Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-11-15

ueath WnosS stencn was only parIiy us
guised, by dlsinfectants. The Jail was
dirty and ill-kept. The prisoners had no
suitable facilities for bathing. The sher-
ifs residence Is only less damp and un-
wholesome. We were not surprised to
learn that one sheriff's wife had died
from disease contracted there,
and that another sheriff had been crippled
by rheumatism. We were glad to learn
that the county commissioners are think
ing of building new jail.
The Goodhue county poor house was Wis
tied in company with Mr.. 7. K. Simmons,
chairman of the board of county commits
| sioners.
The poor house is wooden building
heated by furnace. Strict separation of
the sexes is now maintained. Formerly
it was not maintained, and gross scandals
resulted. The building is provided with
fire escapes and good water supply, but
no bath rooms. There is no hospital, but
sick persons are kept in the sitting rooms
for males and females-a very bad plan.
There were thirty-six inmates, of whom
| about fifteen are insane, bat none of them
in restraint or seclusion.
The sick poor in this county are allowed
| to choose their own physicians. The poor
house costs about $4,000 year, and out
door relief about $4,000 year, nearly as
much as Hennepin county.
Hennepin county Jail was visited,
and found in the same offensive
condition as before. The plumbing had
not been remedie 1. The secretary sub
sequently called on Mr.. Baldwin Brown,
chairman of the county jail committee,
who said it was about to be attended to.
| The Jail was visited again Sept. 10 by
the secretary and Mr.. Bell. The condi-
ton of the Jail was not improved. We
were informed, and probably truthfully,
that prisoners could not keep themselves
| free from lice, however much they might
desire to do so.
| Il am informed that the plumbing has
since been repaired.
| We visited the Minneapolis city prison,
and found it clean and in as good condi
ton as the premises would permit. 1t
is entirely inadequate, however, to the
needs of such city as Minneapolis.
| We visited the st. Paul work-house and
found it in its usual excellent condition;
also the Ramsey county poor house, which
Secretary Wright pronounced good in
stitution, though the building is very de-
| fective.
This joint tour of inspection was highly
| profitable to the secretary, as it gave him
a view of Secretary WriRht's methods of
work, and an opportunity to acquire in
| formation as to what such institutions
| ought to be.
August 20 the Insane Hospital
at Rochester was visited by Mr..
Bell, chairman of the committe on
asylums and reformatories, with
the secretary. As DR.. Bowers
was engaged in repairing the dam
age inflicted by the cyclone, and the time
being very limited, no general inspection
was made. The interesting fact was
brought out that about one-third Of the
| male patients are kept on the "open
door" system and go and come at will.
Aug. "a, the city lookup of Lake City
was visited by the secretary. 1t is
| wooden building, presenting no special
peculiarities of construction or manage
ment.
Sept. Z, the reform school was visited by
the secretary. to obtain information for
the report to the national conference. This
school stands in the front rank of such in
stitutions in the fact that it teaches trades
which will enable pupils to support them
selves when discharged. The trustees are
exceedingly DESTROYS that the way should
be made easier for committing children
for incor. igibility without the commission
Of actual crime. The secretary inclines to
the opinion that they are in error in this
| desire; but the question is an important
one, deserving the study of the board.
Sept. s, the secretary visited the Anoka
| county Jail and poor house, with DR.. Gid
| dings, city health officer.
The jail is in the basement of the court
| house, and although new one, is unfit for
| use, and is not used except for temporary
detention.
The county poor are boarded at So per
| week by woman who keeps boarding
house and gives boarders and paupers fare
and fare alike.
About August 81, woman named
| Georgiana McArdle while being conveyed
| to the insane hospital at st. Peter, in
charge of Sheriff Frost, of Anoka county,
| appealed to the secretary to investigate
her case, alleging that she was sane and
! that physician of Anoka would SO state.
| (The woman had no knowledge of the
official relation of the secretary.) After
conversation with Sheriff Frost, the score
tary decided to make inquiry. The physi
clan in questian stated that he had once
been member of commission which
pronounced her insane but that he now
believed her to be sane. The official rec
ords show five separate examinations:
February, April and May, 1873; May,
1879, and August, 1888. The first time,
she was adjudged insane but kept at home
because she had young child. The
second time she was adjudged in
sane and started for the asylum,
but was brought back by con-
sent of the probate judge on request of
the sheriff, and q new trial ordered. This
time she was adjudged sane, and her hus-
band was prosecuted for cruelty. A
| fourth trial, a year later (1Sl9), resulted in
her being sent to st. Peter, whence she es
elped and returned home some four
months later, where she had remained
some four years until this fifth trial re-
suited in sending her back.
The woman is upquestionably techni-
oally insane. She has Authorizations, but
| her husband has long treated her with
great cruelty and has amused himself by
stimulating her insane fanoies. When she
is away from him she is quiet and harm
less. She has children able and willing to
| provide for her who say they can get
along nicely if the father can be induced
to stay away. At the asylum she is quiet
and harmless and DR.. Bartlett would dis
| chargs her If arrRnpemeaks could be