The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1907-11-22
A NE W JAIL.


Portable as is possible, considering
the unsanitarv condition Of the Build
ing, but respectfully submit that the
iail is in inadequate, unsanitary and
unfit for occupancy, and recommend
necessary legislation looking to an
early erection Of new, comfortable
and up-to-date prison
The above extract from the report
of the late grand jury deserves care
full consideration by the taxpayers
of Hartford.
If this were the first time the
matter had come to the attention OF
the public we might safely say that
this body of men was over enthusias-
tic in their standard of required ex-
cellence for our public buildings, and
that the necessary expense would toll
low too rapidly upon thecourt house
Improvement. But scarcely a single
grand iuryfor many years has filed a
report without treating the subject in
substantially the above language.
Who constitute the grand jury, and
what are some of their duties:
Twenty-three men chosen by the
most critical selecting-power IN the
county, their special fitness for their
onerous work being the standard by
which they are selected.
Their duty, outside of conserVa-
tors of the peace, is with critical eye
to scan the public horizon and take
such action as may be desirable for
the betterment of the public. True
this may sometimes be best accom-
plished by words Of communication
where deserved, and this very jury
did not deal with a stinted hand in
this line; but their main duty is the
discovery and correction of wrong
and evil,-hence their inqulsitorlal
powers and the imposition of secrecy
upon their proceedings.
Since, then, the criminal and semi
criminal classes fall within their
especial scrutiny, we are compelled
to give ear to their findings as we
would not to any other set of men.
In considering this subject we
should look rather at the need to be
met than at the advertising value of
handsome public buildings. Wedonot
attach any Importance at this time
to the latter phase of the question.
We do not believe that an active
business along criminal lines is par
ticularly attractive to prospective
settlers, nor do we believe that the
depraved should be tempted by the
outward attractions of a Jail to SO
deport themselves as to secure
dwelling place therein.
\ jail should be secure, healthy,
and reasonably comfortable place
where those accused of crime may be
confined pending their trial.
/. Our Jail is not safe; frequent
Jail deliveries have occurred from
time to time, entailing upon the
County expense, scandal and the
dangers resulting from having Grim
inals at large. Sage, the bank-wreck-
er, and his colored associate furnish
ed the most conspicuous examples
in recent years; and the colored man,
who in his way was as bad as Sage,
never was re-captured.
.. 1t is not and could not be
healthy; it is not necessary to give
in detail the reasons for this state
ment,-once seen no one will pretend
to question its truth.
Apart from the dictates ofhumanity,
which are as rigid towards criminals
as any other class, not unfrequently
persons are confined in Jail for
months, who, when tried, demon
strate their innocence in open court,
but serious injustice has been done
them by the county during their con-
fncment in such Jail.
3. Not only does it follow from the
preceding that the building is not
comfortable, but from its construc-
ton it could not be: The method of
heating cells is crude and absolutely
Inadequate, while the windows are
such tiny openings that the cells are
little less than sweat boxes, and the
whole equipment is typical Of by
gone age. fit be true-and that it
is we have never heard questioned
that our Jail is SO untitled for its
purpose that no reason except that
of economy can be adduced for its
further retention, an unanswerable
argument is advanced why an en-
lightened people is unable to longer
sbirk the question ofbuilding a better
one.
CRITICISM