The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-04-14

Pursuant to recess on friday eve
ming, the superior court met yesterday
at $50 a. m, Judge r B. PEBBLES pre-
siding, and Solicitor Rodolph Duffy
prosecuting.
The sheriff returned the following
jurors summoned for the day: Thomas
lesson, Samuel Blossom, G. F. Horne,
L. 5. LatnrOp, James a. Miller, B. B.
Humphrey, r. O. Grant, G.. E. Burnett,
h V. Richards. F. y. Mason, Charles
w. Walters.
The following were reported as no
found: L. H. Burnett, w. r. Barksdale,
and Ellis Sherman. The following were
excused by the court: Samuel Bios
som, q. F. Horne, and E. S. Lathrop.
At IL a. m. the grand jury came into
court, and having completed the work
laid before it, submitted the following
report:
GRAND JURY'S REPORT.
The Honorable r. B. PEBBLES, Judge
presiding:
Srs, We, the grand jury, beg to make
the following report: Out of fifteen
preSentmentS We have found eleven
true bills and four not true, but have
had great difficulty in getting the wit
nesses, and will be glad if the court
Will procure a more prompt attend
nee.
We inspected the court house build
ing and found it in satisfactory con-
ditiOn, with the exception of a lot of
sand and shavings lying in the attic,
and the lightning rod on the northwest
corner which is twisted or broken. We
recommend the sand and shavings be
removed n the lightning rod re-
paired.
We also went over the Jail; the wa
ter closet is not in good order, one of
the pipes having burst. 1t should be
mended speedily. Some lice were seen
crawling about the cells, but having
regard to the number of prisoners Just
now coming and going from them,
their condition is perhaps as cleanly as
cal be expected.
We next looked after convicts work.
ing on the Wrightsville road. The
cage had ar untidy, unswept, and I'M
clean appearance. We were told the
blankets are full Of vermin, indeed so
bad was the description that not one
of us a courage to step into the Gag
and handle them. They are never
changed, but are sometimes ashed
and used again. The conVicts may re-
main washed or unwashed, as they
choose, indeed some of them only
battle at intervals of a month or so.
The cooking apparatus, food Inc pre-
paratiOn of meals appeared excellent.
and the dining shed clean and con-
SAAACIAN We "OuIu GI1dl
two sets of blanket be in use, and
that the clean sets be used while the
dirty lots are being purified-alsO that
the men be compelled to thoroughly
wash once u week, say on Saturday
night. We noticed a large tub. so there
can be no difficulty about cleanliness.
Also that every convict on first being
taken iii charge be given a bath.
The rOad work is being we'll done,
but the road engine if not attended to
will o o be in a a fix. 1t has a crack
in the boiler sheet from which steam
and water issue in great force. In this
case the old adage "a stitch in time
may well apply.
The county home we found in fairly
good order and nicely kept. Sufficient
attention seems to be given to the bed
clothing. which the keeper says is
changed Once a week. There is a
white man. presumably a sailor. who
will not or cannot speak. He has been
silent for six weeks, and is either
shamming OF demented. We recon-
mend he be sent to the asylum, where
the truth will soon be ascertained. II
one room of the coIored ward we saw
two heaps of filthy rag which should
be burned.
We now turned to the Castle Haynes
Stcckade. where we saw sixty or more
prisoners. FROM their appearance they
have sufficient food. and the discipline
SCi- SUN VIZ lAiC III
set out for them. The food was plain
and wholesome.
We found that great Teens is per-
mitted the negroes in the way Of talk
ing. jumping, boxing. playing cards
and otherwise enjoying themselves, es-
p~ecially on Sundays. We hink a more
stringent discipline as to keeping
silent should be enforced. We also
recommend strongly that a separate
ward be provided for the white prison
erS.
We regret to have to state that
though the beds and bedding otherwise
appeared clean. lice were seen crawl
ing over the blankets. and we are sorry
to say that on our way home We We're
obliged TO stop the carriage, take off
ou- coats, and pick off vermin. We
therefore urge that whenever a pris-
oner enters the camp he be thoroughly
cleansed. Invested of his rags and
clothed in a prison suit. His own
clothes can be fumigated and returned
to him on leaving. This tilthiness of
some negroes is a strong reason for
the whites being separated.
We think that the system of farming
out the poor and the %convicts to the
lowest bidder at so much per head is
bad. In both cases there is the nat
ural desire to make as much as pos
sible out of them. In the case of the
poor, the tendency is to curtail their
1dIS dItu COIIIIOIlS, dIlu III that VI liz
convicts, TO render stockade life so at
tractiye that imprisonment has little
deterrent effect. Each poor house in
mate and each stOckade criminal
means so much income. We would,
therefore, suggest that the poor and
the prisoners be placed in charge of
competent. Trustworthy superinten-
dents, each at a fixed salary; that the
contracts for their provisions be let by
advertisement to the Lowest bidders,
and that the superintendent be respon-
S!bln for their respective charges to the
authorities.
JOHN B. QUELCH,
FOraman