Evening journal., 1904-04-23
GEORGETOWN JAIL
AGAIN UNDER FIRE
Representatives Of the Public
Ledger Tells OF State of
Affairs There
SuBSTANIIATES JOURNAL STORY


Prisoners Complain Of Cold, Though
County Supplies Fuel and Allows
Thirty Cents a Day For Each Pri-
soner Confined in the Jail.
The Philadelphia Ledger today pub
fishes an article setting forth the con-
ditions which prevail I'm the Sussex
county Jail In Georgetown. IL substan-
tiates IN full the story printed In The
Evening Journal last July regarding
prisoners who are prisoners I'm name
only. having the freedom Of the town
streets and working under absolutely /
no guard on sheriff Steeies truck |
patch on the outskirts OF the town.
In describing the condition Of the jail, |
the Ledger says;
The building Is Insecure and the
bricks are crumbMng There are no cells.
Through rotting window frames. i'm
nocent OF a single pane OF glass, the
rain and snow blow in upon such pris-
oners as happen to be IN the iail. There
are several who are prisoners In name
only and It was the actions OF these
that called forth the rebuke from the
bench.
Thrown together in four dirty rooms.
twenty-one prisoners. some of them
convicted murderers, others serving
short terms for petty crimes, some
black. some white. spend their days
The prisoners. dressed I'm rags, cook
their own meals from raw food given
TO them by the sheriff.
Murderers Allowed Freedom.
Not only have convicted murderers
been allowed the freedom Of the jail,
been appointed 'wardens' and allowed
to leave. without guard, the institution
to which they were committed for life
by the Court. but those less fortunate
In securing the ieniency OF their keep
ers are forced 10 live In shambles.
When your correspondent called yes
terday the sheriff was away, His dep
uty. Charles n. Purnen, volunteered 10
show the way through the place.
Outside the gate which leads into the
court yard three negroes and a young
white man were gathered. one OF them
lhad shoeshining OUTFIT, and sung out
/ l"shine. boss7" They were all prison
ers, the deputy explained.
"Oh. no. they won't go away. We
2
ltnucd.
I one OF the negroes. al Palmer. WI,
! is serving six months for a shooting az
fray at Lewes was given the keys and
opened the gate. Inside was a rooms
I court surrounded by a l2-foot brick
wall. Up one side the wall extends d
large crack which looks as though II
would soon cause collapse. In one
angle OF the wall a barrel rested. An
other was nearby. If placed one upon
the other a man standing on top could
reach the top OF the wall with hi.
b hands.
Prisoners Cook Their Own Food.
= To the right on entering is the jail
kitchen. In Il were four negroes. sit.
ting about on boxes. watching th'
cooking operations. one, the cook, had
his sleeves rolled up. The prisoners ir
Sussex county Jail always cook theii
own food.
> Across the hall from the kitchen othe'
) negroes were loiling about on two beds
: The bed clothing was IN smelling, an'
needed washing. A worn pack of card
showed in what manner much of tn
I prisoners time is spent.
Razors in Dangerous Hands.
John Jones. mulatto youth, VIII
some time ago made a desperate at
tempt to escape from the Georgetowi
"iockup" by setting fire TO the build
y ing. and almost cremating himself. wa
a stropping a razor. He Is the prisol
n barber, and Is allowed to keep as man.
a razors as he likes or can afford.
'e Sick Man Without Attention.
q Across the dingy hallway IN tn
fourth room negro lay III upon bec
He was emaciated, and appeared to b
Is in agony. IN a weak voice he aske
E. the deputy. why. IN heavens name
D. don't you send a doctor2'
he The sick man said his name wa
ig Charles Hill. and that he had been {
d. four weeks. At rare intervals ply
he sician visited him, but failed TO reliev
Us his suffering he said.
There are now no women prisoner
in the Jail. II Is a rare occasion for
Z woman to be sentenced In this count,
{ Therefore. there is but small accommc
dation for the sex.
" No wood was I'm the prison yard an
several prisoners said they frequentl
suffered from cold Fuel and clothC
We are furnished by the county. The pris
e. oners do not complain about the far
r. Potatoes. turnips. soup and bread al
ig the staple foods.
Of In Sussex county jail there are no
ct twenty-one prisoners. Before the lai
re term Of court thirty prisoners were cor
\. fined there. Then they slept four I'm
so bed. Some preferred the floor.
is In the workhouse OF New Cast
county the daily cost OF feeding OF
prisoner is Z cents. The Levy Court
Sussex county allows the sheriff
cents day for the food of each pri
ne oner. and asks for no accounting
al the money expended in food. Add
ne tional money is paid from the couni
h treasury for clothes and fuel for Il
a. prisoners.
he The monthly average number OF pri
oners confined I'm Georgetown Jail
about twenty.
At cents per head the yearly cost
or feeding twenty prisoners is S5i1. At
800 cents per head, allowed by the Le'
ne Court. the amount turned over to Il
10. sheriff is s21s0. Some OF the food-ve
m. etables. meat and some grain-is sa
to be raised on the sheriff's farm.
some of the prisoners actually help
grow the food they consume.
The sheriff and his deputy do n
h, favor any possible movement whi
SN would lead to a change Of the jail 81
az tenn In Sussex county.
~"
riy Look az your market basket, then