Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-01-03


and others.
The two ooiored men named Elliot
who were cell companions Of Laws, r,
Gently attacked with smallpox In til
county jail at New Castle, were turne
loose yesterday week. One OF til
men was suffering from what Priso
Physician Black prononnees light cas-
of varioloid. The other had rather sus
picio1s symptoms OF the approach of
| similar attack.
Before giving the men their liberty
Detputy Sheriff Martin appeared befor
the Board OF Trustees of the Poor and re
qnested that this body take them, pre-
vide food and medical attendance 70
them. This the members stated was ou
Of their power entirely and after discus
sing the necessity for hospital here
dismissed the deputy with expressions o
regret at his unenvisble plight of havin,
two cases of smallpox on his hands.
For the removal of Lava from tn,
county Jail to his home in this city tn,
levy court refused to pay the perEons per
forming the disagreeable duty on tn,
ground that the poor trustees should
liquidate the expense incurred and pro
vide for the treatment Of cases in the
future.
The sheriff seeing that both bodies te
which application had been made refused
to take the responsibility of acting in the
matter, claims that the safety of the other
prisoners In his keeping demanded that
the jsil should be cleared of the cases,
and accordingly opened the doors to the
afflicted negroes. Upon gaining their
liberty both men came to this city where
they claim to belong.
The affair has created considerable
alarm among the prisoners, all of whom
have been vaocinated recently, and other
precautions in the way of fumigation
taken to prevent further contagion.
One OF the released prisoners whose
name is James Elliott, and who was in
Jail awaiting his trial for stealing q
watch, was interviewed by an GAZETTE
AND JOURNAL reporter at Sixth and King
streets about IL O'Clock a. m. Thursday
He stated that he was turned out OF Jail
yesterday week by a deputy, and that
he walked to Wilmington, where he had
been wandering around the streets since
the night previous.
He came to the Board of Health office
early Thursday and spent great deal
OF time loa1iDg around the door leading
to the stairway Of the building. He is a
small stout man about % years old and
has a slight beard. The pustules on his
face are jnst beginning to form.
The unfortunate man seemed to be
suffering, and was very reluctant to talk.
While talking to the reporter b g stood iu
the middle of Sixth street, and large
crowd assembled on the corners.
Two little girls drawing a sled passed
right by him and when told by the re-
porter to keep away 'that man has the
small pox." they ran up Sixth street
were half frightened out of their senses.
At one time Elliott was standing in
front of the DO office and the reporter,
City Solicitor Turner and Registrar Frazer
were standing in the door way of the
Board OF Health building. A we'll known
gentleman came up King street to get his
mail and when told the condition OF the
person standing in front of the post office,
he thought he would join the crowd.
Heads were protruded from the win
dows of all the offices at that corner
and such inquiries as "Who is
that maD," WHAT'S the matter with
bin" " Has he really got the small -pox,"
why don't you take him away" were
heard in every direction. All the while
Elliott stood in the middle of the street
as if dszed with his hands buried deeply
in his pockets and his cap pulled over
his eyes.
Finally Executive Officer Schultz of the
Board of Health appeared on the north
west corner of Sixth and King streets
and beck oned for Elliott to come. They
had short conversation together and
Elliott walked briskly up King street and
The executive officer stated to the re-
porter that he had been trying since
o'clock in the morning to get place for the
sick man to stop and that finally he had
succeeded in getting him a place in the
western part of the city. He refused to
locate the house, because he said it would
1nly raise a disturbance among the neigh
bors in that LOCALITY. number of citi
ssns expr, ssed their opinions of the Jail
authorities in very emphatic terms for
tnrniDg Elliott out of jail when he was
afflicted with such malignant disease,
and one OF theuf said, Il should not be
surprised to see young List wandering
iround on King street after while.'
The deputy sheriff, when interviewed
Thursday, at first declined to talk on
he subject, but was atterward induced
% state that he believed DR.. Black wss
'ather scared when he pronounced the
prisoners sickness vsrioloid. The deputy
tated that he had seen the prisoner
md could see 10 symptoms Of the
Iilment.
With reference to tine action OF the |
Trustees of the Poor, Mi. Martin spoke |
ather severely of the way he had been
reated when appearing before them yes
erday to make his statement. One OF |
he trustees was greatly angered at his |
eleasing Laws, who wss attacked by |
mall-pox about 10 days ago, and bring
ng him to this city. He stated that
laws WAS taken to house where |
lis mother and six other persons
i've, and by SO doing the expense of
'eepiing the party supplied with food,
iursing and furnishing medical attend. |
nee had to be borne by the trustees, and |
vas a considerable item. Continuing the |
equity states the trustees expressed |
heir sympathy for him in his plight and |
he subject was dropped.
a levy court commissioner who resides |
ere denounoes the action of the sheriff
nd thinks that the jsil commissioners
hould provide quarters in the Jail yard, |
part from the other inmates, where the
iilicted can he nursed and cared for.
Or. h. 7. Bush, president OF the Board
I Health, WAS seen by GAZETTE reporter
thursday afternoon concerning the
omeless smallpox patients, of whom
fuil account is given in the first edition.
lie said that he WAS trying to get lodg-
ng place for the released prisoners and |
ther cases that might break out, and
hat he thought that he had found hall
hat might be used for the purpose at
ront and Walnut streets. ~.
When ssksd what he thought of the
hefih's action in the matter, he said
hat it was outrageous. ''The idsa," he
ontinued 'of turning those men out OF
all in that condition to wander around
imlessly, when they might have pro
ided place for them in the old court
ouse a. New Castle or back of the Jail T"
John Elliott, the other prisoner who
Tas released,pu in an appearance at the
'oard OF Health office shortly before 10
CLOCK Thursday, and wanted to know
here hs could get lodging. He was in
sed pitiful looking object, and was
cry sick, the pustules on his face and
ands being fully formed. Secretary
razer directed his immediate removal
, the house in the western part OF the
ity where James Elliott was taken.
Attorney-General Gray informed a rep
of the GAZETTE Friday morn
,g that he did not concur with Sheriff
lartin in discharging John and James
lliott, the smallpox patients. He ad-