Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-09-21
SCA1HlNG REPORT
Grand Jury Gets Right after the
County Jail.
Likens the 1nstitution 70 q Russian
Prison ana Declares Thit II II Ut.
terly Unft for It's Purpose
sinny Indictments Found.

The repor. of the grand jury which
has been in session since county court
opened September was made
Friday afternoon and IL was unusual
to a great degree. The number of true
bills found was abnormally large and
the report of the condition of the Jail
was so scathing that 1t cannot fail to
arouse the people of the county to &C
ton. The grand jury found Is true
bills and six were not found. The large
number of true bills is accounted for
by the fact that States Attorney sher.
man was directed by Acknowledgement
G. c. Fits to bring all persons charged
with felony before the grand Jury rath-
or than to file informations against
them.
Those indicted who are under arrest
are as folows Jerome Demars for
larceny; Louis Shelley for larceny;
Reuben Bragg for larceny; Grover
Schoffer for breach of the peace; and
William Cuyler for larceny.
The report of the jury on things in
the county was as follows:
We have inquired about the man.
agement of the United States deposit
money by the different towns in this
county and believe that the require
ments of tho Vermont Statutes in re-
gard to the same are fully compiled
with. The income from said moneys,
with the interest on the Huntington
fund. rent from school lands, the money
received from the state school tax and
not less than 20 per cent. OF the grand
list is used for school purposes in all
towns.
We have heard no complaint in re-
gard to the failure Of 'he towns to
keep the roads in proper repair.
We believe that the cemeteries are
we'll fenced and properly cared for in
the various towns.
The county court house is in good
condition but it is our opinion that the
grand jury room should be upon the
ground floor as it is extremely hard for
feeble or aged people, be they Jurors
or witnesses. to ascend to the third
floor for attendance on the grand jury.
We have subpcenaed witnesses and
inquired diligently if any bucket
shops" exist in the county bu' found
none
We have examined the county Jail and
found 1t in d shameful condition. The
men $ department consists of the cage in
which are ten cells, in each of which are
two narrow hammock beds one above tho
other. These cells are surrounded by an
open corridor. To-day it is occupied by
"a male prisoners-20 single beds for "a
men. Our sh, riff tells us that he has had
as many as 50 men at one time. Tho
women's department. which is upstairs.
consists of five cells. and in that part we
found as occupants two women and three
men. We found the Jail fairly clean but
the atmosphere, especially in the mems
part. was foul and nauseating. In this 10
cell Jail as many as IS prisoners have been
confined at one time. There is no con-
venience for the sick. who with thosd
young IN the school of crime or those
charged with minor offenses and those
arrested upon civil process are herdcd
with tho hardened and vicious.
The Jail is so arranged that the sheriff
and his family ofnnot escape from all
the vile conversation and noises peculiar
to such an institution. Some of us have
read about how badly prisoners are
treated in Russia and Siberia but We
think that sympathy for misused prison.
ers may we'll begin at home, right in Chit
tcnden county, VT. We cannot tnd words
severe enough to describe the condition
found, but wish to condemn the building.
which is utterly unfit for such purpose.
II. II. WHEELER, Foreman.