New-York tribune., 1901-01-05
AN UNATTR4CT JAIL.
THE KEEPERS AT WHITE PLAINS FAIL TO
MAKE THE HOUSE DESIRABLE
To ITS GUESTS

The Westchester County Jail. at White Plains
seems to be pleasant sort of country club TO be-
long to- but there flaws in its manage
ment which must be annoying to it's members. The
clubmen who live there are a cengenial lot all
ways ready to help another. and there a
pleasing esprit de corps among them, jailers
make things little hard at times. The members
are allowed to go out pretty much when they
please and yet they put to inconvenience In the
little matter of unlocking their doors
They say that they unlock any door in the
jail. but they allowed to have nothing TO do 1t
with except pieces of wire. and these they must
procure for themselves-not always easy task in
a jail-and then it takes two hours to undo the
lock- If the jailers did not allow them to get out
at all their attitude would harsh, but 1t
could be understood But if they going TO let
them get out. why should they not furnish them
with keys and make it easy and pleasant? 1t
would then also be easier for them to get back, if
they chose. without putting the jailers to any in
convenience in letting them in.
The other day inmate of the jail was convicted
of murder and sentenced to imprisonment for life.
The other inmates felt that such a thing reflected
on the good name of the jail and themselves.
and they resolved not 10 stay. 1t also re-
proach to their fellow jailbrd for Court to say
that he had committed a murder. and the obvious
way for them to show their resentment was to go
away together They angry that they did
not to waste two hours picking locks. and they
built big fire. thinking that the jailer would
TO put it out and that they would then
neglect which any good club steward would be
ashamed of. simply let the fire alone and the jail
birds eventually obliged to extnguish it them
selves at considerable inconvenience.
day two later one of the inmates who had a
considerable time to stay arranged with who
about to go in regular that he should
take his place and walk out. And even so he did
walk out but the officers, quite falling to appreci-
ate the touching manifestation of friendship on
the part of the who stayed went after him
and insisted bringing him back with them. II
is passing beyond the limits of hospitality to insist
on keeping guest when he clearly does not wish
20 stay. True hospitality should speed the part
ing well welcome the coming guest. .
This, however, does not excuse the manifest dis
courtesy of another inmate of the jail who simply
went away without giving any notice Of his in
tention to do That is not permitted in a well
regulated hotel, much less in Jail
But how jailors expect their guests TO stay
with them if they fail to make the Jail attractive?
Experience has always shown their unwillingness
to do For other that much
ridicuIed State of New-Jersey has maraged TO lead
the world in this respect. over there prisoner
was let out to go to his mothers funeral. but he
had the bad manners to get drunk and to oVerstay
his time whereat on his return the taller very
properly warned him that IL he ever did such a
thing again he would not let him in at ALL