Evening journal., 1896-05-22
.THE DARK AGES.
Recalled BY Present Or
gies Going On
IN NEW CASTLE PRISON
The Clergy Are Determined to
Investigate.

1 ready systematically Sitting Ahaira
The Clergy Organized as a Committe.
to submit Memorials to the Diocesan
Oonvention-AnidRvits OF Two IntelIi
gent ex-Prisonors- Brutality, Oourto-
sans. Poor Food and Tramc Between
County Prison-mrs. miles Valued Hei
Reputation Too Highly to Go Out On
the Corridor-Poor Gurley's Association
with blinking Irons.
For many weeks past there have been
gualy rumors floating around about psr-
hdy In the jail manag ement that Sheriff
Paul ellis would certainly do we'll to
investigates. Little attention was paid
to the reports of lax administration be
hind the sheriffs back, as It at first came
from discharged prisoners or VIII at IL
usually judged unreliable SOURCES.
OF late these have become subjects Of
gene raj comment and people who make
the charges and cl rculate the reports are
In no way timid about it any longer
Such things as Investigations can sell
dom do harm and it is believed that New
Castle jail Is as often apt to go wrong as
the various other public instit utions
which so often have to be investig sted.
Among the charges which have come
to the EVENING JOURNAL are:
/. That certain preferred prisoners
are allowed to traffie-to buy and to sell
in the prison
H. 1
at times had full charge of the place and
all the prisoners have appealed against
pugilistlc rule, one threatening to kill
Duncan II he crossed the threshold Of his
cell
III. That the negro women are cruelty
trested.
". That anything but regular hours
are observed In the stonepile work
V. That Life Prisoner Fran johnson
an old negro who had charge OF the
upper tire Of cells was brutally treated
/ for tale bearing
vi. That white men visit the white
women's cells frequently. and remain
there much longer than Is necessary,
VII. That women even courtesana are
permitted to visit prisoners in curtsined
cells upon the mere pretense that they
are sisters or relatives of the pris
oners
VIII That regularly convicted pris
oners are permitted to handle keys aud
exercise privileges which should only be
entrusted TO sworn officer.
Vigorous Campaign Planned.
Chaplain F. M Munfoa Of the Della
ware National Guard and rector OF I'm
manuel Church at New Castle. has In
-k-l l. l.. a.
reform not only at the instigation OF the
Public Good Association Of Wilmington,
but because the clergy of the diocese Of
Delaware have decided to press the mat
ter Of prison reform especially at New
Castle.
rhe diocesan committee Is now
quietly at work. It consists Of Revs. F
NJ Munson, Charles e, Murray, Fl M
Bartlett, George G. Hall, D. D., and
Jesse Taylor.
This committee has the hearty co
operation OF Chief Justice Lore, Judge
Ball and Mrs. A. d. Warner and other
Wilmingtonians who have been Rctive In
advancing measures for permanent
prison reform.
Chaplain Munson. though one Of the
leading ministers of this neighborhood
was positively refused sdnittance to the
jail last week on application at the
corridor gate. Chaplain Munson made
no protest but quitsly walked out. more
soundly convinced than ever that
nothing Is wanted worse IN Delaware
than radical measures Of prison reform.
The CLERGY Now at work.
The Diocesan Committee Of Clergy
appointed to investigate the condition Of
affairs a. New Castle Jail met on Mon
day at the rectory of st. Andrews P, r
church. the residence Of Raw Charles f
Murray where a vigorous campaign was
outlined at the suggestion Of Chaplain
Munson
1t was decided to visit the prison next
Saturday which being hogRlng day. will
enable them to see the place when
citizsns are not barred out, the laws
providing that the whipping shall be
done in public, After making g personal
Investigation, the committee will
proceed 10 ImmanHel rectory, New
Castle. the residence of Chsplain Nun.
son, and begin the preparation Of
memorial to the Diocesan Convention
which meets at New Castle on June 3.
Chaplain MuRson's Views.
"Simply because the newspapers have
been silent on this matter for some time.
said Chaplain Munson to an EvEE1EG
JOURNAL reporter, does by no means
demonstrate that we have let the matter
die out We intend to sift It to the very
bottom and let the people of Delaware
know just what they should know about
affairs in New Castle jail.
II was interviewed last week By Mr
Higgins, OF the PhiladelphiR Press, who
asked my opinion &c to whether
or not T. r Millikin, the ex-
prisoner, WAS worthy of belief re-
piled that while I did not know very
much about Millikin's veracity did not
see how inside knowledge could be OBJ
tanned save from some one who had been
inside.
mo evidence OF barbarous treatment
or lax management could well be obtained
from an outsider, and l would think
careful examination OF en- intelligent sx-
prisoner would be convincing
The Brutal Treatmsnt OF Gurlsy.
Samuel Gurley, the unfortunate young
white man, who because he escaped from
all when opportunity offered and con-
l. L. e H., tnH