The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-07-04
THAT HORRIBLE JAIL,

The late Grand jury, previous 10 us au'
journment addressed the following commu-
nication to Judge Leland on the subject OF
that overcoming, neverto-be-abated NUS
ance the county Jail.
The Grand Jurors, now in session, having
made an examination OF the county Jail, ask
leave to submit the following report, together
with an appeal to the citizens:
Conducted by Sheriff Mcintyre, we made
the descent into this modern hadcs, the SAM
| tarv condition of which we believe to be as
perfect as the present structure will permit.
The officials we found courteous and in
every way willing to assist in the examna'
ton. t '.y
Taking light we examined each cell care
| fully, and also the dungeon. The last, par
tculary, we found in very unhealthy con-
dition, and not for want of care, but solely on
account of its peculiar construction.
One half or more of our county jail is be-
low the surface of the ground, consequently
must be more or less damp. The Jail proper
consists of one room nine and half feet by
hfty.eigh feet, with window at either end
some thirty inches square, from nearly one
half of which space the hight and air are eX
clIded by double iron gratings. In this mar
row space we found some SeCente6n persons
confined The sleeping cells are in the side
+ wall-in size four feet by six, A bunk occu-
l.. pies the entire space, and i'll most of the cells
n three persons are forced to sleep IN each,
!, being locked up for the night,-with only
+ a small space III the upper panel of the door
to admit air, and that only after passing
through the small outside openings before
~ described
The damp and musty air of the dungeon is
Is too foul for any human being to breathe, and
N yet one of the prisoners has to occupy ii
~ throughout the night.
y That the present Jail has Outllvcd its use
IN fitness cannot but become apparent to any
of one who will take the pains TO visit it ant
he more especially when jUdtctdl testimony il
es that three months in it are equal to year il
We the peniteniary at Joliet. Can any one will
no these facts before him refuse to be taxed tn
vel small amount necessary to erect a new one
he In the name of humanity we would appca
Mt to the Supervisors of La Sale county To a
tc, once institute proper and efficient measure
to abate this crying nuisance by erecting
structure wherein criminals even can hav
~ some show Of comfort, and we, as Il body, III
Inc unanimously ccnsurc them for failing to nc
ms heretofore III what we consider their duty q
a public servants.
,k. We very we'll know that some persons wi
lm say the prisoners deserve their present trca
re- ment Even so, perhaps, but boys are ther
,"- confined from CltNCn 10 seventeen wears ,
ne age. (who on trial have been found innocent
ny. thrust in with hardened villains The,
ttr ought not to become contaminated bv bein
A.. brought in contact with thieves and robber
a school of vice and crime wherein are ,augl
H.. lessons which may render them unfit 10 |
again turned loose upon society.
There is also at the present time an insai
man, pronounced incurable by the state 4
'lr thori,ies, returned and confined IN the ia
~ for the simple reason only that there is
'' other place for him. This, we understand
by order of the Board of Supervisors in
~, ctTtsfdtH community!
IhS A person accused OF crime is supposed
',o be- innocent until proven guilty, and when
for proven punishment follows; but In this
css stance We look upon it as punishment befc
ave conviction, and that it would be mercy
fol- be permitted TO fee 10 Joliet as city OF
10 fuge.
Think for a moment of the condition
three persons being confined during I
night. locked up in space four by six fe
ZEE with scarcely any circulation Of air, md I
his Temperature nearly one hundreds il "
a q on the Sth and 9th of this month. This
md ,,,,.ar,hoioss a cact and We, ,xe nresumc n
We one IN hundred of our citizens ever thinks
dreams that such a state Of things does exist
our midst.
red Visit the Jail, fellow citizens, see and
~ coReiRced.