The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-29

in this section.
Woman who Keeps q Jail.
From the New York Sunday Era,
Mrs. Ericker G. Jones, for four years
and half warden Of the Hudson county
Jail, is probably the only woman in the
world who holds such q position. Some
seven years ago her husband obtained the
appointment of jailer at this institution
and moved to it with his bride. After
two years Mr.. Jones was stricken down
with softening of the brain, which re.
duced him to a condition of idiocy for
six months before his death. When at
last this occurred, by unanimous vote of
the Board Of Freeholders the woman who
had really performed the duties of taller
was appointed warden. An attempt to
GUST her from the position was made last
fall, when politicians wanted the place.
and appealed to Attorney General VAN
malta, who gave an opinion adverse to
the lady's claims.
Hudson county Jail stands in tie same
enclosure with the court house, small
neatly kept park, we'll shaded BY fine
tres, and standing on very fine ground
commands fine view over the North
river and New York bay. Asking for
Mrs. Jones, we were at once shown into
the Office. We had expected to see a
woman of middle sge and stern aspect.
Instead We beheld pretty young crea-
ture, apparently not more than twenty
five years old, with bright black eyes,
waving brown hair, good features and a
plump figure. She was very neatly
dressed and pleasant in manner. We
were conducted into pretty parlor and
at once begged her to tell us all about her
case, which she did very clearly and con-
cise]y. When she was left widow with
two little children, she had no idea that
this place would be given her, but it was
rendered to her by the unanimous vote of
the board of Freeholders. At that time
there were in Jail three desperate crimi-
mails, Proctor, Demsing and Foley, bank
robbers, and some persons feared that a
woman could not hold them, but they
were safely transferred at the proper
time from the Jail to the State prison.
''And,' she added with bright smile,
Il never have lost prisoner, which is
more than many men jailors can say.
Some of them tried to escape last fall, but
l had warning in time, sent for the police,
and the attempt was prevented
"And do you think there is any danger
of your being turned out?''
Il don't know. I intend to remain in
the place until the end of my term, if
possible, since as long as the effort to dis
miss me is based solely on the ground of
my sex and not of my incompetency it
0lluhf i,1ct1u tn ho rocicfA1 -
'But Attorney General Vannatta gave
an adverse opinion to the legality of your
Eyes, but ex-Attorney General Robert
Gilchrist has given an opinion in my
favor, while MIR. Lippincott, counsel of
the board when was appointed, also held
that I was eligible for the place."
She then went on to tell of some Of the
petty prosecutions which have been re-
sorted to in order to induce her to resign,
as her term Of Office will not expire for
two years. When her husband was given
the position the allowance consisted of
forty cents day for each prisoner, fifty
cents for each sick person, twenty-five
cents for every committal, and twelve
and half cents for every discharge. The
daily allowance had been cut down from
forty to twenty-five cents, and all the
other allowances had been entirely done
away with. She is, therefore, at this
running that Jail on twenty-five
cents day for each prisoner. Out of
this sum she must pay for food, salaries
Of assistantjailcrs, &C., wages Of servants,
and even the furniture of the place.
Ex'Attorney Gilchrist's opinion on
her case is an able endorsement of her
position. He says, in the FIRST place,
that as Attorney General Vannatta S ad-
verse view was not given officially, it is
moi binding on the Board of Frceholders,
md then goes on to cite precedents.
Alice Stubs, sin 1857, was appointed
Overseer of the Poor in the county of
Stafford, England, and the Court of
Kings Bench sustained her in the Office.
A woman was ppointed Governor of the
W ork House at Chelmsford, England, and
the Court held it to be good appoint
ment. Lady Brangleton was appointed
Keeper of the Gate House Jail in Lon
don. Lady Russell was appointed Keep.
er Of the Castle of bennington. All
these cases being reported in Strange's
f., as clearly establishing the right and
duty of woman to hold Office.
The case of Ann, Countess of Penn.
broke. Dorsett, and Montgomery, who
was esherif of Westmoreland, is very
we'll known. The opinion winds up by
saying: ''The argument that a woman
is incompetent to perform the tduties of
such an Office is doubly answered. First,
by the array of cases in which it is held
that she is competent. Second, by the
resolution OF the Board when Mrs. Jones
VAS appointed that she had for long
time PRIOR thereto actually kept the Jail
while her husband was jailer."