Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-08-28
small for the present needs of the county.

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and viii have to be enlarged.
We do not think it advisable to send the
long term prisoners away, as it is only this
class that can earn the money required to
keep them.
The enlargement Of our present prison
facilities has become necessity. We find
the number Of convicts hOw there to be
76 awaiting trial ; confined for drunk
en- and disortlcrly conduct 50 making .
total of 13O.
We think the prison inspectors had bet
ter purchase q new scales for tho use of
tho prison.
There is one department Of the prison,
that owing to the over crowded condition
of the main building, has Ito uso tho
mildest language that the case will admit)
become . terrible disgrace to Lancaster
county. We have reference to tho room
called Bummcrs' Hail." In our opinion,
one years sentence to the prison proper
would DO far preferable to one month s
commitment to the "Bummers' Hail."
The room is 25x27 feet, with the height of
ceiling Q feet, and most of tho time en-
tirely bare of any semblance Of furniture.
At tho present tlmo We find sort of stable
that We understand the men confined there
had constructed SO that they would not bc
compelled to sleep amidst the filth au l
vermin to be found on tho floor. Tho
prisoners here cOnfiued, numbering from
30 to IS, arc bummers and persons dc.
tected stealing rides on trains. These arc
locked up in q room that would compare
unfavorably with tho average pis-sty Of
Lancaster county.
For this condition Of things it is llar.l to
suggest = remedy unless a partial one can
be found in refusing to receive train jump
ers as prisoners, as We hear some of our
neighboring counties arc doing. We un-
derstand these prisoners cannot be SEN
fenced to confinement ut the wOrkhOusc.
If such is the case it is certainly to bo de-
plOred. In our opinion tho prison inspec.
tors had far better let them have the run
of tho yard and hire additional help to
look after them than to lock them up
within the confines Of the harrow room.
At tho almshOuse we found everything
in good condition, the number of inmates
reported tn us being ZIG. Of which 141 arc
males, &C females and children not old
enough to be sent to the Children's Homo.
We also visited the hospital, both tho de-
partment of tho sick and the lately burn
cd insane department.. We think the
superintendent, Mr.. Sparrier, has clearly
proven his efficiency for the position he
occupies by his conduct at the unfortunate
fire.
After visiting the burned portion OF the
insane department and hearing tho state
ment of the board Of poor directors, the
grand inquest would recommend to the
court as being their unanimous opinion
that the policy Of the county should here
after be to send their insane to the state
asylum. That the main building alone be
repaired and used for tho miltler cases,
and tho south wing be taken down en-
tirely. At the time of tho fro there were
112 insane persons under the caro- of tho
superintendent, all of whom can be ac-
counted for "a follows Taken to Norris
town, 4S !; taken to Harrisburg, 90 being.
cared for by friends, 10; removed to aims.
house, II; remaining in hospital Is !;
total, 112.
We would recommend that the directors
of tho poor provide additional water iacil-
tiles that can be used in case Of fire, both
at the aimshouse and at the hospital, and
that night watchmen he employed at both
places. We would also recommend tho
rebuilding of the county barn.
Tho thanks Of the county arc duo to tho
fire department of the city, as it was only
through their heroic efforts that number
of the other buildings of tho county were
preserved from 4 like fate. We also think
it advisable to have all the county proper
ty insured.
Tho grand jury is sorry that any ''rulo
Of court" or anything else should inter
fere with q prompt trial of any supposed
incendiary. Desperate diseases require
immediate remedies, and the sOrely affiict-
Il al De <1,on al o,Io kr,
hope for security in tho future in proper
tain to any one detected committing this
crime.
We roturn our thanks to the honorable
bic assistance, and to the sheriff for fur
ing of the county institutions.
p. w. Heistand, foreman J. Harold
Wickcrsliam, secretary G. f. FahncstOcls,
c. Hanlon, &. NJ. Mcngle, Jacob Morrow,
VIM. X. Hurst, +. ii. Hershey, j. e.
Schuman. Jacob Thuma, F. 8. Slower,
William Long, Andrew Emmert, William
Cast, Simon B. Snyder, Geo. Il. Erisman,
l.. r. Jenkins, Cyrus s. Herr, John +.
Reith, Philip Stauffer.
Remarks Of the Court.
After the report of tho grand inquest
had been read the court thanked the men,
hers for the attention they had given to
business, which was presented to them
CURED with what they had said.
Judge Patterson further said "If the
remarks in your report as to the prompt
trial and punishment Of criminals have
reference to the case OF tho alleged incen-
diary against whom true bills were found
by you on Monday, and those whose trial
was continued until next torn, the court
would say that it will 10 admitted, doubt
less, by every right minded man, that
every criminal, however great the Offense
charged, should have fair trial.
In this court rule has prevailed
SO long yes forty years and
if criminal charge was
to court within ten days previous
to the opening of the session, and the de-
fendant would state that he was not pre-
pared to 60 to trial, his case would be
continued. The case mentioned was re.
turned 10 court OH Saturday preceding the
Monday Oh which the session opened, and
when called for trial tho counsel appear.
ing for the prisoner stated that he was not
nor could he possibly be prepared for trial
at this session. The court accordingly,
after inquiring whether the counsel could
bo ready to 70 to trial on Friday and re-
ceiving a negative reply, continued the |
case to the next court.
Tho court would deserve severe COLI
ilemnation should it be found administer.
ing partial justice-by adopting one rule
10 one accused AMI q different rule to |
another Such administration of tho crimi- |
nal law, of your county, would be dis |