The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-03-08
WHAT'S 4 JAIL FOR !?
Is 1t a Place Where limo
cent Children Are Kept
in Bad Company J?
WHY NOT RELEASE THO SGHNEIDERSl
Should Mary Riley Suffer While
the Men Whose Crime She
Saw Are Free.


There are now In the County Jail three
persons who ara deprived OF their liberty
and yet have never been accused Of COM
hitting a crime. They are Mary Riley.
Susan Schneider and her brother Fred
erick.
Susan is comely girl, hut thirteen
years old, and has been in jail since
December II, 1890 Her brother is
slightly older. He was sent ito jail
ut the same time his sister was. Mary
Riley was locked up February 8. she is
nice looking girl sixteen years old. The
term of the confinement of these three
unfortunates depends almost entirely on
the caprice of tine Prosecutor. He can
discharge them from custody whsn he
Will. Judge Lppincort can do the same
If proper application is made TO MIN.
The father of Susan Schneider was on
December II charged with perjury. The
nature of the case made his two children
witnesses. The Grand Jury were prompt
in finding an indictment and Schneider
was duly arraigned in the Court
of General Sessions and admitted
TO bail. His two children. who had been
detained as witnesses, could not find
bondsnen and went 10 jail. They are
there now, but the father. who is accused
OF the crime. forfeited his bail aud is out
Of the reach of the Sheriff.
This is emphatieally case of the sins
of the father being visited on the chill
dren.
sfNNED AGAINST, NOT SHINING,
The reason Mary Riley is in jail is as
good as that which detains Susan
Schneider. Two or three men broke into
the house at the foot Of Jersey avenue,
where Mary lived with her family, and
entered her sleeping room; they seized
| her; she screamed; the men were arrest
ed and sent to jail. She was sent there,
| too. She has been there ever since. The
men are enjoying oyster fries and the
other privileges OF q bail bond.
called at the jail yesterday and ques-
Turnkey Hauley.
"When do you suppose Susan and
Frederick Schneider aud Mary Riley will
be released?n they were asked.
''The Lord only knows" replied Mr..
birmingham, sadly, 1t depends en-
tirely on the Prosecutor or the Court.
why ~
"Because it's all in their hands,
"What room is Susan kept inS"
"She and Mary Riley are detained in the
same quarters. This ward is devoted en-
tirely to witnesses and cases of women
confined for being drunk and disorderly
who have babies with them. There are
nine there now. The girls have plenty of
| company"
What kind of companyp
what do you expect in Jail. McAllis-
! ter's 4O0?" replied Keeper Hanley.
VERY BAD RECORD.
chow long has any one been detained
/ here as witness?p was the next fnQ airy.
| The startling and frightful reply was
| one hundred and seventy days
"You don't mean itr' | exclaimed.
"Oh, yes, that is right, and very FREE
quently we have them here three and
| four months"
| Astounded at this progressive civiiiz1-
| ton that keeps the innocent locked up in
| a vile Jail for months and permits the
guilty to roam at will, sought Judge
| Lippincott for further Information. He
| told me that the persons unjustly de-
| tanned as witnesses could be released
| If proper application was made to the
court He said the court was not certain
| that it possessed this right, but very fire.
quently it assumed it, Really the person
responsible for the detention of witnesses
in Jail was the Prosecutor
Assistant Prosecutor Noonan said he
saw nothing wrong In keeping Susan
Schneider and the others locked up. A
crime had been committed aud he
thought it perfectly right that the wit
nesses should be kept until the criminal
should be recaptured and convicted. He
did not attempt TO suggest when this
would be, but said the Prosecutor would
come home in April and the matter would
be determined then. In the meanwhile
the girls may endure the comforts and
refinements of life in Hudson County
Hail