The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1889-02-20
REPORT OF The saII Con,ni,tee

Report of the JaiI Committee.
To the Hon. r. Al. Guthrie, Judge Of
the Circuit Curt of Mason County,
/ West Yvgsnia:
Your committee appointed by an
order of your honorable court, made
and entered February Sth, 1889, to
examine and report upon the condi-
ton of the jail of the county aforesaid,
after having first been duly sworn
proceeded to examine the condition
of said jail, and beg leave to submit
the following report thereon:
Division of apartment for prison
ers on outer wall 26x4S. 8 cells in
lower story l1dx15 feet, feet high,
a feet hall around cells and all heat
ed by two stoves. The height of
first story cel1-room is IL feet, in
which there are four windows feet
10 inches by feet wide, IL feet to
each window, two window lights
broken, sinks and sewerage in bad
condition, grounds surrounding jail
| low with no adequate drainage, and
the filth and Stops passes into sinks
and spread out in part on the
ground outside and near the jail
building, making offensive smells
! that produce sickness and bringing
illhealth to all connected with the
Jail. This unwholesome smell is
abominable now in the midst of win
tor with ground frozen. The heat
of summer must necessarily increase
it and the consequent danger of
bringing disease and pestilence.
Second story, cast room No. j, ID
x223, with 2 windows same in size
as that in lower story, with one bro
ken glass; room No. 2, of same story
used for store room, and room No.
3 of same story, same in dimensions
as room No. j, and both heated by
stoves. These three rooms have
iron bars to windows, but No. 3, has
but one. window sash and window
lights in it, all in bad condition and
would not be place of safe confine-
ment for prisoner. There are 2
windows in hall of second story.
The means for ventilating these hall
rooms are very imperfect and when
the windows are raised inside the
bars to permit the air to pass into
the cells along with air must neces-
sarily come for the inhalation of
those confined within, the fearful
od6r emenating from the filth thrown
without from the imperfect conduc-
tors. and sinks, as well as from the
poisoned pools in the Jail lot, all
which is unavoidable, owing to the
present sewerage arrangements
about said Jail, which in fact amount
to none at all. The outer walls of Jail
are defective and bad, and to say
absolutely dangerous. South gable
end fronting street has large crack
in west corner and at, five other
different places, extending from top
of wall to the foundation, making
said wall liable to fall or bulge out.
The wall on north gable end is
sprung out some 6 or 8 inches, with
two large breaks extending from
caves TO foundation, throwing the
iron bars of one window some 6
inches out of place, so thatit could
easily be pushed out. Many of the
brick in this wall are rotten and
crumbling and falling out, and in
our opinion said wall is dangerous
and unsafe. West wall is sprung
out from to 4 inches, with five
cracks in same, running from top to
bottom. East wall is sprung near
the top to 3 inches, with breaks
in it extending from caves to foun-
dation. Inside partition walls be-
tween cells and the apartments oc-
cupied by jailoFand family, both in
LIST and second floors, contain num-
lerous and large cracks, broken
bricks; stone caps, &C., and bricks
held in place only by wallpaper,
and in walking over floor in south
west front room it shakes to such
an extent as to indicate danger of
the floor giving way.
We further report that the jailor
has during the last twelve months
faithfully performed the duties re-
quired of him by the 10th section
Eof chap. Al, Code of West Virginia,
in this: That he has had the Jail
whitewashed and placed an addi-
tional ventillator in the cells; has
aired it and kept it clean, so far as
he was able to keep such an old
and dilapidated building clean
There is good we'll on the Jail lot,
and near the Jail; tolerably fair out
buildings The lower cells are air.
ed by putting up the windows.
We further report that the build
ling, is insecure and insufficient for
those who have from time to time
been confined therein, and would be
wholly inadequate for place of safe
custody in case of any serions trou
BILE or other disorders that SO freq
uently occur when secure Jail is
indispensable to uphold violated
law: The convicts or those await
ing trial cannot be kept in separate
apartments; frequently there are six
confined IN one cell, including per-
sons charged with crime, as we'll as
that unfortunate class who are in
carcerated upon charges of lunacy.
Owing to, the construction of the
apartments It is impossible to make
them, eomfortable'or to keep them
secure;- and. for that reason they are
not in anything like adequate repair:
Two, iron bedsteads upstairs, none