The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-09-11
ESCAPES FROM TIE JAIL.
SERGEANT EPPS' INVENTION TO
PREVENT THEM.
Small Wire Around the Wall Top and the
Tin Basins In n Combination Against
the Detained Men-Condition of the


the Detained Men-Condition of the
Place.
None Of our citizens who soi0urned in The
city Jail last year would recognize that
place now. 80 great has been the change.
When the JAN Committee, some years ago,
visited the place once a year. the same YER
diet was generally made by them-"that
the Jail was not a fit place for human habta-
ton" Then, high carnival held unwontcd
sway. and things were allowed TO take care
Of themselves, so far as cleanliness went;
and though the City Sergeant worked with
will, still matters were not as they should
have been, and the Jail was looked upon
with considerable horror even by the de-
graded thief or drunkard.
II was not the officials fault that matters
were such. They did ali they could in the
premises but the City Council. not appro-
propriating money. gave the officials but
| little power over the evils, and each year
made the Jail worse and worse.
REMODELED.
Since Captain Charles II. Epps has taken
charge as City Sergeant he has constantly
/ asked the City Council for an appropriation
sufficient 10 remodel the jail. This at last
they did. and he at once began improve
ments. Rules were first adopted for the BET
! ter management Of the prisoners. Men and
women. both lost 10 all sense Of deccncy and
morality, were very prone 10 do many
things that were indecent, and should
not be permitted IN or out ol
Jail. Hours for meals were regulated 10
give the best possible results TO the prisoner
and the fare was made as palatable as pos
sible. There are many unlOrtunates who
are sent 10 jail VINO do not commit any
worse crime than getting drunk, and it was
/ not thought Justice to them 10 place them
on the same level with the thieves and DIS
reputable. Consequently they were little
better cared for.
IMPROVEMENTS.
Captain Epps began Improvements all
over the building. Where the floors were
worn Outor mutilated other flooring was put
down. cells were washed, the walls white
washed. and tine beds cleaned. The negro
men are in one corridor, the white men in
another. ON the second floor are the colored
women, while one part OF the same floor Is
reserved for white women.
The wards were cleaned, and have been
kept so ever since The steps leading up.
stairs are kept washed, and white sand sprln-
! kled about the floors Of the corridors give
! the priso-, a better and cleaner aspect. " III
dows through which the light OF day has not
| cleaned for many years were washed, ana
! Captain Epps has established hospital On
| the second floor. There three rooms are It
apart for sick prisoners. and, as Captain
! Epps remarked. there may be some unior-
tunate who would deserve 10 lie treated better
! than the average prisoner, so ! Will have
! these rooms to put him in The rooms are
bare. but have the luxury Of a bcdstead i'm
/ them. ON the beds were neat, clean mat
trcsscs, made by Captain Epps, aud the
walls were cOlOred by the genial Captain.
There is still considerable 10 be
done. Painting and white washing Is con-
stantly going ON, and in about a month the
jail of by-gone days and the jail Of to-day
will be different institution.
boy PRISONER.
When Captain Epps first took charge of
! the Jail. he found a small boy named Haynes
among the men prisoners. lie Immediately
made "A change. giving the boy room 10
himself outside Of the main corridors. es-
! terdav the urchin. who is a notorious sneak
| thief was turning sOmmersaulis on his bed.
] and seemed very uncOncerncd as 10 whether
| the world outside the prison was living or
not.
Next TO his cell are two sailors. witnesses
! in cutting afray. They not being able %
give security for their appearance before
the Hastings Court, they were sent TO Jail.
| They having committed no Ohense. could
not be treated rs prisoners. consequently
a room 90 themselves was given them.
| Yesterday they were engaged ina quiet
game of scyen-up. and. like the small boy.
seemed as happy as bic sun-ilowers.
ARREST ESCAPES.
Resides being a blacksmith. police cap
| tain. Confederate soldier. plasterer, white
washer. carpenter. and general utility man.
| Captain Epps has launched out into an
other field. that of inventor Running
around the jail proper be hrs strung
small wire. 1t is strung about two inches
above the bricks on the edge OF the roof and
is drawn as tight az possible. At the
| farthest ends the wire runs through pieces
Of perpendicular wood. which act as sound.
ing board. Connecting at the other ends and
outside of the Jail Office is the invention. Tin
| basins. with their inside 10 the wall. are
nailed on two pieces Of stout timber. one
piece on each side. The wire. drawn tight.
is passed through the bottom Of the basin.
and is fastened on the inside Of the tinWarc
to "A stout piece Of wood.
one of these basins connect with the wire
on one side Of the prison, and another con-
meets with the other side. The basin in the
Office connects with both tins on the out
I
made very loud, and sounds like the tollng
of deep-toned bell. The slightest touch
will commence the noise, even an English
sparrow hopping on the wire.
The good the invention Will do is this:
The only escape the prisoners can make
without knocking down portion of the
wall is 10 throw a line with hook 90 it 10
the roof and then scramble up the line 20
the roof: after that 10 jump 10 the city
a.. ...f
ing and from the sheds 10 the ground.
| This is the programme that Flour
nov attempted 10 carry cut some
time since but failed. Now that
the wire is thecc a hook cannot be thrown
up without striking the wire. The wire is
too near the bricks TO throw the hook under
it, and TO catch any hold the hook must pass
over the wire. just as soon as this is done
the basins he gin their tolling. The wire is
very thin and will not support the weight Of
babe, consequently hooking 10 the wire
would also give an alarm.
SOUNDS ANYHOW.
If the wire breaks. an alarm is also given,
50 that in every way the Captains inyen-
ton il "A good one. He is well pleased with
il. and thinks that such men as FlournOl
will not again attempt 10 break Jail.
Throughout all departments Captain EppS
deserved much credit for his excellent
management, and ne said at parting that
he wanted all the good people of the city 10
pay him visit
AN official yisity Asked the reporter.
"NO, sir" said the Captain, "a friendly
visit. There are a hundred and seventy
paying me official visits now. What ]
want the people 10 see what ! have done,
and that for my two years have faithfully
discharged the trust they have given me-"
TIE STATISTICS.
Government Tacitly Refuses to Give