The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-17
Grand Jury Brings in is Report
Covering Investigation OF
80 Witnesses and County
Institutions.
ARRESTS WILL BE MADE
BY THE SHERIFF TODAY
District WorkhouSe is Recon-
mended and Mrs. Simcoke
is Exonerated of the Charge
of Murder.
SU NJ NJ a r r

sum MARY Found sanitary con-
ditions in county Jail bad; recon-
mended separation of insane persons
from prisoners within the Jail; repair
of fuel shed, tool house and the re-
building of the kitchen at the county
infirmary, also that institution be
made partly self supporting if posi-
BILE; favors the building of a district
workhouse that prisoners may be
kept at regular employment; declares
killing of Edward Reed by Mrs. Sim
coe justifiabIe homicide; examined
30 witnesses and returned 13 indict-
mcnts.
The grand jury late yesterday after
noon submitted it's report to Judge
Fox of the circuit court. 1t was rath-
er a voluminous document, dealing
very thoroughly with the various mat
ters that have been brought to the at
tenticn of that body since it has been
in session. The report opens with
the statement that no complaints have
been made 70 the jury of any willful
any of the officers of the county, and
no charge of extortion has been made
against any such officers.
In speaking of visit to the Jail on
Jan z. the report says that the slate
roof of this building demands immedi
ate attention and repair, as it is leak
ing in several places, and each day it's
condition is becoming worse.
Confinement of Insane.
The jury states that it has been adj
vised that previous grand juries have,
without avail, recommended some
suitable arrangement for the proper
care of the unfortunate insane, who
are temporarily placed in the JAIL
"The placing of such men," says the
report. within such Enclosures and sub
jecting them to the observation, COM
panionship and ridicule of prisoners
within the Jail, and requiring these in
sane, frequently dangerous and inca
pable of attending to themselves to be
dependent upon the chance kindness
of prisoners, and petty ones at that,
III not barbarouS, is at least most un-
timely and in no wise supported by
modern ideas. But just what should
be done must come from a higher
source than grand jury, and we re-
spectfully submit and suggest it to be
a matter for sincere consideration on
the part of the court, the county COM
missioners, and persons best qualified
to know. AS the jury understands it,
the law provides two separate and dis
tinct methods by which dangerously
insane NAV be temporarily confined in
county jails, and except in rare in
stances no steps have been taken un-
der these laws to so commit them. /
Drainage at the Jail.
The jury finds the condition of the /
county Jail in the matter of drainage /
most dangerous and disgraceful This 4
Is due to the fact that the washings
and scrubbings of the floor of the Jail 4
are through convenient holes in the /
floor. turned into the cellar, and be- /
fore reaching there, permitted to run
over the cellar ceiling, the piping. and |
the walls. leaving its sediment along |
the way Reference is also made to |
the dangerous and obsolete method |
employed in getting to the woman's |
department to which former grand |
juries have called attention. In con- |
nection with this matter the jury |
states that no criticism of the officers I
in charge OF the Jail is intended, but |
rather of the county which permits !
such a condition to exist
Visit to Poor Farm.
The jury visited the county poor
farm on Jan. IL. Three things came |
within its observation, demanding i'm
mediate attention on the part of the |
authorities First, the raising and re-
pair of the fuel shed, now so located |
and arranged that for long seasons in
each year the floors are in such con-
dition as 10 not only cause waste. but /
bring on the rapid deterioration of the
building Ii was recommended that
proper wood floors be placed in the inn
plement and tool house in which is
stored the farming implements used |
on this farm. The same are SO locat
ed that the floors are always damp
tools and implements rust and dete
riorate much more rapidly even dur
ing storage than when in use. In the /
woman's building one of the rooms
of which is used for inmates dining
hall and kitchen needs complete re-
building. This is deemed necessary
as a matter of economy. not TO men
ton the matter of health The jury
believes that by expending a small
sum, this building can be extended
some twenty feet TO the north, and on
the first floor kitchen provided en-