Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-04-08
Mr. D. ". SPECK
Comments on the Grand Jury's Report
and the Sheriff's Statement.

Editor Spectator.
| desire to submit a short comment on
the report of the corporation court grand
jury Ill she Kennedy matter; on the sher
If ) reply To same, and on some of the
evidence.
The FIRST two sentences of the report uses
strong language concerning bad manage
ment of Jail, and suggests reform; yet
grand jury aim SO low as to shoot under
the legally responsible head of thie insti-
tuition, (whO Is bonded, and under oath,
and has an able and hOnUra BILE CONSTITUENT
cy at his back that he is not even powder
burnt.
IL looks as though he was stationed be-
+ hind the gun, anu because the gun did not
klc. he was not hurt. | got one load :.
When L was tried for negligence, and the
Sheriff took the witness stand TO open tes-
tlmOny for prosecution, my self and many
others were surprised at his answer to
many questions relative to Jail and the
custody Of prisoners being, Il don't KNOW
Let me ask who should know If the Sher-
| if does not?
The grand jury in another sentence mod
| flied by saying that 1.-The want of system
| was brought about gradually and largely
| accidental" Yet tor IL this gradual neg
iect have been held responsible, the last
man in connection with the Jail, and then
| for only ten nights. Permit me to change
| one sentence in the grand jury's report.
and say, that responsibility should attach
where it belongs, land loose methods
| would at once disappear" astly report
says: Ito the absence of system it is be-
| lieved is due the opportunity to plan and
effect Kennedy's escape from Jail" Weigh
report OF grand jury and if you can per
suade yourself that nothing else is necessa-
ry as to negligence and want of system at
county Jail than to indict, try and fine me
| fifty dollars, say so to every body. Should
| you not De thus persuaded, speak your
mind.
Sheriff's reply to grand jury's report saws
that MI. Dawson is the only one employ ed
| by county to take charge of jail. l pre-
sumo most of Augusta county people did
employed by sheriff and could be discharg
ed at any time sheriff might see cause tt
remove HIM. Notice, the sheriff'o reply
literally says that Augusta county jail Is
managed as other institutions OF this sort
comparatively in all points assalled in re-
port and promises nothing better
A few facts as evidence for county PEG
pie. kennedy's cage in Jail had three
large pad-lOcks, one at the top, one II
middle and one at bottom of large door
The top and bottom locks were not use'
for some time before Kennedy got out
Had all three locks been serving their IN
tended use, Kennedy could not have got
ten out unless he had been supplied will
tools. Three white men had guarded a
different times, and one negro convict VIII
was serving year in Jail FIR assault wa
given gun and made guard for five night
before l was employed so far as | ca,
learn all these guards were in the habit O
going to other parts of the Jail Will
guarding Kennedy. l went to the floor be
low and in few minutes returned an,
found Kennedy was not in cage. 1t wa
then $50 p. IN. Immediately gave alarm
making powerful noise for 30 minute
before any response came from outside tn
Jail. About twelve hours after prisone
escaped sheriff arrived. So far as can lear
very little direct effort has yet been mad
by any county officer to capture Kennedy
But suppose after they have finishe
dealing with offensive hirelings they pun
pose going direct for Kennedy.
| ID. w. SPECK.