Smyrna times., 1898-08-31
AN INSECURE LOOKUP.
Harvey FAIRIES Broke Jail Sunday-The
Fifth to Escape Since the Cells
We're Rebuilt.

Harvey FAIRIES, the hostler for John
Blizzard of the Delaware House, was
arrested Saturday night for cursing,
swearing and being disOrderly on the
streets. He resisted in a manner that
took Policeman Jones, with the assist
ance of Policemen Garner and Tur-
ner to make the arrest. He was finally
landed in one of the cells of our Lock
up to-await trial on Monday morning.
At noon on Sunday morning he broke
Jail and fled. Alderman Collins visi-
ted the Lookup on Sunday morning
and found everything all right, and
thinking that little air would make
the temperature more comfortable for
them, he opened the back door leading
into the yard, and went away leaving
it in this condition. 1t was about
noon that the tramp, who was incarcer-
ated in an adjoining cell, saw three of
his supposed associates enter the door
and hand him a stout stick. With the
| aid of this latter instrument, Harvey
FAIRIES wrenched the locks of the lower
part of the CRATE door, and with force
managed to spring it enough to squeeze
through and escape.
This calls up a serious question of
the insecurity of our cells. Since our
| town Jail was remOdeled there have
been five prisoners to escape, in about
| the same manner and form, and if such
| is allowed to continue the law and
order of our town will be nothing but
a laughing farce. The main cell was
remodeled, and two additional ones
were built in the spring of 1894 by H.
ID. Boyer & Co. for $4,000. Every
thing seemed to be strong and durable
about the Jail except the doors, and
| here is where the mistake was made by
the Council i'll drawing up the specifi-
cations. The CRATE doors are nothing
but mere frames. The steel bars are
not more than ! of an inch thick nor
more than ! of an inch wide. These
may be rivited together strong enough
but are 50 thin thev are capable OF
being sprung whenever any pressure is
brought to bear The locks and
chains, of which there are three to each
| CRATE door, are very frail, and as has
been proven can be broken with very
little trouble. Hence it is that every
prisoner who has escaped, has done sc
by breaking the lock and springine
the door.
The time has come now when oul
Town Council should take the matter
in hand 1t is no fault of the police
They do their duty, and if the town
does not provide secure place for the
incarcertion of prisoners, the efforts o.
the police to preserve law and ordel
are to no avail. All these doors shoulC
be taken out and stronger ones put il
their places, with lock that are heavy
and secure. The Council should alsl
specify that the CRATE doors should bt
made of thicker steel with the bar,
closer together. Under the present
arrangement it is very easy for pris
oner to thrust his arm or hand through
the bars and have easy access 70.
breaking the locks. The whole graf,
door system is farce, and the sooner
the town takes them out and put.
heavier and more durable ones in, tn,
better will it be for the enforcing of Law
and order in our midst. 1t is question
that should receive the undivided at
tention of every member of our coun
Gil. They owe it to the citizens of tn
town to give every protection they cal
in secure Jail system, and a well l-or
0auIZp6 DOlipa DaDortmapt