The times., 1899-04-23
RASHInGPON'S FIRST
PRISON HEKED down
The McGirk Jail Falls Under
the Axe of Progress.
Ancient Landmark That Very Few
Citizens Remember.
Executions and Slave Dealings Tint
Occurred within the Shadow of
the Capitol Building.

| Dust and debris, broken brick of odd de-
sign and color. and long piles of splintered
! timber cover the site of the old McGirk
! Jail, the first place of imprisonment in the
National Capital. This quaint story
structure was. until partially destroyed
| last week, as old as the city itself. having
been built prior to 1900 when the seat
of government was removed from Phila-
delphia to Washington.
! 1t stood for century in the very heart
Of the city. While other old houses were
| razed to the ground to make way for more
| spacious structures of modern design the
din of the city revolved around the old Jail
leaving the little edifice untouched and
with the exception of a new roof, Just as
it was in the days when the eyes of the
country began to turn toward the newly Sc
lected capital.
Early last week, however. this unbroken
security of more than ten decades was
broken and the chatter and playful noise
,, of the pickaninnies living in the erstwhile
pen was drowned in the din and noise
incident to the demolition of the old struc-
| ture
ousted by improvements March.
The property is owned by Robert n.
| Harper, the druggist. who completed nego-
tiations recently with the District Commits
sioners whereby a handsome five-story
modern office building will supplant the
little jail. 1t will be rented to the District
for use as the new police and fire head
quarters. The building will front on G.
| Street and extend back the full depth of
the lot to the rear CT the present District
Building. in which the municipal Offices are
located. On the front part of the lot is
the old Gushing mansion, at 461 G Street
This is an historic old structure, but not
so much SO as the small one-story brick
which has just been torn, down at the ex-
treme north end of the lot-for 1t was the
latter that enjoyed the distinction of being
the original McGirk Jail.
How 1t Obtained Its Name
How did it get the name?" asked a
Times reporter, who was watching the
workmen hammering away at the solid
walls. An old resident of the city who was
also watching the progress of the
work volunteered the information
that the first important prisoner
confined within its walls was man named
McGirk. McGirk was executed at the old
jail. He was the first man hanged in the
National Capital, and his name has ever
after been associated with that of the Jail.
although in recent years both name and
jail have been lost to the public eye
McGirk lived in F Street. between
Twelfth and Thirteenth Streets northwest
He was a bricklayer by trade, and it is
singularly related that he worked on the
structure which was afterward used for
his confinement He drank heavily and
frequently staggered home in an inebriat-
ed condition, to quarrel and maltreat his
wife. One day he went home intoxicated
and beat his wife severely. She was in
very delicate condition of health, and
much too weak to resist his brutal on
slaught. Two children were still ll-born and
the unfortunate wife died shortly after
ward. McGirk was arrested and COM
mitted to the new jail, charged with hav-