The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-11-12
GRAND JURY
AND HOUSE, OF
DETENTION
County Supervisor. Director
and Sheriff Quizzed on
Conditions
FREEHOLDERS WILLING
FREEHOLDERS WILLING
Question of Finances Only One
Affecting Procedure With
Work. Sheriff Describes Con-
diti0nS at Jail.-W Witnesses
Have Little Liberty.

Members OF the Grand Jury were
surprised yesterday afternoon by testi-
mony given by Sheriff Frank H. Som
mer in reference to the system at the
county Jail for the detention of wit
nesses. County Supervisor John r. OF
terbein and Director Michael Barry, of
the Board of Freeholders, were also
called, and at the conclusion of the
hearing, it is understood, the members
of the jury were unanimous in deciding
that a house of detention for witnesses
Is most necessary.
This need has been recognized for a
long time and interest in it has been
revived by the Sheriff, through whose
efforts parts of the jail, which were of
no use to the county, were utilized as
witness rooms. thus doing ava with
the practise in vogue of keeping wit
nesses in cells.
Several grand juries in presentments
recommended that the county secure a
suitable building or a site to erect a
place in which the witnesses might be
detained, but nothing was ever done.
1t is understood that the present jury
will use some strong language in urg-
ing the erection of a proper place for
witnesses.
The sheriff showed that girls of ten
der age had to be placed with women
and boys and men. He pointed out that
it was absolutely impossible to sep
arate the various classes of witnesses,
and intimated that the responsibility
of the moral change in many persons
from good to bad and bad to worse
rested on county officials.
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set aside for the women, and that they
were not permitted to leave them. Pre-
viously the witness were allowed the
use of the corridors to exercise, as well
as the jail yard, but that system inter
fered with the ends of Justice and had to
be abolished, as witnesses were found con-
verslng with the prisoners against whom
they were held to testify. Occasionally,
when called on to testify they would deny
statements which they had previously
made to officers Of the law.
AS fol the male witnesses. there was
one large dormitory, and two small rooms,
and another recreation room. Like the
women. the men anu boys were compelled
10 remain N there rooms Ia e n
bathroom equipped with howers and
tubs. A keeper had to remain In close
touch with 10th witness rooms at times
owing TO the character Of the witnesses.
There are accommodations for about
thirty witnesses. At the present time
there are ten male and eight female wit
nesses, which Is unusually small.
TIL Sheriff was oloseted with the jury
for some time, and as usual was reticent
when questioned as to his mission behind
the double oak doors. Mr.. Barry and
Supervisor Otterbein were both questioned.
It Is said, with reference to the means
and advisabllity of securing a house of de-
tentlon. Both officials readily agreed that
1t was improper to conflne witnesses in
the same building with law breakers, and
said they were willing TO build IL the
financial means could be gotten.
Its little less than a crime, md a seri-
Gus one, at that, to conflne witnesses and
people of good character in the county