Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-03
CUTS OUT SUNDAY SERVICE
Miss MCGes No Longer viis County jail
on Lords Day.
DIsAeRtEs WITH sHlNRocK As TO WORN
RepresentatIve Of woman's Christian
Temperance Union Undertakes to
Dictate 60 City Missionary with
Result of Cessation OF Service.

Another Sunday has passed without the
bound-over prisoners In the county jail
having Miss Nellie McGe present at their
religious services, and It begins to look like
some time will be required In patching up
the differences that resulted a few weeks
ago in open clash Of authority. Incidentally
Sheriff Power has taken a hand and de-
clared that nobody has a monopoly of the
work Of evangelization among the prisoners.
The aged Mrs. Jardine did the first reg
ular systematic work at the jail for the
woman's Christian Temperance union and
when she retired because OF growing fee
bleness Mrs. E. H. shinrock was selected by
the organization to be her successor. Later
Miss McGee, who, as city missionary for
the City Missionary association. is giving
all her time to work among unfortunates
and criminals, was commissioned by the
same organization to work at the county
bastile.
Mrs. Shinrock and daughter, Miss Ora,
retained the large hall Of the Jail as their
field Of operation and Miss MCGEE was
given the barred and screened quarters, in
which are the colored men and the prison
ers who are awaiting trial or have particu-
larly bad records.
Services Long Successful.
EOA a AOAb NALlO kAV AAohbOAh1hN SCAN-
to work satisfactorily. Every Sunday
afternoon the two organs would be brought
down from upstairs, one placed in the main
corridor, where Mrs. Shinrock and her as
sistants would conduct services, and the
other in the west wing, where Miss MCGEE
and Mrs. Charles Williams would lead.
The jailer had informed the prisoners that
he would like II II all would Join In the
services, but that be would not make 1t
obligatory, only requiring that they at least
be perfectly orderly. Most Of them Joined
in with a will and there was never any dis
~sentlon on their part.
But II is told that one Sunday, about six
or eight weeks ago, Mrs. Shinrock decided
to exchange posts with Miss MCGEE, and
directed her to work in the msin corridor.
Miss MCGEE, 1t is further said, demurred,
saying that she had gotten in touch With
those in her department, had gained their
confidence and sympathy and thought she
could best work where she was. Mrs.
shinrock, having behind her the declaration
Of the Women's Christian Temperance
union that Miss MCGEE must work, II at all,
under her direction. insisted in her de-
mand, 1t is said, with the result that Miss
MCGEE left the building and hasn't been
back since, except to make frequent calls
on the prisoners through the week and
perform those services that made her par
ticularly popular with the prisoners.
II amt kickin' on Mrs. Shinrock nor Mrs.
Williams" said a prisoner, but We had
q special likin' for Miss MCGEE. You see
she brought us something beside gospel
tracts and a promise salvation II we re-
pent. She brought us clothes and daily
papers and news Of what's going on in
the world. Many a poor devil this winter
would have been without underclothes II
sho hadn't trotted the town for him until
she found somebody who would give what
he needed, and l even suspect that some
times she paid for the things out of her
W little pocketbook. She still comes to
see US on week days, but she WON'T ever
tell why she doesn't come Sundays any
more. We all s'pose there's a row, but we
don't know what it's about"
Sheriff Plays No Favorites.
Sheriff Power regrets II any differences
have arisen, but said to a reporter for The
Bee: 81 stand by my original declaration
that nobody is to have any monopoly OF
the religious works at the Jail. When I
took the office / laid down the rule that
any good. responsible person who wanted
to go in there and talk to the prisoners
about religious matters should be free to do
so as long as the prisoners cared to listen,
and that rule still holds good"