Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-10-10


the tronbls betpeen the Jail commits
sioners of New aatle county and Sheriff
Alvin Allen, does not, by any means,
satisfy the commissioners or the citizens
of the city of New CASTLE, who are fully
couversant with the manifold abuses that
have sprung no in the New CASTLE jail
and been openly continued since Sheriff
Aliens administration cornmsnced. In
feet, the late jail commissioners, who
resigned their offices on September I'd,
although their designations have not yet
been presented to the levy court, feeling
that justice to themselves demanded
clear, explicit statement Of the causes
that led to their retirement, have united
In card detailing the situation of affairs
ct the county jail at the time Of their
Resignation which they gave TO GA
zETTE reporter, Thursday, and author
lied Its publication, as follows,
New CASTLE. September 10th, 1852
Statement OF the jail commissioners OF New
CASTLE county jail and the reasons for their
resignation:
shortly after receiving our commissions
VS. met In the New Castle county jail,
where Sheriff Allen received us and con
Quoted US through the jail, and also
through the sheriif's restd spee, explalC-
ing what was needed in the way Of
repairs. Afterwards he referred US to
his day warden, james j. Toner, for In.
formation as to what supplies we're needed
in the jail, Stating at the time that the
day warden knew what was actually neees-
sary better than he did. We took from
Mr. Toner an account OF tine goods
needed and supplied the same, Some time
afterwards Mr. Smith, the night warden,
and the sheriff met one Of the jail commits
sinners and told him they wanted sack OF
salt, saying I'VE have had none for several
nrt0nDnTg
Again Mr.. Smith called on the commission.
ers TO meet the sheriff and the warden
In the jail Che date We do not remembsr)
and while conversing about what was
needed the commissioners were Ia
formed that tho coal supply for
the jail mad run out. We asked
them what had become OF the coal
recently laid in, and the answer was 'it
was burned up" We asked how II was
corsum' d, and the answer was, "some
under the boiler, and the rest in the stove
TO oook the ytetlals for the prisoners"
Then We told tho sheriff and his two war
dens that II WAS the Sherld's place TO FUR
nish both coal and salt tor the meals for
the prisoners, and not the duty Of the jail
commissioners. That same evening they
asked for blankets for the use Of the
prisoners. The sheriff stated that the
Quality Of blankets they had bean
getting was not good, and asked Tor bet.
ter quality. The commissioners ordered
the same quality OF blankets that had been
previously furnished. a few days after a
child OF ths sheritI's was IN the store where
the blankets had been bought and re-
marked that "thoss blankets you sent up
to the jail were nice; mamma has one
on her bed, and l have one on mine"
About the same tinae man named
Patrick Gorrll, who was WORKING on
Sheriff Aliens farm, called at the jail and
was met by Warden Toner. lie told Mr..
Toner that Night Warden Smith had d.
rected him to call az the jail and get a palr
OF pants. Not feeling disposed TO spend
the money OF the taxpayers for other pur.
poses than what we had a right to DO. We
proceeded to put up store room In the
jail, and gave the key Of this room to Mr..
Toner, the day warden, with instructions
that all goods supplied for tue jail must bs
uaed for the jail exclusively and for no
other purpose. Shortly afterwards Sheriff
Allen sent one OF the prisoners WHO had
been doing house work In his kitchen for
some soap, which Mr.. Toner refused to
give him. Mrs. Allen asked him why he
refused, and he said 1t was his orders not
to give the supplies out except for jail pur-
poses. Sne said 1t was very strange, as she
had always beel getting supplies. mot
from me-" replied Mr. Toner. tNo, but
from Mr., Smith," "Well, y said Mr.. Toner,
~ lanL0r lot you have IT," Mrs. Allen then
said, "What neeu the jail commissioners
know anything about It"
on August 3lst Sheriff Allen sent for the
jail commissioners 10 meet him at his
house at 9 o'clock in the evening. Tho
commissioners went there ut the hour
named. Shortly after being seated MIR.
John II. Rodney, the sherin's attorney,
came in, aud also MIR. Toner. The sheriff
waited to know how Il Vas that the Com-
missioners had puL d store room IN the al,
with a lock and 8ey, AID placed TITO key in
the hands of his subordinate, thus debar-
ring him from putraucs. The commits
oil NJ asls }laV nm n n pr,tu he
had nothing to do with the supplies fur
nisned for the jail. He claimed that they
vera thereby treading on bis official dig
nifty. The matter was discussed pro and
con, sod finally the sheriff called Mr.. Toner
up, say lag: "llr. Toner, you banded me
your rasigpalion as day warden OF
now acaspt" The commission srs told
the sheriff it was no fault OF Mr., Toner:
aud II there was any fault 1t WAS theirs
TIE sheriff said, "Mr Toner was going I,
res'gH aOrtly u 20 into his CANVASS fol
sheriff. Ihel oae OF the commissioner
asked the Sher!I and requested drec
answer to this question; Is THIS tho caus
OF your BGcep'lng Nj Toner resignatUuY
He replied, mo, but Il - reported thar Mr.
Toner is going TO resign shortly apttar Z,
START upou his canvass for the slel ffa.tv.
1he commissioners tneE E5ked him Il TIL
trouble tid not huston his acrion. He said
''Ssnes This littie difficulty arose and ate
what he said 70 ny vile I dasm 4 prOpe
to accept his resignation at THIS time"
Ths commissioners came 20 the cor
cuslon tAat Il was nothing mure NOR l6H
than . plain discharge OF a man tOr pei
forming his duty and obey!Eg the oTdats
tits commissioners, and an Insult 70 tneH
selves. The commissioner, HIDING tn
they could not perform tteir duties o
account al being encountered by ths actiO
OF Tie sheriff, toAdered theif resignation
to the levy court, giving thl5 as tDe
r,ason, The cOtunia=iolsrs aud IN ta
the taxpayers y! New Cl-te oouuty, kn1
tnaTe Was d leak, hut could not unUi ~ II
a4y one In Iartleuiur, SO -h9 Ggmmiseicl
ers took measures 20 prevent any iur-u
leakage, with the above result. Masl II
matteE came before the levy cOUrg, ID
l1ny appointed Is committee 70 iuve-tiglL
lL5 committees met Ia the sitting room
tie jail on Thursday, September 18th a.
the jail commissioners asked 10 have d
duties defined. The levy court e9mmlttl
would not nOr could trnge them. Some
the committee told the aher,Y % gsep
gOVstulES tne iait and Distributing q
ppiles Id lis own way, Ih5 fhrr
asked Il L VIE nlttha duty u the gonE
70 fnrAisA MIN with coal, salt ai
other agJI2as-s Tor furnishing food +
the prisoners, HOW i0ay ihs lax page
g!l submit o his k'ad o gDgFrnmeut /
mains for thealseiye5 s"y. lLo mem
d tie levy court inem-eya- sag til Q :
I'm which has been III % 90 for 20 yea
Qplte al honorable cnrrt t2ls l., knowi
tlet these Irregularities nave reen 20
or for feaEs and never tat ius any step5
stop them, ard whea to i.ii uummi sci 10.
adopted Tnsr 4urss to reform tue uspsrs /
fused to sustain BEN ore gu tins GOEttd
said 20 the shel!I "BlsttibutB the suupl