The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-06-07
Tuesday, June 7, 1904.
THE GRAND JURY REPOp-

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There are some features of the report
OF the grand jury made at the term OF
New Hanover court just closed to
which We think it our duty to call the
attention OF the public aud the officials
OF his county. II is TO pleasure TO US
TO on this report and the find
.inEs It eoHtain in the manner in which
we will in this article, but we consider
it our duty TO do so.
In reference to the county jail one
paragraph of the report says:
''Our visit to the county Jail disclos-
ed a general unclean condition and
we think there is considerable room
for sanitary Improvements. We also
found the women confined in cells I'M
sufficiently provided with e and
bedding. In one cell were found three
colored women and n white woman
and one bed for the lot. In another
we found two colored women and three
small children, two OF them babies.
In one cell three colored women and
one white woman, and only one bed for
the four-Who can deny that this is a
disgrace to the county, Of New Han
very? We claim to be an enlightened,
civilized, and sChristians people; yet
what have we to say about such con-
ditions as this? When the finger of
scorn is pointed at us and we are
charged with exercising the barbarity
of the Dark Ages toward our prisoners
and such circumstances as this are
cited to prove the truth OF the accusa-
tons what excuse can we make? Will
the fact that these persons are charg-
ed with crime or even that crime has
beer proven on them justify such a
condition? No white woman, no mat
ter how low she may have fallen should
be locked up in a cell with three negro
women and be compelled TO share a
single bed with her three negro cell
mates
On this subject the law of North Car
olina provides: :
'Th common jails OF the several
counties shall be provided with at least
five separate and suitable apartments;
one for the confinement of white male
criminals, one for white female crimf-
mails, one for cOlored male m
one for colored female criminals
and one for other prisoners"
Whose fault is it that this law is so
grossly violated in our county2 Who
is to blame for the horrible conditions
in this respect the grand jury find to
exist in our county jail?.
Some body is responsible. The laws
of North Carolina never contemplated
that such conditions should exist in our
prisons. The lowest felon awaiting the
severest penalty Of the law should not
be subject to such treatment. For this
one breach of the laws of the state and
OF humanity there should be a reckon
G ing for. some one. Who is in authority
over this prison? Whoever it is should
be brought 10 account. Public sentf-
ment, demands that this matter should
be investigated and the responsible
person brought to account. We are
not running a Spanish inquisition.
The laws of this land require that pris-
oners should be treated humanely, espe-
cially those who have not yet been con-
victed of any crime and are held in
custody, not by way of punishment,
but simply as a@means of preventing
their escape before the time Of trial.
Those parties. who are sent to Jail PEN
ding trial are that class of our citizens
who, ecaus of their Loverty and
lack Of friends of means and influence
rare unable to. give bond for their APP
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS persons who
have beer tried and convicted of helm
Gus offenses should not be subjected to
such b~arbarous treatment.
We take it. and we think we will be
sustained in our, contention, that no
matter how low any white woman
may have fallen or with how revolving
a crime she may be, charged she should
not. pending investigation of the crime
charged against her or ever after con-
viction, be subjected to such treatment
in the Jail Of an enlightened and civil
liked community. s ,z1z.E-+ -.
Another paragraph of the report says:
'sThe men are all imprisoned in the
cage, whites above and negroes below,
and all classes Of criminals together"
Here again. is a matter that should
he eorreateal Tubs eenaitIo1 Eshould
mot Observation-Disclosures. ofsa criminals
should not 5e,Goadned together. There
should be a separation Of the races.
me whites, even, though of The lowest
llass Of criminals. shonla got be herded
with hegroesIof the h1e degree of
f