The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-07-06
1T TOUCHED
HIS HEART.
Col. w. FL. ROssingtOn Saw the
HOrrid Sights
Which All Who Have Visited
the City Prison
ARE FAMILIAR WITH.
He Appears Before the City
Council Last Night
And With ElOq uent Words De-
nOunceS the Outrage.
Filth and OvercrOwding That
Characterize the Place.

Col. w. H. Rossington made sensa-
tional speech to the city council last
night that startled the city law makers.
1t was about the request for repairs
in the city prison. A delegation of la
dies with Mrs. L. o. Case at the head
asked that the council arrange for sep
arate apartments for prisoners in the
various stages of crime and for proViS-
ions that will enable the police 1natron
to have the women prisoners do some
work. Col. Rossington was the cham
pion of the ladies and he told the
council in plain words what he thought
about the city Jail.
Col. Rossington said that he had been
invited to inspect the jail by Mrs Case
and had done so.
Il was surprised, astounded at the
condition found said he. The place
is a disgrace to the city and to those
who allow it to exist after their at
tention has been called to it's condition.
1 am here in the interest of humanity
and say to you here that the man who
does not take an interest in humanity
is not fit to sit here as a representative
of this clean, honorable, religious COM
munity.''
The speaker found fault with the leg
islature because it had taken the con-
troll of the police department out of the
hands of the city. But continued he,
Il am not talking politics. L am least
of all a politician but L am a citizen
and tax payer of the town and L
pretend to be dominated by the princi-
pies enunciated by Jesus Christ on
Mount Olivet You have no right to be
Democrats, Republicans or Populists
when 1t comes to a question of dealing
with humanity"
Speaking of the. police system he said:
II am utterly down this .tl1ing, but
if these creatures who are quartered on
us do not do their duty in giving the
city a good clean administration of the
police affairs it is the duty of the mayor
and council to do what they can TO
correct the abuses. This foolish, this
useless and exotic thing known as a
police commission you have nothing to
do with. That is a side issue, but it
should not prevent you from doing your
duty to humanity.
Il do not believe in making prison
life like a drawing room or back par
lor. 1 have been to Europe three or
four times and have visited the med
iaeva1 prisons and have seen instru-
ments of torture that would make the
brain sick, but L have never seen a
prison so poorly lighted and ventilated
and SO poor in every way as our own
city prison.
when 1 went to the Jail this after
noon with Mrs. Case 1 was shown into
what is called the wOman's department
It is scarcely wider than that hall, but
1 was told by Jailor Dagg that there
had been as many as 20 women crowded
into that frightful place. There were
four women there today. One was an
old lady, whose hair was streaked with
gray. Another was a girl, hardly older
than my youngest daughter. Another
was a young woman and the fourth was
a woman of dusky skin, all in there to-
gether. l asked the little girl how long
she had been there and she said: Ten
days and I am here for 10 days mora
unless you bail me out She was a
nice appearing child. She was reclaim
able. If she had on good clothes and
walked up the street she would look as
we'll as your daughter or mine"
Tears came into Col. Rossington's 9
eyes, his voice quaVered with emotion
and it looked as if he would break
down. But he continued with renew
ed energy Shame on anyone who
permits such a condition to exist after
his attention has been called to it. You
have no right to lock people up in that
miserable hell hole you call your city
prison. Every man and woman who
goes out of that place goes out worse
than when they went in and they Will
stand in judgment before God on high
against every one of you if you have
chance to ameliorate their condition
and do not do so.
THE cellar of that miserable make
shift you call a prison is a place to
breed pestilence. 1t is place to dream
of, it is horror accumulated. There is
a room there used as a store room in
which the malaria is so thick you could
cut it with a knife.
Il am here to tell you to your face
that the condition of this place is an
outrage and a crime against humani-
ty."
Mrs. Case and Judge c. G. Foster pre-
ceded Col. Rossington and spoke brief
ly.
buildings had been presented. 1t re-
commended that the improvements
asked for be made and when the roll
call was taken on the report 10 council
men voted to adopt and the city en-
gineer was instructed to prepare plans
and estimates.