The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-10-14
THEY PASSED
RESOLUTION
Inmates of the City jail Favor a New
Building.
OLD ONE IS NO GOOD
Ono Maa HAS Declared His Intention
of Voting Cor Judge Wit.
Another Likes the
Old Jails

The prisoners at the city jail are q
rare set Some Of them are as iighMeaded
and happy es people at a picnic. while
others bear the marks of sadness and
sorrow upon their countenaaces and stoop-
ping shoulders.
The prisoners heard the news of the
action of Judge Witt in reference TO the
City Council and the proposed new jail
yesterday. and were very much WORKED up
accordingly.
During the exercise hour. when the pris-
oners were in the corridors. a number Oh
the bright ones got together and discussed
tia situation. They debated the question
from all standpoints, and opinions were
divided.
Some OF the '-old soldiers, as the regu-
lars are called. favored the action OF
Judge Wit. They declared that as il
seemed destined that they were to spend
s greater part Of their days inside those
walls. il was but right that they have
comfortable quarters. They did not feet
that with coming age they should be SUB
iects for attacks of rheumatism, chiiis,
and they agreed that d new jail was alb
soiutely necessary for their comfort.
SAW NO REASON.
On the Other hand, some of the new
prisoners or apprentices could not see
that a comfortable place Of confinement
would simply be an additional temptation
on their part 10 continue in crime, so
that the cold days of winter might be
spent in luxury and ease behind the bars
and walls, with nothing to do but eat ana
sleep.
Some of this latter class were believed
10 have been speaking in sarcastic man
ner, and their expressions Of opinion We're
md nfad at Ono. >-,:Is,
began TO sing "A Bird in a Gil6ed Cage
and the meeting for the time was broken
up.
The weli-known Police Court character,
Blil Smith. who is IN Jail for drunkenness
and general sood-for-notilingness SIX month
in the year. was seen, and thus expressed
himself:
i have made up my mind to vote for
Judge Witt the next time he runs, be-
cause / believe that when a citizen Of this
great town gets a little jubiiant and ex-
liilirating while out with a iovcal set Of
the boys, and IS sent down by Justice
John TO sober up. he should be given
decent quarters. In the winter time I'm
afraid to go TO sleep for. fear of freezing
to death. and in the summer time the
heat and the foul smells and the verlnin
are enough to put lis through. Give ms
a new jail or give me liberty
Another fellow who was in jail as :;
Suspicious character and a vagrant said:
Dis Is de worst JOINT I ever was in,
and eff j gets outen here you can bet yer
collar-buttons I'll keep away from here
IVES liable TO come In ccntall wid some
KIND er disease dat'I knock US silly. an
when we goes out We'll carry It Wild Us an
give il TO de gang
ON SUSPICION
One fckly man said he hadn't seen q
well day since he got to jail, and he
Was simply there on suspicion and being
detained for trial. He was presumed to
be innocent until found guilty, but even
at that he had 10 bear with the worst
element IN the unhealthy surroundings.
After the song "A Bird in a Gilded
Cage" had been finished. the meeting re-
assembled. and, after considerable discus
sion, a set of resolutions were drawn
UP as follows, and given to the reporter,
with the request that they lie printed:
Whereas. it has reached cur ears that
the erection Of a new city jail is in course
OF contemplation. therefore be it
Resolved. That we. here IN meeting as
seinbied, express our profound pleasure.
and
.'sesolved, That we condemn the present.
SHACK as being utterly unfit for occupa-
ticn by gentlemen of our standing in The
community. and further he it
Resolved. That when this meeting aa
lauins II be 10 Meet IN The new CITY
1aa
!. Resolved further; That there .,e new
jail or zone at ALL
The resolutions were written in very
BAD English on The back OF an old en-
Vo'one. and slipped 10 the reporter tnrcug;,
a crack il the wall