The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-12-23
BEHIND THE BA RS,
A Visit to, and Talk with the In
mates OF, the Comfy Jail-The
General Appearance OF
the Institution.

Yesterday afternoon, in company with
the Committee on Court House and Jail
of the Board of Commissioners, REGIS
TER reporter visited the county jail.
We were graciously admitted behind the
bars of that institution by the turnkey,
who spared no pains to make
the visit as pleasant as Pronta-
BILE. We were first admit
ted to the down stairs apartments Tor
criminals, which is occupied by males,
and is the most dreary of the prison
apartments. The prisoners here confined
are ten in number, consisting OF lay Tor
Strauder, charged with murder, who has
been convicted and is awaiting the de-
cision of q higher court; Henry Rock
brant, charged with burglary; VIM. NC
Gumphrey, serving short term for
keeping a house ofill-fame; Patsy Agan,
serving out term for associating with
lewd women; Fred Davis and Ernest
Wells, two little mokes, imprisoned for
petty thetts; - Lindsly, charged with
embezzlement; VIM. Forsyth, theft; -
Murry, charged with horse stealing, and
VIM. Spindler, serving out term tor
resisting an officer.
During our stay in the prison apart
ments of the building, on this hoor,
Agan and Rockbrsnt escaped to their
cells, where they remained, as though
ashamed to present themselves IN the
corridor. Taylor Strauder, however
was more conversant. He is in good
spirits, although he complains somewhat
of neuralgia, and thinks that his chances
are good for further lease OF lite than
the law has decided he shall have, being
confident that his sentence will eithe.
be committed to Imprisonment, or
that the higher court will reverse
the decision of the lower court.
The two little mokcs, Davis and Wells,
are as happy as happy can be, and are in
their element, the little Davis Niger
dancing break down for the benefit OF
the visitors, and both darkies laughing
loudly when they were returned to their
cells and the doors closed on them. The
other occupar is were all retlcent and
kept clear of the corridor rs though try
ing to hide themselves within the
recesses of their respective cells,
After inspecting the down stairs
apartment, the party emerged from be-
hind the bars and assembled the stairs TO
look at the "ladies apartment" rs one OF
the committee expressed it, and caution
ed the other members to be reserved MS
regarded their department. In this por-
ton of the Jail are confined several noted
celebrities OF the city, who have Inquired
extensively in different roles III times
gone by. The total number OF persons
confined here is ten, and at the time
of the appearance of the com
mittee NJ the door leading to the
corridor, on either side OF when
are located the cells, some hali-do"en
women were outside their cells IN the
corridor, walking about and enjoying
what little freedom they were allowed.
The parties here confined are Melissa
Robinson, serving out sentence Tor
keeping house of i'll fame; Alice
Leverage, for prostitution; Hannah
EitzsimmOns, tor drunkenness; Mollle
Mclaughlin, for drunkenness, ternir ct
cet.: Mrs. Spencer lunatic; Mrs. Nolte.
luna.ic; Wash. Whorton, lunatic; John
Moore, lunacti, - Baker, lunatic; n ellie
Campbell, charged with robbing man
in house of i'll fame; and Lizzie Grey,
charged with burglary. The Leverage
and Grey girls are new in solitary con-
iinement tor hallooing from the windows
ut passers by on the street, as are also the
lunatics, whom it is unsafe to allow the
the freedom of the corridor. The rest OF
the prisoners, however, are allowed TO
walk about the corridor and make the
most of the privilege, so long rs they be-
have themselves. The Robinson
woman appeared to be quite anxious
to be released from prison, and stated
that she would leave the city, to return
no more, il it would he the means Of
giving her her liberty, at the same time
expressing great anxiety tor her little
boy, who is now in the haads OF Jennie
GRAY, on the levee. The Campbell girl
was rather dOwn-hearted and declared
her innocence of the crime OF which she
was charged, but felt confident that she
would be released rs soon rs her trial
was had. Hannah Fitzsimmons,
another noted woman of the town, was
quite reticent, and only conversed when
she was called Hannah, claiming that
her name was Mrs. Fitzsmmons, and
not "Hannah." Mollie Mclaughlin was
the liveliest one OF the lot, and her whole
soul was absorbed in the one conviction
that it was her inalenable right to get
drunk whenever she wanted to. The
others here confined had but little to say,
and appeared very much Inundated at
their surroundings.
Leaving this place, we visited the
debtors apartments, the culinary depart
ment, engine house, cellar, etc. The Jail
in all the apartments visited, was found
to be kept in good order. and no COM
plant whatever was heard from the
prisoners rs u their treatment. While
making tour of the building, the turn
key pointed out to the committee where
several attempts had been made by pris-
oners to escape, and also the defects OF
the building, but as it is not in
our province to pass opinion
upon the substsntisbility of the
Jail, we defer comment IN that
direction with the simple mention
of the fact that there is room for i'm
provement, or that new Jail entirely
would not endanger the safety OF prisoners
confined therein. The prisoners rations
consist of pound OF bread daily, n quart
of coffee, with meat molssses and soup,
and occasionally some little luxury
thrown IN, and they seem to have all
that nature requires, from their outward
annaaranna