The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-09-29
Our Critics.

compels. But when our honored cotem-
porary, the Palatka Herald, differs with
us, in all courtesy it is due that we try
to convert an opponent who would be
so valuable as an ally.
The Herald thinks that the Commis
sioners are to blame for the escape OF
the prisoners, and the Sheriff and his
deputy are faithful and efficient officers.
We are not now defending the Board,
bnt we take issue with the Herald on the
grounds already stated
I. Our opinion of the Sheriff has been
already stated 50 fully that 1t need
merely be said here that we have seen
no occasion to modify our views on this
subject in any manner.
?. We have no reason ID believe that
the deputy sher fl " is remiss in the
discharge of such duties as belong to
that position. We are not of those who,
according to The Herald, "think the
Sheriff should be in the Jail at all
times" Neither he nor his deputy can
do this. But the guard" should "De
there at all times The Commissioners
have thought they were paying one
Perry to be this guard" He drew last
months pay from the county as the fol-
lowing entry on the Sheriff S bill shows ::
40 % days baiIiff S fees 81, C. J.
Perry, SIS"
Here is the official statement that he
is bailiff.' Is he also deputy sheriff -
He cannot legally be paid as ''bailiff il
his business is to guard the Jail. 1t is the
duty of bailiff to attend the sessions of
the court and to supply the place of
sheriff, or aid him in certain cases ex-
prcssly stated by statute. AS such he
has no business at the Jail except by
order o. court But if he is deputy
sheriff then the sheriff is responsible
for his presence and conduct at the Jail.
If he is bailifT" he was illegally paid
$2S last month ; if he is g deputy sheriff"
he should look to the sheriff for his pay,
ami his name should not occur in a bill
drawn ty that officer against the county
if he is . guard for the jail, as the Board
thinks, he caunot leave his post to act
as 8 deputy sheriff y or I" bailff." If we
are wrong will the Herald or some of its
learned friends correct us ? These propo-
sitions we have tried to state clearly.
We will now attempt to show why we
think there was gross carelessness exhib-
tied by Mr.. Perry, whatever his position,
on the occasion to which we are COM
PEELED, by the criticism in question, to
alludc the second time. On passing
into the jail we are confronted first by
double door with secure bolts and locks,
which may be called A. Through this
we are admitted to a room intended for
the position of guard during the day.
From this through a wicket water or
provisions may be passed in all security,
if the prisoners are in hallway, running
around the cells, intended for exercise,
and they may be watched through the
same wicket. Passing through another
double door, B, we enter the hallway
which is lighted by six windows all Sc
curely closed by iron bars which admit
of free ventilation. Through another
door we enter the corridor running in
front of the cells. Now, is it not per-
fectly plain that if Mr.. Perry had closed
\, before opening b, or had even closed
one of the shutters to the doorway b,
before opening the other, that no escape
would have occurred? The prisoners in
the corridor, one of them to be tried for
his life, should have been so carefully
tended that escape in the manner it &C.
CURED, had been impossible.
In the kindliest manner the Herald
differs with us in our judgment of the
Sheriff, and declares the Board of County
Commissioners guilty. An ''investiga-
ton" has been deprecated. No doubt
some parties are tired of it," But who
is guilty here, the board or the Sheriff
Only an investigation" into the facts
will enable us TO deci 'e, and justice to
both parties demands it. IL such esca-
pades are possible in open daylight in a
town like Palatka, we should know on
whose shoulders TO rest the blame. If
nobody is to blame, let us set aside the
officers, for Judge Lynch will begin to
preside at our courts. Already good
citizens of Putnam, who never did such
thing before, have bought arms for
| their protection.
The County Commissioners, in Justice
TO all, should certify the facts to the
| Governor and ask for his action. We
/ give elsewhere n report, pertinent in this
| connection, made by the States Attor-
ney of this district to our Board of
/ County Commissioners.
/
The Illinois Central Railway Company
| bought some land near the Wisconsin
/ border. on which an Irishman had q
| cabin and three years lease. The COM
pany gave him $500 for his lease and
| agreed to move his cabin to any place he