The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1876-03-30

2
n N MINI, THURSDAY, NJ
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"A Woman wise Keeps J.il.
From the New York Sunday Ria: =
+ Mrs. Ericker G. Jones, for, four Years
and half warden Of tho Hudson county
Jail, is probably, the only woman in .th1
world who holds such position: ISomes
seven years ago her. husband obtained the
appointment of jailer 3at 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 % condition of idiocc,ygs for
six months before his death. When /, It
last this occurred, by unanimous vote of
the Board Of Freehol ldsrs: the woman Who
had really psrfo formed Tho duties ST taller
was. appointed warden: -. AM attempt to
oust her from the position vas made last
fall, when politicians wanted the place,
and appealed to Attorney General Van.
natta, who gave an opinion adverse to
the lady's claims. ss5..5
Hudson county Jail stands in tAe same
enclosure with the court house, i small
neatly kept park, well shaded bysfine
trees, and standing on very fine ground
commands . fine view over the North
river and New York bay. Asking for
Mrs. Jones, We were ct once shown into
the Office. We had expected to sec q
woman of middle sse aud stern ASPECT.
Instead We beheld ! pretty young crea.
ture, apparantly not more than twenty.
Eve years old, with bright black eyes,
waving brown hair, good features and
plump. figure. She was very neatly
dressed and pleasant in manner. We
were conducted into q pretty parlor and
at once begged her. to tell US all about her
case, which she did very clearly and con.
'cisely. When she was left . widow with
two little children, she had no idea that
this place would be given her; bit 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
woman could not hold them, but they
were safely transferred .zat the proper
time from tho Jail to tho State prison.
"And." she added with bright smile.
II 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!'
II don't know. 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
ought justly to be resisted
"But Attorney General Vannatta gave
an adverse opinion to the legality Of your
Eyes, but ex.Attorney General Robert
Gilchrist has given IN: opinion in my
favor, while Mr.. 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,
rs 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
moment running that Jail on twenty-five
cents a day for each prisoner. Out of
this sum she must pay for food, salaries
CT assistant jailers, &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, ins the first place,
that as Attorney General Vannatta's ad.
verse view was not given officially, it is
not binding on tho Board of Frceholders,
and then goes on to cite precedents.
Alice Stubbs. in 1857, was appointed
Ovcrseer Of the Poor in the county Of
Stafford, England, and the Court of
Kings: Bench sustained her in the office.
A woman was appointed Governor Of the
W ork House at Chelmsford, England, and
the Court held it to be 4 good appoint.
ment. Lady Brangleton was appointed
Keeper of tho Gate House Jail in Lon
don. Lady Russell was appointed Keep:
or Of the Castle of Dunnington. All
these cases being reported in Strange's
R., as clearly establishing the right and
duty Of woman to hold Office.
The case Of Ann, Countess Of Penn.
broke. Dorset, and Montgomery, who
was !sherif Of Westmoreland, is very
we'll known. The opinion winds up by
saying: "Ths argument that = woman
is incompetent to perform tho duties of
such IN Office is doubly answered. First:
by the array Of cases in which it is held
that she is competent. Second, by the
resolution Of tho Board when Mrs. jones
WAS appointed that she had for D. long
time prior thereto actually kept the jul
while her husband was jailer."
0ns Of Custer's ''Konthaal Indiscre.
t3ons." ~, 2s ..Yv.r.. .s,,..,
cleveland Plaindealer:] - h.s:,
General Custer is writing up his mem.
cries of the war. When tho war broke
out he was under arrest at West Point.
His ofense was peculiarly serious one
in young man who aimed at being !
and enforcer Of discipline;
While officer Of the guard and going his
rounds, he came upon . couple Of cadets
at tisticufis. Instead Of arresting them,