The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1897-08-12
STILL ANOTHER.
How to Take Care of Jailed Delin.
quent Tax Payers.

Editors Sentinel.
Several suggestions have been
made by your correspondents as to
Gne most economical way of keeping
delinquent tax-paying criminals, but
we DO not believe that any OF them
are practicable or feasible.
The occupancy of any part of the
court mousse by prisoners is out of the
question, because prisoners are
ilaoie to get to gambling or fighting
at any time in the day or night,
provided deputy sheriff or Justice
OF tne peace Is not on the spot to
prevent it. And then men who have
onclal duties to perform that are
clerical should not be disturbed dur
ing the night.
we are opposed to the city, or the
city officials, having a" ything to do
with this class of criminals.
In the next place, to work them on
the farm In raising onions and veee-
tables for market is an abridgment
OF the farmers rights and looks too
much like the State convict farm,
and then We believe that there ought
to be a vast difference made as to the
| treatment OF a prisoner whose only
crime is that of being too poor to
pay his tax, (six days before the tax
books are placed in the hands of the
sheriff, as will be the case this YEAR,
and class of men who are guilty OF
gambling, larceny, seduction, coun-
terfeiting, and like offenses
| Then the city or other owners of
the lands might make foI aign born
citizen superintendent of the farm,
and all these poor delinquent tax.
paying criminals might not be able
to understand his language or his
method OF raising 600 bushels of
onions per acre, which would in all
probability cause trouble and may
hap a homicide; and furthermore, a
large crop of onions might not prove
saledbie after the citizens of Winston
found out the kind of fertilizer that
had been used in their production,
unless they were cOerced and made to
purchase them by the city police or a
stringent city ordinance. La the
event OF their unsaleability the own
ers OF the lands or the city might
bring suit against the county to
compel it to make good any loss
that might be sustained by reason OF
such failure.
| We think the most happy solution
OF the entire question would be to
build stockade around the Jail lot
and establish tobacco box factory
in rear of the Jail. and put the prison
ers to making tobacco boxes, all Of
which would find ready sale in this
market. Some of our county officials
thoroughly understand the box max
ing business and no doubt but thai
they would be willing to take the
tobacco box patterns and feed the
prisoners, without expense to the
county.
The county commissioners might
be required to buy number o
second hand circus tents to cover tn,
entire stockade, the prisoners could
then be fed by the jailer, and there il
no doubt but what Mai Brown, who
Is heightened christian gentleman
would kindly allow the use of hil
warehouse on Sundays for them tt
hold religious worship, where R-pre
sentative Grubbs could lead the sing
ing and Ormsby could preside at tn,
organ. In this way no extra grounds
would be required.
After the prisoners had once en-
gagged in the toll acco box business
they would never want to leave
One man could snperintend the work
guard the prisoners, and read law
all at the same time.
There is something grand about
this idea, because it inaugurates {
permanent industry in our midst.
If any one can suggest a better
plan We would be pleased to hea
from them.
ANOTHER MAN Who WOULD LIKE TT
SAVE THE COUNTY EXPENSES.