The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-08-04
HENDERSONVILLE JAIL.
THE APPEAL OF SUFFERING
HUMANITY HEARD.

a Remedy and the Henderson
County Commissioners I.iber-
ally Adopt 1t.
The labors of John Howard, who after
his own experience i'll one OF the loath-
some jais then used in England, devoted
the rest of his life to the reformation OF
the Jail system, have brought about its
reforms gradually, though too slowly.
For many Of us can recall the horrible,
mawkish sickening odOr that exhalcS
from the prisoner brought into the court
room from the jail in which he had been
mmurcd, close, foul, reeking with DEATH
y odors such as bcget that terrible curse,
the jail or typhus fever, to rccoi some
times upon careless or heartless author
tiles, as it did at the time of the Bloody
Assizes, when Judge, jury, bar, spectators
and prisoners alike fell before the scourge
generated by the authorities in the pris-
ons, and liberated, that it might avengc
in a common death, the guilt of the one
and the sutlcrings of the other Some OF
the ials of n past era i'll this State may
not yet have felt the bcneicent influences
of Howard's .egacy of divine charity.
Some of them we know accept within
their walls the prisoner as an already
convicted felon, undescrving of mercy,
hardly entitled to human treatment; if
allowed air, allotted through the open
CRATES and unglazcd windows, too much
of It, in winter to be pinchcd with the
cold, in summer to suffocate with heat;
often to pine i'll his close cell breathing,
as his breath of life, the foul exhalations
that may bring disease to him and death
to those without. Such suffering may
truly make fclon of man when he is
not one, The law presumes innocence
until guilt is established; the law has no
right to inhict punishment of any kind in
| anticipation of convictions and such sui-
icring is with the consent of the law.
A gcncralhumanitarian spirit, in many
respects happy one, possesses the land,
| and it has illustration in the care and
thoughtfulncss exhibited by the public
authorities in the construction of their
ails. When new one is built nowadays
it is no longer mere thing OF stone or
bricks and mortar, ofbolts and bars. The
human character of the subjects they arg
to hold and restrain is considered, and
prisoners are treated withthc possible idea
that they are innocent with certain con-
viction that they also are mortal, to feel
and to suffer, to be happy and be cheerful
and from some of these prisons an occu-
n pant may come FORTH neither a stencil i'll
his own nostrils nor walking pestilencc
to contaminate Others.
A plan of one of these new idea jailS we
saw yesterday prepared for the county of
Henderson by Mr.. a, l.. Melton, we'll
known and very skilllul architect fAshc-
vile. His design combines size, strength,
stability, comfort, convenience and hui
manity; and also all compatible elegance
of exterior design. The building is 40 .6x
sc, two stories high independent OF =
deep and capacious basement to be used
for the storage of fuel, provisions, etc,
and for furnaces which are to heat uni
formly the whole building. The second
floor is to be occupied by the ,iailor and
family, and will be neat, comfortable and
. convenient. The third floor is the strong
hold. On the left side of a hall or passage
: way arc two rooms, each about fifteen
feet square, designed for the female pris-
oBsrs, secure yet comfortable. On the
othr side are the cells for the male pris-
|, Oncra These arc comprised i'll long iron
structme or cargo extending the length
and width of this compartment except
where the space is occupied by the CORR.
: dor which surrounds it, this corridor it.
{ self enclosed by strong iron work. Within
this corridor the prisoner may enter from
$ his cell for air or necessary purpose, but
h without adding shadow to his hope o
{ liberty. The keeper from without con
II trolls every movement and eau fruStrat,
/ every attempt at escape, violence or i'll
Il suborclinaton. But within his bound,
IS the prisoner enjoys his fresh air in sum
IS mcr his genial temperature in winter
II with full supply of fresh water for bath
r. ing or drinking, and those decent facili
l. ties which have been denied the dcspsct
d" or neglected captive.
le We confess to great pleasure at sccinj
drawings which indicate that so muci
has been done to soften the miserieS ofhr
d manity, and will not stint our adRlira
,c ton of the skill of Mr.. Melton, the arch
H. tect full of genius as well as praCtlc;
IN thought. The commissioners of Hendcr
IL son county merit high commendation fc
,r their broad minded liberality, and a hi
hc manitv which will no more consent [
# add to unfortunate misery, the fruits (
- either crime or misfortune,
to Fine Potatoes.
Id The season has been a favorable one ft
ld the Irish potato, neither too wet nor to
re- dry, and we anticipate very large al
VIC good crop. Those fully matured are b
k; ginning to be brought in, though ever
cs- body has been eating new potatoes"
nd home growth for six weeks. We ha
he seen some fine ones, and yesterday
ev Glenn Bros. saw one weighing one poun
lk. five ounces. Sweet potatoes have IL
tiy yet made their appearance. Their yit