The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-05-19

not to say dangerous, position. Just
here it may be appropriate 10 state that
the committee is OF opinion that the Off
cials in charge erred in judgment in
permitting the prisoners to pursue I'M
interruptedly for several days recently,
their efforts 10 escape, The conclusions,
therefore, OF the committee, as may be
inferred, are these, TO wit;
Whitewash the inside OF the build
ing, or better still, plaster it,
Place IN apron or veil OF l.S or S.l6
sheet iron on the top OF the cell sec
ton, at right angles TO the south wall OF
the building, sufficiently large to pre-
Won't access to lAe top OF cells. The
temporary faslenings 10 the cell doors
can be made secure by the addition OF
y stiff diagonal steel brace. Tho pieces
forming the hunks, should SO far as
possible, be riYetted together. The
hook fastenings, where curled, should
be welded, While these changes in the
hunks would be OF decided benefit, they
would probably not secure exemption
from a repetition OF past experience,
The committee is OF opinion that wood
en- hunks or single board OF sufficient
size, properly formed and adjusted,
without iron or steel fixtures, would be
preferable to the present frames used.
A plumber should be employed to Sc
curely fasten the platform ratings,
A new lock with different key for
the door at the entrance to cell building
Ia necessary. The commissioners, re-
alizlng the importance OF this, have al
ready taken measures for the change,
the committee is informed. The venti-
lating shaft from the engine room and
terminating at or near the laundry,
should be protected by an iron grating.
Removal OF the platform from the north
end OF the cell building. Finally the
appointment OF q man as cook and
assistant to the jailor.
The changes and additions made, II ia
believed, will add to the security. Ex-
perience, however, has proved that II
is next to impossible to make prison
absolutely secure. With the increase
in size OF the jail and constant vigilance
demanded on the part OF the jailer, to
hold in check the prisoners, oitentimes
men rendered desperate by this condi'
tion and reckless US to consequences,
men, as has been shown, capable OF
turning small hooks into valuable tool
to aid in escape; a piece Of the frame Of
a bed into n formidable crowbar, and
even ordinary broom wire into Gle,
demands constant and sleepless survell-
lance. This being the case the jailer
should not be required to prepare the
food, simple though it be, for thirty or
forty persons. A man cook should be
employed for this purpose. All OF his
time not used in his special duty to be
under the orders OF the jailer, and act
as his assistant. Destruction Of prop
orty, there will be moro or less OF, but
with the power to punish in the hands
OF the jailer, and the means at hand,
the minimum may BIO secured.
Respectfully Reported.
J. w. Mccoy,
THOMAS 0'BRIEN,
@. ]. RAwLrNG.
Committee.
WheelinG W. Va, Nay 10, 1903
Judge PAUL entered m order allow
ing each OF the committeeman So for
their services, and directed that this be
certified to the board OF county commits.
sioners for payment. He also ordered
that an attested copy OF tho report and