Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-01-30
OUR COUNTY JAIL.

Olk GU MI JAIL.
Mr.. Editor:
In Lewiston Journal daily issue of Jan.
cath, under the head of "0ur Jails, =
What the Inspectors have to say Of their
Condition. we find the following:
OXFORD COUNTY JNL-At Paris. War
rem O. Douglass, Jailer. One hundred
dollars was expended for repairs. The
Jail is well cared for and is in as good con-
dition as its construction admits of. As
a matter OF economy the jail Is success,
as the presiding Judge at late term OF
Court instead of giving prisoner one
years sentence in the jail, as he would
have done had it been suitable, sentenced
him to State Prison instead; to that de-
gree making the other counties share with
Oxford in the expense which belonged 10
Il. Whole number of commitals, twenty
one. One for drunkenness, and one for
selling intoxicating liquors. -Four were
sent 70 State Prison.
Now II this were true, we would deem
1t Just reprimsnd, but 1t is not only I'M
true, but unjust to the people of Oxford
County. The Jail, here, is built of granite,
is divided into four cells each lsxl2 feet in
size, with good cement floors in the lower,
and firmly laid board floors in the upper
cells, a hallway between the cells above
and below with solid granite walls. Ii is
well lighted, and made secure, by heavy
iron bars across the windows on the outer
side, with heavy iron doors well secured
by bots and improved locks, so that it is
considered safe and secure. 1t is sur
rounded by high picket fence, and we
believe il one of the best and safest OF the
old fashioned jsils in the State. The
statement that the presiding Judge at a
late term Of Court, instead OF giving a
prisoner one years sentence in the jail, As
he would have done had il been suitable,
sentenced him 10 State Prison instead,
is not only surprise to the people OF this
County. but is not correct in fact. No
such reason was ever assigned for such
sentence, 10 our knowledge; and If the
Inspectors will examine the Statutes,
chapter lS5, section >, they will see that
all sentences "for the term of one year or
more. shall be in the State Prison, and all
for a less term in the county jail, or house
OF correction" This provision has not
been changed except by the provision Of
law passed since the Statutes Of 1871, that
when the punishment provided by law
may be Imprisonment in the State Prison
for three years or less, such punishment
may be inflicted by the Court, in its dis
erection. in either ofthe work -jails. Laws
of 1873 Is amended by ca. lS3, Laws Of
1877, and incorporated in Goddard's Re-
vision OF Statutes, ch. 1851 II prisoners
are sent TO the work all, they are 10 be
sentenced 10 the nearest or most CONVEX
ient" one TO the county where the otfense
is committed, and in such case the county
from which the prisoner Is sentenced pays
the board of the prisoner, receiving the
credit for wha, labor he may perform. For
the past TWO years five prisoners have been
sentenced 10 the State Prison from this !
County one in ISL, for burglary and lar
ceny, two years four in lS>2-three being
for adultery, one year esch, aud one for an
assault. This last one was indicted for
rape, and the jury not being able 70 agree.
evidently compromised their verdict by
conyictins him of the lesser oTense Of an
assault. The Judge who passed the sen.
tence, cognizant Of the fact that he had
served sentence in the Auburn work
jail, and one In the State prison, gave him
one year in State Prison. Such ofeuSes
are now declared ielonies snd may be pun
ished by Imprisonment in the State Prison
not exceeding five years. Neither OF these
prisoners was sent 10 State Prison Ia con-
sequence or the unsuitab,eneSs OF The jail,
but in consequence Of the degree OF the
odenSe, and no such reason as alleged in
the foregoing report, to our knowledge,
has ever been given by any Judge here, for
sentencing prisoner to State Prison.
Prisoners have been sentenced 20 this Jail
for six months, and other terms less than
one year. As matter Of fact, we are in
formed by the Jsilor for lSS2, that the In
Spectors have not visited this Jail since
lSSO, and believing they had been misiu-
formed. we deem il important that this
correction should be made
JAMES 5. WRIGHT.