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


After tho levy court bad done Justice
20 Sheriff Aliens noontide hospitality at
the Jail Monday, every one was more or
less in friendly, communicative humor.
Most OF the members returned directly
TO Wilmington, while others dispersed
around New Castle on whatever business
detained them. Sheriff Allen asked the
representative ..of the GAZETTE to gaze
Of an array OF some score of empty paint
and oil jars bearing the Phillips d. Kane
brand. "aere," said Mrs. Allen, fare
the orders for them" showing q copied
statement OF five or six distinct orders
for carriage points.
The paint that was used for the jail
was in a separate statement. II did not
amount to more than six pounds in ALL
Including oil and turpentiue. "Now,
You see," said The sheriff, "that small
quantity is hardly enough TO properly
paint single wheel" Mr.. Allen then
conducted the reporter around the jail
corridors, exhibiting the doorwsya, signs,
&C., for which tho paint purchased for
the Jail had been used.
Mrs. Allen was particularly desirous of
explaining the blenke. story contained in
the published statement of the jail oora-
TO four or f-e different bedrooms and
the blankets shown, all white ones, with
The exception OF one, in a child's room,
which at a casual glance might be mic
laken as one of the store blankets, but
Which on examination showed marked
4 differences. While chatting over the
blanket story and the other charges
made by tho ex. jail commissioners,
o9o nd TINT ha hall ha 10
doing nothing wrong in using the colored
prisoner, Ford, as stable boy. He pays
white man $40 month to look after
his stable, but needs the boy to stay
4 there all night for fear the stations,
three Of which are in the stable, might
get loose and get to fighting. In regard
to the broom and soap story, he cpnsid-
cred that az the material was used for
keeping the jail premises clean, that is
the hall ways and passages around the
shsriifs rooms--it was no grevous sin.
The kind of soap asked FOR by Mrs.
Allen was of the coarest floor acrubbing
description, which no one would will
ingly us5 III q bedroom.
The trouble with ex-Warden Toner,
sheri6 Allen claimed, was simply one of
sdiscourtesy to the sheriff himself. Mr..
Alien judged that Mr.. Toner was unable
n 90 comprehend that the sheriff ia the
warHen's superior in office. Mr. Allen
cannot account for the way the difference
between himself and the Jail commits
sioners originated. Es claims that he
simply asked to be treated as his prede.
cessors had been. The first trouble WINS
y over furnishing salt for the prisoners.
The commiss oners claimed that, as tine
Bherid had taken tile contract to furnish
the prisoners food, tho salt would fall in
the contract. Mr.. Allen thought not. He
afterwards bought a sack, paying for it
himself. Then other differences followed.
Following the Toner trouhle came the
Il act of making the separate store room
and giving tho Sey to Toner instead OF
leaving it hanging up on its accustomed
nail in the passage wsy. The contention
was who is boss OF the jail supplies Mr..
8 Allon claims that the commissioners have
d no rights but simply to purchase the sup
plies and TO see that they reach the jail,
4 but that he il the diSbursiDg agent and
that the commissioners haye no respon.
abilities there at all. MIR. Allen states
! he got tho position defined by tho levy
court attorney, John X. Rodney, Esq,
3 and the latter told him he (Allen) wa.
right in hiu understanding OF his position
N Warden Smith bsckoned the reporter
who followed him downstairs to The
heater and furnaces rooms. The atIuos
pnere was 30 extremely hot that the ques
fion afoae how the fireman cOuld exist IL
IT. Warden smith showed the coal 70
eepteole, exclaiming that the GOAL fur
nished is no full OF dirt thst it has to bt
thoroUghly screened before using
CHANGING at the screened coal and tina
unsoreenei the reporter remarked tina
In his eStimatioBthe specimen OF ua
oreened GOAL as i. Icy there ought to b.
good enough for any furnace.
swell, yuu'll concede that one-third 0
It Is coal dust" Warden Smith remark el
The reporter Thought that was yer,
good average as furnace coal usuall
goes, bat thought it ridiculous waste t
soc the fireman ..ai:tipg out the Jumps an
Bhoyeling into the furnace nothing tina
averaged less thRn hens egg size. Th
war6en and fireman did made some refer
enee to the difficulty of getting the fur
mace to heat properly. Under thos
circnms.ancas, of course it was no faul
OF the coal. II tbere had been furnac
with proper ..grAtings snd daft all tn
GOAL could and should have been COL
Humed without screening.