The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-01-07


| REPORT, &C kC.
The following is The full text OF the re
port OF the commissioners appointed to ex
anime the condition Of the Jail, which wa.
placed on record yesterday IN the clerk;
office OF the Hastings Court:
RICHMOND, January ). 1881.
10 the Honorable Judge of the HuStingS
Court Of the city Of Richmond:
The commissioners 10 inspect the Jail ol
the city OF Richmond are required to report
whether the Jail is secure and sufficient for
the accommodation OF the prisoners, and
whether II is so constructed as 10 be made
comfortable; whether the prisoners have
been provided with wholesome and suffi-
cient food, and with cle1nIy and sufficient
bedding. They are also TO ascertain II the
apartments have been kept warm and clean,
and il the Intemperate use OF ardent spirits
has been permitted.
AS was reported on q former exlmina-
tion, we again state that the condition Of
the Jail conforms to the requirements OF
the law, being secure and sufficient for the
accommodation OF prisoners. IL i so con.
structed as to be kept warm and cOmfOrta-
bic by proper management. The food al
cent. From the complaint OF prisoners
and our own inspection we are satisfied
there has been neglect with regard to heat.
and that the prisoners in the cells must have
suffered during the late cold weather. The
fire has been heretofore kept no till about
10 O'Clock at night, and then allowed to 20
out.
But when the thermometer falls many
6pUrppS hplOW ~ ROnn n
occasion, 1t ~ absolutely necessary to keep
up the source Of heat during the whole
night. We also state that many Of the prl-
soners have scaBty, threadbare clothes, not
adequate to defend them from the rigOr OF
the weGtber-seyCral without shirts and
two without coats. The cells presented an
untdy aspect, and cleanliness was not sui
iiciently Observed.
With regard 10 The use OF ardent spirits
in the illl, the commissioners believe that
the law has been cOnformed to. with the
exception of one case OF recent occur
renee. Without going into detail, it ap-
pears that a deputy OF the jail, bavIng
command in the abSeEco OF the iiiler,
while under the influence OF drink, in.
fIcted unusual and severe punishment on
one OF the prisoners for trivial Offrnce.
The prisoner was handcufTed and put in
the dungeon for more than two days, and
then ordered TO be suspended by the
thumbs, his feet tonchiug the ground,
aud 10 remain in that position for quar-
ter OF an hour. From this position he
was released by one OF the prisoners who
cOmmiseraed his punishment. This all Oc-
Cured by direction Of The deputy while
under the influence OF alcohol. As soon rs
Mr.. y. NJ. Lee, the iailer, heard OF the
atfir and the condition O! his deputy he at
once removed him, although his son, from
office, and forbade him to continue at the
Jail.
1t should have been stated that the pri>-
Oner who was punished is notorious bad
character, dsorderly IN Jail and disposed TO
rebel against Discipline. and that he has re-
peatedly been incarceratpd and spent much
OF his time in the precincts OF the prison.
With regard to the snow which had accu-
mulated in the cards OF The cells and which
was not removed aS directed, The ialer eX-
cuSes himself, and The commissioners agree
with him, on the ground that he was hourly
expecting the snow 10 be- shOyeled from
the roof OF the jail 10 the court below for The
purpose Of stopping leaks on the roof. and
a a new supply OF snow would be again de-
poSitt d be DELAYED removing the snow Until
the leaks could be repaired. The con-
tnuance OF the snow IN the yard was
from Thursday to SltnIdiy, and it
i now removed. The commissions
ers are not appointed to praise,
eytenuate, or eXculpate. The law re-
quires 4 simple statement OF facts, and our
is that the clothing OF many OF
the prisoners is not sufficient and such a.
the law requires; that neat has not been
attended to in the late exceptionally cold
weather; that more blankets should be fur
nished the prisoners; that the beds should
be again filled with clean straw, and that
such Of the prisoners in want should be i'm
supplied with clothing, and that
cleanliness in the cells should be more OBJ
served.
All OF which is respectfully submitted.
ROBERT &. CABEIL,
Il. W. GRUBBS,
FRANKLIN STEARNS.