Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-11-10

To the Editor OF the Free Press AMI Times
The bill introduced by Mr.. Thorp of Char
lottc for the building of a new jail in Chit
tcndcn county should receive The careful con-
slderation of our delegation. Our law pro-
vidcs that the grand jury shall examine and
report to the county court the condition of
the county Jail. In September, 1878, the
grand jury rcported That We have exam
med the county Jail, and are of the opinion
that this building, though not modern in all
its appointments, is reasonably safe for the
confinement OF prisoners"-J. l.. Mason,
foreman In about three weeks from that
time seven prisoners broke jail, and part of
them have never been recaptured. Several
times since then, desperate men confined
have broken out and left for parts unknown,
and on many other occasions would have
gone clear had it not been for the vigilance
Of Sheriff Drew. In 1879, the grand jury
reported IN favor of building II new jail
Hon. II. j. Morse, foreman. In 1880 they
also reported in favor of building new Jail
Hon. A B. llebert, foreman. In 1881,
they also reported In favor of building new
jail-IIon Ashur g. Robinson, foreman. At
the last term of court the grand jury reported
in favor OF immediate repairs on the old Jail
Hon. j. L. Mason, foreman. 1t will
be observed that Foreman Mason. although
inson, has made considerable progress since
1878. Then the Jail Twas reasonably safe"
and now it is in need OF immediate re-
pairs" The Jail is not safe to confine des-
pcrac prisoners, unless watched night and
day. The sheriff can i'll afford to keep guard
all the time, when the State pays only AZ
cents per day for the board Of prisoners
The health officer in Burlington has con-
demned the Jail as unhealthy. Foreman
Robinson said it was mot fit for human
beings to live in" The ladies of Burling-
ton have condemned it ON account of the bad
arrangement of its apartments in regard to
| the separation of the sexes.
But it is said that Burlington wants new
| jail for an ornament, and wants the country
towns to help build it, and much more Of
the same sort. Let us see who it is that has
recommended new Jail. In 1870, 1880 and
1881 there were AZ grand jurymen from the
country towns, and six from Burlington who
recommended building Il new Jail. In 1882,
II men from the county towns, and one
from Burlington recommended immediate
repairs, but it il is an open secret that large
part of the late grand jury were in favor of
building new Jail instead of making re-
pairs. Very likely the public spirited citi-
zens of Burlington would much prefer a
decent, modern Jail building to the old one,
and as for that matter, we don't believe
there is a member from Chittenden county
but would feel some pride in having mod
crn Jail for our county.
1t Is also said that there are few or no pris-
oners in Jail at present, therefore we Gon't
need new Jail. There were four desperate
men sent to States prison the last term OF
court, and within the last two years three
persons have been confined in jai. charged
with murder. Although there are at pres
ent few criminals in jail, the millennium has
MT vet reached here. There have been con
fined in Jail ut one time within year very
near score OF prisoners, and 1t would bt
nothing uncommon if as many more were
lodged there before next Spring. A,
Richmond, Nov. 8.