Evening journal., 1896-06-01

Gambling.
ut certainly is frightful the way
gambling is prscticed openly throughout
the prison, said Rev r. M. Munson,
rector of p z Church, New Castle. to
staff correspondent of the Philadelphia
Press, who interviewed the minister in
order that be might secure facts for an
article he was preparing for his paper,
and which appeared April 81, 1885, under
the ception OF Delaware's Foul Jail
DAY Warden Lindsey Wilson gen
orally comes on duty at G o'clock IN the
morning aud about half past s or 8
o'clock he gets up quiet game Of
poker in one OF the cells, Qf In Summer
It Is In the prison yard and 1t Is an
every day occurrence to find him sitting
at table, surrounded by four or five
colored and two or more white men. all
prisoners. Perhaps two or three cells
down the line you would find large
number OF prisoners bending over
wheel OF fortune, which goes spinning
around and soon decides who shall take
the stakes You might go still further
out Into the stone-pile yard and there
see a crowd Of darkies shooting crap
with dice
"On February 6. 1896, Charles Hood.
colored, with two other companions were
convicted of gambling snd sentenced TO
four months In the county all where |
saw them almost daily in their cell No. 33
either shooting dica or playing poker.
THE two small boys held as witnesses
were quite naturally fascinated
with these games OF chance, and 1t re
quired considerable persuasion on my
part TO restrain them. The question may
be asked where would these boys get
money even II they wanted TO play, and
| must say by way of explanation that
witnesses are allowed one dollar per day
until discharged and the sheriff will
gladly edvauce money to those 80 held
and deduct 10 from the voucher when he
pays him for the number Of days de-
tainsd.
IntoxIcstion.
"The sheriif's hostler is a 'trusy'
prisoner. and for q slight consideration
will obliginRly bring In a pint OF liquor
Visitors are not searched and they 6tton
bring intoxicating drinks into the prison
have seen Day Warden Wilson so in
toxicated that 'trusty prisoners have
taken him into their cells and put him to
bed frst giving him vinegar to drink to
sober mp on. Tuesday, April %, 1896
M. A. Pierce was drunk In his cell.
January 30, 1896, Day Warden vii
son, intoxicated, was IN the women's
department., and attempted 70 assault
Maggie Butler, prisoner, who 70 rmerlY
resided on Robinson street, Wilmin gton
The jail store.
The frst thing to attract the attention
Of the visitor on entering the prison Is a
sign over the door Of No. 2 cell which
reads: 'cigsrs, tobacco and snuff On
the iuslde is every indication Of a
regularly appointed grocery store: a
barrel of four potatoes, can Of lard,
corn meal, tobacco, cigars, snuh. writ
ing paper, envelopes and coal oil. The
profits are divided With Chief Warden
Wilson, who receives per cent as his
share The management of this store is
given over TO prisoner, M. A. Pierce,
serving q three year term for man
slaughter.
ION Sunday the poor unfortunates
receive a loaf of bread and half pint of
molasaes, Commonly called Black
Strap) which constitutes the allowances
for that day, and not inffequently
prisoners can be seen on the corridor,
begging for bread or anything that may
have been left over by those fortunate
enough to have money to buy from tn
jsl store
Delaware haI no state penitentiary or
Prisoners Aid Society. There is 70
mstron for tho wolnen's department IN
either OF The three county ius.
"Living together In the sans call, No.
30. are the notorious Dupont barn burn
ers, Edward and Mary Clark, and their
son Joseph. young man about 10. The
boy was released a short while ago and
now huaband and wife are living In
peaceful enjoyment OF the marital rels
tion while serving their sentence Of ssven
and eight years.
Prisoners are required to purchase
their own coal oil ana lamp or sit in the
dark
"Iu delivering mail to the women's de
psrtment, p m, I saw William Andrews,
white sitting on the lap of Mary Far
raghsr, prisoner, with his arms about
her waist, etc. This was on April %,
1896. When left the jail, this same
prisoner, Mary Farrsgher. had with her
Ia the prison her little or year old
daughter Katie, who already has learned
many things Ia this school Of vice
REV. F. M Munson, who took such
bod stand for prison reform was re
fnsed admittance to the jsil May 3,
/ 1895, as also was j NJ Davidson, a tai
NAANa JNAAb AeWoFARNA hAAA Nv 10 tln
nocted with the EVENING JOURNAL Of
Wilmington. and advocates q change In
| Delaware's Penal Code
The whipping post ana pillory Is still
in vogue; the Blue laws still exist and
have never been abroRsted.
1T seems that Sheriff ellis intended
that his Immediate family should benefit
by his appointment, for be has for his
deputy sheriff his son, Harry /. Gillis;
Day Warden Lindsey is brother In law
Of the sheriff, as is also Night Warden
Arthur Wilson.
prisoners released from the jail sre
turned adrft without q cent, and no pro
vision being made to aid them. they
again resort TO crime and are frequently
recommitted.
Witnesses.
"James W. Foster and Arthur Wilson,
night wsrdsns at the jail. two gentlemen,
kind. firm and humane, will bear me out
In my statements st the proper time.
REV. +. NJ Muneon. Mrs James
DUNCAN and j. H. Davidson, OF Nav
Castle. are also conversant with ths
facts embodied In this srticle
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