The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-27
MORE JAIL HISTORY.
A Month When 1t Held No City Prison.
ers, and the Reason Thereof.

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
Those were interesting "reminiscences of
the old Jail which appeared in the Journal
recently but they were all of the SORROW
full class. There is a brighter chapter,
hardly suspected by the present generation,
and almost wholly forgotten by the few
who remain that were eye-witnesses to it.
1t will seem almost incredible that there
ever was period Of more than month
during which there was not n single occu-
pant of that Jail under charge of having vio-
lated any city ordinance, though at that
time it served as the city lookup and en-
tertained the whole Of the motley crew
which now find crowded accommodation at
the city station house and the work house.
This period was from June II, 1855, to late
in July. At one time the entire number was
reduced to three, who were awaiting trial
for larceny, but which increased TO FIVE on
the same charge early in July.
AS this is too incredible a condition TO be
left to the testimony of the few old men
nit the following from those who knew
what they were talking about, and whose
credibility cannot be called in question The
indianapolis Sentinel Of June 10, $780, said,
editorially: 1.-THE temperance law, so far,
has been universally and faithfully , OBJ
served; Inc local edltor, the same Gay
police items into cooked hat. Not a single
item is TO be obtained now on account or
paper said, referring to the popularity of
the law: THAT the people of Indiana de-
sire and will have a reasonable and consti-
tutional law for the suppression of the evils
Of intemperance none are blind enough to
deny" Recurring 20 the workings OF the
law again on the 18th of June, 1t said:
During the past fifteen days there has not
been a single commitment TO the county
Jail for the violation OF the city ordinances,
and in the way of arrests by the city police
there is little or nothing doing.
The Indianapolis Locomotive of June Is,
said: There has not been a single ar
rest or commitment to prison since June IL
and the night watch doZe on the store
boxes" Four weeks later. July q, the Lo-
nearly abolished rioting. drunkenness and
rowdying and the taxpayers are reducing
expenses" referring to the fact that the
night watch had been reduced one-half)
The Indianapolis journal. of July "A, re-
ferring to the same fact, said: 1.-THE reduc-
ton of the night watch was on account OF
the diminutiOn of disturbance and drunk
enness from the enforcement of the prohib-
tory law" Aug. 20, the Journal said: The
law diminished crime, reduced drunkenness,
saved money and emptied jails, until the
Supreme Court took hold of it," The Indi-
annapolis Evening Republican of June -.
the streets making night iideous, and the
watchmen have little TO do
There remain only a few who were eye
a month, not one of whom, under the most
searching cross examination, will contradict
the above statements of the only papers
then published in the city That new Jail
Is something TO be proud of. Ii is beautI-
full in its architectural construction, mon
ument to the social conditions which make
il and the work house and the police sta
ton a necessity; while its internal appoint
ments for the comfort of the inmates,
speak we'll for our Christian civilization,
which provides such good accommodations
for those who are entertained there, while
their wives and children SO abundantly
provided for by our noble organized
charities Now and then you meet
der the burden which such monu-
ments cost. They should remember that the
saloon tax alone will pay the whole cost In
a few years. and that is a tax which no
body feels. 1t is collected in small driblets
from the drinking men and women of the
city who pay ii voluntarily, no matter
whether or not the children have shoes or
clothes or food. If they have not our
Christian charities supply them The whole
speaks volumes for our Christianity as well
as our shrewd business sense. We could
return to that months history, If we wanted
to, but that would leave our liberal invest
ments for monuments all wasted, not TO
speak of leaving our organized charities
with but little If anything TO call out the
virtue of giving to the destitute.
L. L. SEE.
indianapolis, Dec. Is.