The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-10
VIRGINIA PRISONS.
Several Inspected by MrGoidsborough
s. Grifith-His Report.

Mr.. Goldsborough s. Griffith. president
of the Maryland Prisoners Aid Associa-
ton. after attending az a delegate, the
SYNOD Of the Reformed Church, OF the
United states, at Woodstock. Va, visited
souf Of the prisons and almshouses or
virginia and West Virginia. and makes
the following report to the Association:
at Woodstock Va, the county jail Is
located directly opposite the courthouse,
an old stone building said to have been
'buft one hundred years ago. It has
four iron cages TO hold the prisoners and
the most ancient Of locks and keys that
have seen IN any prison. The locks
are sixteen inches long. and thirteen
inches wide: the keys seventeen inches
long. and weigh four pounds each; they
are a curiosity / found three prisoners,
two young men one eighteen and the
other nineteen years of age. each serving
sentence Of six months. one for fring
az person without doing any damage
the other for the larceny OF thrty-hve
dollars; and one cOlorcd woman, VINO IS
insane, and should not be In a jail, but
at the insane asylum. at Petersburg. i
have not unfrequently seen In the sails
Of virginia and West Virginia from one
TO three insane persons. confined I'm dark
and gloomy cells where light and sum
shine is so greatly needed. The county
officials surely should give some Consid-
Grafton TO this matter The county seems
20 be one of the most moral In the
STATE only sixteen being committed TO
the iai during the year, and but Few OF
them colOrcd. There are no religious
services held, and there was not even
a Bible in the prison / gave a Bible 10
the young men. and they seemed TO great
" appreciate my interest IN their spirit
ual welfare, and I'm good faith lrt missed
10 lead religious lives after their dis
charge. The sanitary condition was not
what would be considered desirable The
poor az the county almshOuse seemed well
cared for.
Jefferson county alnlshouse IS situated
four miles from CharlestOwn, and had
thirty inmates 1t Is well conducted, and
the sanitary condition good under the
management OF Mr.. Mason IiedwahL
The Jail Is on a prominent corner Of tho
city. opposite the courthouse; 1t was
built soon after John Brown and six
others were executed after their capture
al HarDer's Ferry. l have very dis
tlnct recollection Of my visit TO those
men in the old dlaDidated jail before
their execution. IL was very kindly re-
ceived by Brown after ] made myself
known and the object I had in visiting
them I held religious cervice with them,
the account Of which was published in
the American az the time. Colonel John
r. Gibson has erected a fine residence
on the spot where these men Wcro exc
cuted. The jail is built on the same
site OF the old one, and contains six
large cells. Mr. s. G. Young, The deputy
sheriff In charge, was exceedingly kind
I'm giving me every opportunity to in
spect the prison, and was present at the
religious service There were at the
time Of my visit ten prisOners-nve
whites and five cclored-all for crimes
Of felony. except one. Judge T. J.
Mackey. who was charged with marry
ing three women.
II found him 10 be an intelligent man.
and a fluent talkor. lie expressed him
self pleased with my visit. and the SER
vices. and asked me TO send him bar
Der. which ] did. The judges first wife
was from the North. and the third wife
from CharlcstOwn. On my way from
Storor College at Bolivar Heights. in
company with Rev. DR.. n. c. Bracket,
the principal. ! say the two women
walking together In front Of tho hotel
at Harpers Ferry. The hOtel-Eeeper,
being acquainted with Dir. Bracket
came up 10 our carriage, and. I'm con-
versation. said that they not only walked
together. but slept in the same room
at his hotel. / spoke 10 Mr. David
Howell who IS connected with the Bible
Society, I'm regard 70 regular religious SER
vices in the prison. and he promised 10
see that they would be held, and Bible
provided for each cell.
1.-THE almshOuse Of Frederick county
is situated on a farm Of 500 acres five
miles from Winchester The buildings
are old and greatly in need Of repair.
There were fifteen inmates-seven fe-
males, and eight maies-whO were given
every attention. Rev. J. b. Stonesefer,
pastor of the Reformed church. was with
me. and we examined all the apartments
very thoroughly and found everything
in as good condition as could be expected
under the existing conditions OF the build
ings We held religious service with the
inmates. who were old and feeble. and
gave them some words OF cheer. The
lady who took us through the institu-
ton said that the spiritual interests of
the inmates had been neglected but she
would give her attention TO the matter.
and Rev. Mr.. stonesefer promised 10 fur
nish Bibles for them.
The county Jail is situated on Market
street. Winchester II Is a large brick
building. surrounded by a wall. ghich
gives the prisoners a yard for exercise.
There are nine prisoners. three OF them
colored females. The sentenced prisoners
were at work in the chain gang on the
streets. All the prisoners were COM
mitted for petty offences. except one col
ored boy fourteen years old who was