National Republican., 1883-09-12
AN OPEN LETTER.
Mrs. Charlotte smith Asks somo Very
Pertinent Questions for MAI. Dye and
the Commissioners 20 Answer.

Mrs, Charlotte smith ASKS some Nohy
Pertinent Questions for MAI. Dye and
the Commissioners 20 Answer.
To THE COMMISSIONERS: On tho twen-
ty-seventh Of July addressed u letter to the
commissioners calling their attention to the
conceded fact that tho provisions made for
persons arrested for alleged crimes and while
awaiting trial were disgrace to the city,"
and asking that "a room of detention where
persons arrested on suspicion or upon potty
charges may bo first taken so as to determine
whether a mistake has not been made" and
adding, many persons arrested on frivolous
accusations havo to undergo tho shame and
disgrace of cell when an hours detention
before o competent officer would at least re-
lease them on personal reoognizarce."
This letter was referred to tho superintend-
ent Of police, and on Aug Z l received m
answer from the commissioners stating that
my request had been considered and q room
of detention found impracticable." THE sta
tion houses now in use serve the purpose very
we'll. ]. B. EpMoNDs, President"
Accompanying the letter was copy of Maj.
Dyes report which had been previously pub
lshed in some of the city papers Maj. Dyes
report not only covers the room of detention,
but seems an attempt to answer tho conceded
disgraoeful provisions made for persons ar
rested on suspicion or petty charges" First
he fatty contradicts tho commissioners by
stating: "Now, as to having little acc0mmo-
dations at the stations for the prisoners, some
of tho station houses, the rented ones es-
pecially, have in few respects what is desired. "
"The accommodations in the now ones are
better, separate provisions are being made foI
witnesses and the better class of offenders"
Tho commissioners say the station
houses now in use serve the purpose very
we'll"
What the separate provision for witnesses IL
| Maj. Dye does not state.
1t is matter very interesting to those who
might witness robbery or q murder, tha
rather than partake of Maj. Dyes undefneC
prescription for witnesses, the witness nigh
run one way while the robber ran another L
Mai. Dye means that witnesses are confined
with "the better class of offenders" the wit
nesses might still desire an explanation
| Who compose that "better class" and VIII
fixes the status of the better class? Does h
mean better class Of offense or offender 2
Does he mean class who can employ a law
yer for each juror and four and five for thu
court, and get away with million with i'm
punity2 Let us have light about "the bet
ter class" 1t is new phase in crimina
Jurisprudence, and if explainable should bC
stereotyped rs coming from an official who
talks of somebody who runs the police do.
patment." That is what the public generally
wants to know-who or what runs "these
departments" One of your correspondent
would no doubt like to know who rum
"Black Maria" constructed with seats TO
twelve but into which last Monday, tn
hottest day of the year, somebody crowded
thirty2 Good heavens is all humanity il
Washington dead l could give u list q
"better class of offend srs" for whoI
Mai. Dye and the commissioners shoul
mako a separate provision" but the elias
would consist of men who are too respectabl
to be arrested-so buried in their respecta
bility that they will not give q thought :
the criminal court and its pens and cells an
black maria. Maj. Dye, in his report, con
fesses more. He says: "To have roor
where policemen are to take persons arreste
on suspicion or petty charges is quite i'm
practicable IL for the body of arrest
are of the character of offenses described.
Then of course all these imprisonments i
cells, all this crowding, jamming thirty
yes, even sixty-arrested persons in blacl
, hole by IA feet, awaiting to be heard befor
, Judge Smell, were on arrests on mere "sus
picion or oh petty charges"
, If the next earthquake does not strik
Washington it will not be for the want O
something which should be swallowed up.
invite a critical examination of Maj. Dye
report, and would then like to have Nth
citizens committee, which cleane d out til
detectives mako report upon the crimini
courts of the district Maj. Dye has found
remedy, and it should be pondered over.
said in my letter that arresting officers wen
not "infallible," and Maj. Dye says: "If
: lieutenant of n precinct is not capable of PEI
forming the duty which is properly his--C
determining, whether an. ARREST ,be proper.
no be not infallible, as tho Corresponder
: alleges, let a lieutenant's pay be SO IL
creased and such othoS inducements b
) held out as to attract infallibl
men into the place." Mai. Dye had bette
nv nla IN md 10 NJ
, follows he probably means this as a sarcasm
My real motive was to draw attention to
, matter which l considered disgrace to til
j city. To those who are asking to have til
poorer class of criminals sent out in ganl
with striped clothes and ball and chain
, work on the streets, while 1.-THE better claS
of offenders" will be treated with separat
, provisions indoors my motives may bo mis-
understood. But do not regard any impu
tation upon my motives. There is q coars
brutality in the administration of crimina
, justice in this city to all except the bette
! class Of offenders" and if possible 1 inten
, to assist in correcting it.
,, Further as to my motives At great sacr
fees, l have for twelve years been more
!, less engaged in prison reform and in effor
to help this fallen class. l was Instruments
!. with the assistance of others, in furnishing
a library of 1900 volumes to ono prison.
three years l was mainly instrumental
, having 200 prisoners in Missouri, Illinois, an
,, Wisconsin pardoned and furnished with su
: of clothing, a transportation ticket, and 81
=, with which to make new efIo
a in life. l have volume of co
! rospondence from these pardoned crimina
: testifying their gratitude for my Efforts al
many of these men are now respectable men
, bers of society. This answer would ha
been before given to the press but for the ia
; that have been absent from the city for thr
weeks attending to the interests of the fema
telegraph strikers in New York city. If Mi
Dye ard his lieutenants cannot secure sui
, cient Wages and other inducements to email
: them to attend to their plain duty, / won
advise them to inaugurato q strike, and / vi
| help them, CHARLOTTE SMITH