Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-02
THE DISTRICT JAIL.
Looseness and Lack Of Discipline Al
legged in a Report.
A BREATH OF SCANDAL.
The Attorney General Conducts an Investlga-
tion-Two Cases Of Alleged immortality De-
veloped-Loosencss OF System and Necessity
for Rcforni-An Interesting Document.

This examination was made before the charges
to the state Of things at tho Jail were made in
the Criminal Court. Tho report is long. cover
ing sixteen large pages Of typewriter
matter. Mr. Perry first goes into the
testimony he elected in invest eating
| charges Of improper conduc. between the
female prisoners and officials at the Jail Two
such cases are taken DIP. One invoved Mr..
Vim. l.. Tre,nbly. the assistant en-
sineer OF the Jail. and the other.
Mr., Edward Burke, the clerk to the
detail, Mr.. Perry's conclusions in
| these instances may be given.
7 THINKS Mr.. TKEMBLEY GUILTY.
As 10 Irembleys case he says: II do not hes
tate 10 say rom the facts presented that Mrs
! McNerhany" Zone Ct the matrous who made
the Charge reported the occurrence as shesaw
| ii. and ain compelled to believe that Mr. Trem-
bly, is sl,.ty OF tie charges against him. During
! my Investigation heard 1t stated that Mr. Nc
Nerhany Vas 10 DC discharged or her resigna-
| ton asked. Ter the reason that it WAS be-
| lievcd that she had malicicusly trumped
| up this charge. 1t would certainly be an out
! rage. in view Of the evidence, to punish her by
her discharge or compulsory resignation for
thus doing her duty. The facts api earring 10
be true, severe discipline should be melted out
| to Mr.. Irembiy''
Efs
The other case calls for the following conclu-
| sons:
Mr.. Burke certainly deserves severe ccnsu,e
if not severe discipline. Mr. Smith also
deserves censure ii not discipline for
| the careless manner il which he performed
Ills duties In allowing one of the guards to do
as Ed. Burke did on this evening. When
officers OF tho Jail al night time tar forget
their duty AZ to go unattended into the
wOmens department anu afford an oppor-
| tuuity to make scandal, or when captain Of
| the watch either gives to guard or permits
| to take the keys VI the woniens' depar tment,
take prisoner from her cell and bring her down
| OF his own voil.ion to punish, it certainly
| shows poor management and an utter lack of
on the part of these persons. As
an example to others, and on
account OF the actions tina. have undoubtedly
been proved, tue warden should severely CEN
sure ii not discipline, Mr. smith and Mr..
Burke"
THE MANAGEMENT OF THE KITCHEN.
Further along in the report it is stated
that: ''As ON each occasion when l have
visited the Jail, / did not find the
kitchen in proper shape. l can not
understand why this department of the insti-
tuition cannot be managed in q
satisfactory way. 1 appreciate the fact
that repairs are needed to the
kitchen, but with the means at their disposal
Improvement could now be made"
LACK OF DISCIPLINE.
Mr.. Perry thus concludes: This examine
ton and the others made by me Justify me in
stating that there is lack Of discipline at the
Jail. l am thoroughly convinced
that after o'clock in the afternoon
until o'clock a.. m, there are too many
guards on duty, which results in large
opportunities for gossip and tine un-
heard of practice of permitting
exprisoners and others to visit the jail at
night time to call upon the guards.
THE JAIL GUARD.
81 do not believe any more men should be
employed during the night than are abso-
iutely necessary to guard the jail A
captain of the watch and two guards on the in
side and patrol guard on the outside are all
that are required.
During the day. from 8 am. to pm, ad-
ditonal help is required. At present
there are fifteen guards, including three cap
tains.
three guards, one OF whom shall be patrol
be detailed on each watch: that the other three
guards for the present be detailed to day duty
from to 4.
Il also earnestly recommend that special COM
munication be made with the nearest police
ment can be summoned when occasions require.
PUNISHMENT OF PRISONERS.
"When prisoners are to be punished it should
not be, as suggested in my other report, in
fiicted unless upon the order of the deputy
warden, or in his absence. the captain of the
watch. 1t is not right that guards should take
upon themselves the melting out OF
punishment to prisoners. They should report
the infringement OF rules to the deputy or cap
tain, WHO should Immediately investigate the
case and issue such orders as their best judg-
ment should dictate.
JEALOUSY IN THE JAIL
"The jealousy between the matrons should
| cease. They should understand SO far as their
duties ct the Jail are concerned, that they are
there to take charge of the female
Of the rules to the deputy warden or
captain and be guided by them in tho infliction
OF punishment. This continual bickoring and
strife should cease ut once and their personal
and petty quarrels should find no Judgment in
the jail
DUTIES OF THE NATIONS.
"a matron should be on duty at the Jail at
all times and be ready to respond to call at
all times, any hour Of the day or night. No
officer or guard should DO allowed at night time
to go into the women's department unless
carried out in the future no sca2dalous reports
will BIO heard concerning this department of
the Jail
The engineer and his assistants should at
| no time be allowed to 60 into the women's de-
partment unaccompauied
am sure that officers when addressing prIs-
oncrs use language which will not command
| respect from the prisoners. cursing and swear
| ing by those in charge Of prisons.
THE PRIVILEGES OF THE CLERK.
From what have seen believe that the
clerk Of the Jail is allowed too many liberties.
He should only attond to his proper duties
and those to which he is detailed. He
| should not be allowed the run Of the
Jail and have guards assume that because he
IL the clerk and q relative OF the
warden's he can do as he pleases.
In Justice to tho present clerk i,
Is only proper to say that believe he is always
willing to help out where his services are re-
quired.
WARDEN BURKE INVESTIGATES.
In view Of the fact that the warden assured
| me- that he had made an investiga.
ton concerning the charges agains,
| Messrs. Burke and Trembly and that he
was satisfied that there was NOTHING
in them, l am compelled to believe thai
his investigation was not as thorough ss
the circumstances OF the case warranted,
for l think it viii be clearly
shown by this report that there was ample evi.
dence on which to base belief that they had
each been guilty Of charges which must neces-