Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-11-11
RANK

hHNh
Two Jail deliveries within ten days
is a fine record for the sheriff of Fer
gus county and his jailer. When Hurt
was turned loose in the corridor and
left for an hour or so to do as he
pleased while the iailer went down to
represent" as distributing clerk at
the p~ostoffice. it was no surprise to
learn that he had decided to close his
engagement here and leave for other
parts. There was no reason why he
shouldn't.
And when the jailer turns the men
loose in the corridor with the outside
door open and himself goes into a
cell. it is no surprise whatever that
the men take a walk and keep on
walking.
Such a laundering policy is an n
enlargement to the men to leave; GER
tainly they have no reason for remain
ing and no blame should attach to
them. The love of freedom is instinct
i've in all human beings and it is the
sheriff's force that is solely to blame.
Nothing but a laundering fool
would give prisoners such opportuni-
ties and when Sheriff Slater keeps
such a man he u entire respon-
sibility for results. II the sheriff did
not approve. why did he keep Lyons
after the escape of Hurt? And ii has
not been reported this morning that
the second escape has resulted in Ly-
ons' dismissal.
There are cells in the jail for the
keeping of prisoners and when they
are turned out of those cells they are
offered an opportunity to leave. The
London tower would not hold prison.
ers If the doors were left open. Walls
ten feet thick and of solid steel would
avail nothing with such incompetents
carrying the keys. At the time of the
Ammon affair years ago Lyons was
an officer and everyone who was in
Fergus county at that time recalls
what a terrible mess Lyons made OF
the attempt to capture Ammon and
the bullion which the famous mining
shark was carrying out of Fergus
county. Yet Sheriff Slater takes up
such a man and puts him in a respon'
sible position. No use nov of shift
ing responsibility on Lyons. Such a
man has no place on a sheriff's force
or in any other place where brains a;
well as muscle are required.
The place for a jailer is at the jai
mot down town distributing mail o
breaking horses: the Jail Is insecure
and everyone knows 1t, but II the jail
er was at the jail where he belong.
and would use common sense there
would be no Jail deliveries such a.
have disgraced the sheriff's force o
Fergus county in the past fortnight.
And while speaking of an insecure
Jail it might be well to recall that th'
county commissioners have for sever
al years been anxious to build a new
one, and that last year the proposition
was submitted to the taxpayers. No
a bonding proposition. but simply ash
ing permission of the voters to spen'
an amount not in excess OF $1,000
for the erection of a suitable buildin,
for Jail purposes. And the Democrat
which last week attempted to plac
the blame for Hurts escape on tn
county commissioners, opposed tn
proposition.
A new Jail is needed in Fergus coul
ty; the present building Is not larg
enough. affords no essentials {
, healthful confinement and is absolute
ly insecure.
But neither Hurt nor this last bunc
of prisoners owe their escape TO a
, insecure Jail. The cages in the ia
are all rlght-just as good and a
> strong as any that might now be pu
chased; but they were not In th
! cages-they were running loose; !
Hurts case nothing save a few iro
bars screwed to a window frame I
1 prevent his escape and abundance
time and convenient tools at hand
u effect that escape; in last nights !
: stance-an open door.
The iail Is left for hours at a TIN
without an officer and meanwhile u
men-frequently desperate crimina
= are allowed to roam in the corrido
u II a man attends to n JOB an
that well il is all that can reasonaD
be expected OF him, and when a ma
n OF Lyons proven incompetency tri'
to earn 4 salary as jailer and ana
as distributing clerk In q postonic
|, II Is little wonder that prisoners e
- cape and that mail matter goes estra
Mr. Sheriff, isn't 1t about time IN
Z. you pulled yourself together n $40
nod tkt. f.-tgla,r A- aICa Pill