Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-05-30
uow VIEW oAsrLs van IS Rum.

"A NCHndMl0un t&ecoru Of hhconhPo-
tsney aud Negligence - sheriff
Alien Has NeihiuK Whatever 10
Say ON the subject.
Sheriff Allan on Saturday night re-
ceived the following cpistle,
NEw CASTLE, May %, isS9.-.Aivan Allen,
Sheriff OF New CASTLE county: Please accept
this, my resignation, as day warden In the
jail at New Castle. Respectfully yours,
JAMES J. TONNE.
This letter Is the sequel TO remarkable
story which hardly seems credible were
it not verified by Mr.. Toner himself.
The whole matter would be suprsmely
funny il II were not 10 serious. But the
fact that the warden or keeper of tho 100
or more prisoners In the county jail
hobnobs with the prisoners and takes
them for an outing, should prove On eye
opener to the public and the officials
who are responsible for this laxity Of
discipline. Nevertheless, this In what
Toner did on Saturday night. He took
George Graham, who has served about
half Of his time OF three years for the
murder OF 6Ottfried Koader, out on the
public streets Of New Castle with him,
when Toner got in that condition OF
drunkenness known as "paraly zed," and
Graham also inhibited more than enough
beer to be still called sober. Toner had
taken Graham with him OF the lRtter's re-
quest that he wanted to buy u new hat.
The men were alone and Graham had
avory opportunity to escaps had he been
so minded rs Toner was in no condition
10 pursue. Thst Graham returned TO
prison Is only an indication that he Is
probably an orderly, wsll-behaVed pris-
oner.
A GAzETTE reporter went to New
Castle Monday afternoon to inyts-
;i2ate tho story. It had evidently not
excited much commotion there and many
Of New CasIle'0 citizens did not learn Of
the occurrence OF the affair until the re-
porter's arrival. The reporter called at
tho Jail and found Warden Toner at his
accustomed place in his office inside the
prison. A pull at tue bell brought Mr..
Toner to the gate at once, whereupon he
admitted the reporter and greeted him in
his usual pleasant manner. He was still
on duty and apparently everything seemed
the same as usual
rs this story true, Mr.. Toner asked
the reporter, "that you took Graham out
with you on the public streets ?"
The warden replied candidly, though
with apparent hesitation: "Yss, il ist true.
or oourse, am extremely sorry for it,
but 1t has occurred, and can't help it
now. The night warden was of two
nights last week and was on continual
duty for three days and two nights with
out any lengthy rest and in that Condi-
ton you can probably appreciate that
my nerves were uustruug. On Saturday
l had been drinking aud l must have
been under the influence of liquor when
came to the jail or would never have
taken Graham out. AT any rate Graham
asked me 10 take him ont as he wanted to
get new hat. l took him along and on
the way, he said that he was thirsty and
suggested that we get glass OF beer. I
complied with that wish, and before l
knew it we had drunk several glasses and
| you might know it would affect o man
more quickly who has been locked up
and unable to drink for some time"
"Did you get the HAITI" queried the re-
porter.
mo, we did not" replied the warden,
rather sheepishly. II would not have
done this in my sober senses, but Graham
has been such an exceptionally good and
we'll behaved prisoner that l thought
UV.a,ns I tak. lin out. de hhs 1Dt
given US the slightest trouble since b.
has been locked pp and he and another
man voluntarily do all the cooking for
the 100 or 100 prisoners, As we have no help
OF any kind, often found IL necessary
to let Graham go to the front door to help
carry In meats or other supplies which
We might receive. We were only out
about three-quartera Of an hour. did
not see the sheriff when we went out but
when we returned he met me at the door
and gave me fits, and sent in my resipna-
tion at once. l am only serving until
my successor is appointed have been
warden for almost three years, having
received the appointment about
one month after Giles Lamhson's
appointment, and only one prisoner
ever escaped during my time and he got
out when l was not on duty That man
was Davis, who was recaptured in this
city shortly after his escape. II has been
nothing unusual TO take prisoners outside
Of the Jail. Frazier, who was in for .
life sentence, and who attsrward escaped
with Big Frank and tie bank burglars,
was allowed to 60 fishing on the river. /
hear that he is now living in Minnesota.
know am 10 blame in the matter, 1
have injured myself and probably hurt
Graham's chances for o shortening OF his
sentence which he confidently expected. p
Mr.. Toner spoke without reserve. He
Beemed to appreciate his position al.
though he Bho we'd but little outward eyi.
denoe. He blamed no one but himself
Elihu Wallace, employed at Tasker's
mills, and who lives on Market street
three doors from Harmony, had lust been
walked from a sound nap preparatory TO
going to work when the reporter called.
Ha said II was In Hiett GFaham,a
saloon on Saturday night when Toner
and Graham, the prisoner, came in. l
heard the men in the bar.room say some
thing about the prisoner, Graham, but [
understood that he Ind Just been released
from isil after serving his sentence. /
think that Toner and Graham were alone.
Toner was pretty drunk, bat Graham was
sober, thought. There were seyer4,
men 1t the bar, probably dozen. Toner
called all hands up TO have drink. GtE-
hsm did not talk much, but drank beer
with the rsst. After we had drank oul
beer Toner began TO electionsor. he
asked me il would vote for him, bni
told him that L would not mhSs auJ
promises. l left about 8 O'Clock. vhea
Toner and Graham were still there
They bad probably been there an boar OF
All hour snd-a half when left"
This act is but the elimination that Val
natural to expect from the lax disuiplip,
that prevails al tins comfy jail and s6erif
Allen may bless his good fortune that h,
does not have general jail delivery L
aDswsr for. Thia ia not the frat instano,
OF tins kind that has occurred IL the rs
ports current in New Castle can DO be
lieved.
Said one nm, ~ hnya aean rrisnnn.