Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-11-15
COURT OF QUARTER SESSIONS.
Regular November Term.

ship. was chosen foreman OF the grand
jury. After he and the members were
sworn Judge Livingston instructed them
in regard to their dnties while IN thei;
rooms. He then spoke Jas follows III re,
gard to their visit to the public instltu-
tions
After having passed upon all the bills
presented to you by the district attorney
and performed all the duties required oil
you in the grand jury room, it viii be your
duty in vour official capacity to visit the
Door and house Of employment, the hos
Dital. home for fricndless children and the
Lancaster county prison, OF which yol aIe
he legal visitors.
Willie visiting the poor and house OF
employment it viii be well for you to cX-
anime the new barn just completed, and in
view OF the number OF buildings in close
proximity thereto, as we'll as tho fact that
the barn on the premises has been several
times. within the last few years, destroyed
by fire, it will be proper for you to in
quire whethc. or not some arrangements
should bc made Cor an increased supply o.
water, SO as to afford increased security to
the buildings and to make such sugGcs-
tions IS yUu deem advisable with reference
thereto.
While visiting the Lancaster county
prison, it will be well for you to inquire
why it is that while OtLe.' prisons report
considerable nett earnings in their naanJnc-
turiag depnrtmelts, Scch us carpet, weaV-
ing, shoe and cigar departments, CI:s
usually reports 2 deficit.
How should this convic. labor kc man-
aged ard utilized:
Should we continue TO purchase raw
material and lose annually from $1,000 to
1000, or even mere, under the present
system in its manufacture. Ok would 1t
be better to haze arrangements made so as
10 let out by Contract, and let the ccntrac-
tor supply his onn raw material, such Is
leather, carpet, loom and basket material
and tobacco. This question We deem
worthy 6r yoa. inquiry and considera-
ton.
Another question with reference to tins
institution, demands strict Investigation ON
your part. Irefor 70 tie escape and frc-
qucnt attempts Oh. the part of prisoners to
escape. How do they escape? and who
furnishes 10 them y" many implements
for That purpose. Where and how do
they get implements to enable them 10 cut
through, iron-ciad ccllSo AMI where are the
officials while the cuttingi is being done?
Who furnished the prisoner who cut
tilC Jii-t.stl C-!i
since with the h.Ir of soap containing \
hammer, The loaf Of bread ia which Il file
w:is concealed, and the ease knife ground
down to point; ro.;:ll u::icr The lilin. OF
his hat ? Where did he get them. lie was
sentenced 10 scpcraic and solitary coniinc-
nicnt at labor for :. long term.
The law requires the keeper, ia presence
Dr any Of the Inspectors who may be pres
Tpt ,nI I 1,o ~ ,,ln
vcMien:!y attend, when Il convict is re-
ccivcd At the prison, to strip hiW o.: al
mouey, rfccfs, and clothes on his pc. ..S0a-
and then battle, clean and cl0thC lin III tic
untfo;M Of the Dri30a, an;l conduct him
20 Tie cell assigned him. No convict
shall be allowed tuuicSs under the
special direction ot the attending
physiciaW or permitted 10 receive
any thing but the prison ~iI"'cance,
and any person who shall supply, or at
tempt to supply, a convict with any article
forbidden by the law governing the prison.
shall on conviction bc fined not less than
500, nor more than *10D H.rl if IN officer.
be dismissed. II this law was complied
with, he certainly took lolio nI tilesc i2,-
plcmcEtS il. the cell Will him ut the time
he first cntr!cd it.
In your invest tiy;ticn ii may ha well jor
you TO inquire whether o:' :,ot lie obtained
them from VISITORS and What IS the Drac-
ticc OF TIE prison with reference to the
visitation %. persons sentenced 10 separate
and solitary confinement.
While our prison was nothing more than
an ordinary county jail, it did not make So
great 4 difference, because all our worst
grade of prisoners were :hcn sent to the
Eastern pcnitcntiaFy. But when ~ act &C
Assembly was passed prohibiting us, cX-
cept in two or three cases which rarely O:.
cur in this cnuEty, from sentencing to the
Eastern pcnitcn:iarr, our prison became
as to all. except in those two OF. three
classes, pcnitcntiarT. and the rules and
regulations with reference 10 visiting that
class of prisoners should dc rs strict as
those OF the pcnitcnt:a.ics in which they
are usually confined. We fear however.
that upon examination ycu will find thar
the inspectors ana officers continue to CON
duet our prison o.. titc old county Jail plan
and permit any one who desires to risi.
prisoners. whether convicts or not. when
and so often as ticy sec proper, without
anv regard to The law governing the prison. |
This law they have constantly before I,
their eyes it may be fountl in their own
printed pamphlet Oh page TO- Article !
Vii. titlc Visitors. After declaring who !
shall be official visitors in this insti-
tuition, it provides that NO person 1cho
is not an cG;ci"l risi'or. or lcko has
mct rItHeR permission. according
to suca rules as the inspectors may |
adopt Gas aforesai;D, shall be allowed !
to visit the prison, EXCEPT attorncys-a' law
who shall be permitted TO visit their ,
clients confined for trial. None Iut cf'cml
cisttois shall hGrc any ccsllmHRtf0'!on arjM |
The conricis, nor sEGH any r;sitor
'eltatcecr te permitted to Gelire.' 70 or
feccicc from any c0Arict Or persoa ca:l-
fncd any letter OF message acAatec1:. w TO
apply Mcm acia any articles Of aHy
tind, excepting such letters or messages to
Or from persons confined Cor trial, rs si,ai;
FIRST be submitted or communicated 10 the
keeper, or one Of the inspectors. and 10y
either approved OF, under tho penalty Of one
hundred lollars.''
II this plain law is complied with, il i;
lifiicu!t 10 conceive how prisoners obtain
implements, such as We Lave referred Ia.
10 enable them to escape. The
,fficers can tell You, and it. is
'our duty 10 inquire. whether this
aw is observed and obcycd Or not. It is
he duty Of the inspectors, not only to
zee that proper rules and regulations arc
made and established. but implicitly OBJ
erved. And whenever and wherever the
Ulcers appointed by them fail, neglect Or
efusc to obey and carry out the rules.
equations and laws made and in force for
he government of the prison with prompt
hess and dispatch they should be immcdi
ltely discharged. and they are highly cul-
,able if they fail to do so. SO long rs this
and constant visiting is per-
nittcd in violation Of !:l" it will be found
:,