erected aud fitted
up with all the comforts of a home for
the poor and destitute in our midst.
However, some of the poverty-strick-
en- ones could not be made to enjoy
even this-idiots, lnnatics and maniacs
were among the nunber;-the safety
and comfort of themselves and the pro-
lection OF everything around them re-
quired more than ordinary precaution.
A poorly ventilated, miserably ar
ranged and insecure building, without
proper sewerage, and in too close prox-
unity to the main building, was all that
was provided for these maniacal idiots.
Reeking in their filth and nastiness,
the sight Of them was disgusting to ev.
cry lover of humanity. Here again
sas an opportunity for our people to
take another step forward, and demon
strate that we were in the van of the
enlightened spirit of the age. The
Commissioners wisely took hold Of the
matter, and with little or no cost to
the county, they will soon have a com
Portable and safe place for these pool
unfortunates.
Tie people whose servants all oi
these officers are, should be thankful to
them for doing their part in placing us
,as a county in the advanced and ad'
vancing columns of the age.