Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-12-21
THE OLD JAIL
On EOFF STREET ABANDONED AFTER HALF
A CENTURY OF USEFULNESS
The Prisoners Removed to the New Structure les
tsrday AftsrnoOn-IDcidsnts Of the Transfer
Some Scraps Of History.

Yesterday afternoon about half-past
three o'clock the last OF the prisoners
confined in the old jail building, on
Eoff street, were removed to the new
iail, at Fifteenth and Eoff streets, and
the ancient structure, which has heiu
the criminals Of this county for tfty-one
years, was left empty and deserted save
for the family OF Jailor Dimmy, Tor the
first time in all that period.
The transfer of the prisoners was
commenced about two o'clock and In an
hour and half all had been assigned
cells or rooms in the new building.
Dinner was served as usual at the old
building, and it was the last meal
served up there, supper being provided
at the new Jail. The transfer excited
little public attention, few people ex-
cept those living aloLg Eotf street,
knowing what was going on until the
work had been completed.
Sheriff Steemrod has been making the
necessary arrangements Tor the removal
OF the prisoners for some time, and yes
terday morning everything was reaay
for the change. The prisoners were
notified, and they gathered up what
few personal belongings they had with
them in their cells or rooms and after
dinner was over they were ready to
start. A large covered wagon was pro-
vided, and in this lot OF material In
the shape of bedding, ETC., belonging to
Jailer Dimmy was removed, and some
OF the prisoners were also transferred
in II. while others walked under the
guardianship Of Deputy Sherts. There
was no trouble whatever in removing
anv of the persons charged with crimes
or misdemeanors, and in a short time
they were sfely within the walls
OF the new building. Many Of the
prisoners evidenced good deal
OF surprise and curiosity at the interior
ARRANGEMENTS Of the new building, and
thew could not but feel that it was some
thing like going to hotel after the
cramped quarters and inadequate facil-
tiles Of the old building. DR.. Garrison,
who has but another week to serve, his
term expiring on the 2Sth inst, was
given large room in the second story,
directly over the entrance to the Jail,
and the other male prisoners, thirteen
in number, were assigned to cells In the
cell building, in the first tier. Melissa
McGlumphrey and Ida RobnsoH, two
of the women undergoing imprison-
ment, were given large room on the
second floor, over the main guard
room, looking out on Fifteenth
street, aud these assignments
made the Sheriff and his depu-
Les took the big wagon and went back
to the old Jail after the persons OF I'M
sound mind, they being four in number
one man and three women. The
mamie being the tough colored chap
who pulled the pipes in his cell out by
the roots, some time ago, smashed the
lock on his cell and raised Cain gener-
ally, and who was later taken
over to Charlottesville, Va, only to
be brought back again-was rather
treacherous and not disposed to obey
orders. and had to be handcuffed before
the officers would take him outside the
building. One of the women-Mary
Jefferson-is as crazy as loon,
and q belt was placed around her
waist and her hands fastened to it
She didn't mind this at all, but sang
hymns in a loud voice from the time
she was taken from her cell IN the old
building until she had been placed in a
padded cell in the new Jail. The other
two women, one being colored and the
other white, were quiet, and were given
cells in the third story, on the Fifteenth
street front of the building, they being
thesonly two prisoners in that story, as
Melissa Nc GlumphreY and Ida Robin
son were on the second floor.
The big safe was brought down on a
truck and hoisted into the Office OF the
new building, a lot of personal property
transferred, aud by evening the new
building was complete running order,
with all the prisoners and the officials
Ia attendance upon them on hand.
Henceforth 4 man sent TO Jail will not
get out, unless found not guilty in Court
or through hdbeGS corpus proceedings,
until he has served his term Of impris-
onment or goes to Moundsvlle, as prls-
oners ordered for trial will go over the
Bridge of Signs into the Court room,
and back the same way into jail again,
if convicted. As the windows of the
jail are Of ground glass, a man sent
there will not even even catch glimpse
of outdoor life until after the expiration
of his sentence, and there will be no
more transportation OF prisoners through
the streets, going TO and from the Court
House during trials-something which
will save the Sheriff and his officers
much trouble.
The old Jail on Eoff street has, nat
urally. a most interesting history. II
was built about 1910, succeeding the
brick jail which still stands on Market
street, three or four doors north OF
Tenth, on the east side Of the street.
That Jail must have been erected about
1915, and was esteemed q commodiops
and handsome structure in those days.
The Court House then stood in what is