Evening journal., 1893-04-20
WORK FOR THE CONVICTS
Each County Provided With
Road Labor Bills.
THE oOOCH LAW GOES INTO EFFECT
As Soon as Levy Court Purchases OF Con-
demns a ouarry-All Male Convicts In
the Lower Counties Can Now BE En-
ployed in Making, Altering or Repairing
Public Roads-Other Legislative Work.
Stan Correspondence Evening journal.

staff Correspondence Evening Journal.
DOVER, April 20.-All three counties
Will be provided with convict labor on
the public roads. The Cooch bill pro-
viding for the purchase of quarry to
be worked by New Castle county con
victs passed both Houses aud will be
come operative for the benefit of the
public roads as soon as the Levy Court
can purchase or condemn a quarry.
The House has passed and the senate
will doubtless concur in the bill providing
convict labor for Kent and Sussex II
is an amendment TO Chapter $50, volume
l6. Laws of Delaware. II provides that
should the governor for any cause, fail
to make satisfactory arrangements for
custody and maintenance of convicts, as
hereinbefore provided, by the frsl of
January in each and every year. then it
shall be the duty of the Levy Court of
Kent and Sussex counties respectively,
and they are so authorized and re
quired, to employ all male convicts able
TO work upon the public roads, in max
ing, altering and repairing them; and
for this purpose the Levy Courts shall
provide and supply all necessary mater
ials, machines tools, implements, and
teams; and also employ such foremen or
overseers, as may be necessary to insure
obedience, as well as efficient work
The courts shall alsoTprovide such meant
and instruments as may be necessary tC
prevent the escape of the prisoners
They shall also providesultable food and
lodging.
Every convict so employed, doing good
and faithful service. and rendering
cheerful and ready obedience to the over
seer or officer having him in charge
shall be credited with such good be
havior in mitigation and diminution OI
the term of his imprisonment, to wit
for every six days of such coLduct h
shall have credit for two extra or ad
ditional days, and so on, at the sam
rate for the same good conduct ant
service until the expiration Of his tern
of Imprisonment.
And each overseer, having prisoner
in charge, shall be furnished by the Lev,
Court with a suitable book in which I
keep a record Of the names, time an
conduct of each prisoner, with th
credits due each When the days credite
to anv convict added to the actual tim
Of his Imprisonment equal the term 70
which he was sentenced, he may presen
his petition to the chancellor or an
Judge residing in the county stating th
fact and praying for a discharge. I'll
petition must be accompanied with
certificate of the sheriff or member q
the Levy Court, certifying the aggregai
amount of his credits for good conduc
and If no just cause be shown to Oh
contrary, he shall be discharged no
withstanding the original term Of h
sentence has not expired.
1.-The overseers IN charge respectivel
shall also keep similar record of th
bad conduct Of vicious, lazy or insubo
dinate prisoners employed as in this &C
directed, and shall charge up such ba
conduct, and thus extend their term {
Imprisonment; provided, however, tn
, such extension shall not exceed twenty
! i've per cent of the whole; and such bl
conduct may be offsetted and redeem'
by subsequent good conduct.
' ANY overseer or other person
4 charge of convicts, employed under q
r provisions Of the act, who shall in al
, way maltreat them, shall be gully Of
. misdemeanor; and upon conviction shi
pay fine not less than $40, nor mo
T than 500, or be Imprisoned for peril
h not less than ten days nor more tn
three months, and costs; and shall al
be liable in damages to the party injur
| IN ha recovered in a civil action