The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-08-21
REPORT ON ELKToN JAIL.
Institution Declared To Be Un-
sanitary and Inadequate BY
Secretary OF Prisoners Aid
Society.

y
of the Prisoners Aid Association, who
recently made an inspection of the Elk
ton Jail, thus reports to the chairman of
the committee on county work:
'sThe inmates of the jail are not in
structed in any labor, not compelled to
work for their maintenance, nor afford
ed the opportunity of earning for those
dependent upon them. In the jail in
closure they are given entire freedom
during the day time, and amuse them
selves by quarreling, sometimes fighting,
playing ball and such conversation as
would be common to this class of de-
linquents.
The Sheriff of the county acts as ward
en-. Entrance to the Jail is through the
warden's residence, and it,was noted that
the apartments of the warden were un-
usually we'll kept and we'll adapted to the
purpose of a comfortable home. The Jail
structure is in the rear of the warden's
residences solid granite structure about
so feet square and 80 feet high.
From the outside the physical appear
ance of this structure conveys favorable
impression, and it is perhaps this feature
that has lulled the people of Elkton into
perfect indifference apparently to the
unsanitary conditions and the unwhole-
some surroundings which make it one of
the most inadequate for its purpose of
any of the jails so far inspected by your
secretary.
There is no sewage drainage whatever
in any part of the jail inclosure. It is
stated that Elkton has refused permission
to the Commissioners to connect the
drainage from the jail with the sewers.
and both the administration of the jail
and the people of Elkton seem utterly
oblivious to the contaminating danger of
such practice, both to inmates and to the
town itself, forgetting that mosquitoes
and flies are not accustomed to wipe their
feet.
There are IS cells in the jail structure;
two are double cells about ~ by 16 feet,
the remainder about by feet. The
cells face on central corridors and the
corridors are we'll lighted. Each cell has
a window II inches wide and four feet
high. with one bar in each direction.
There are two small holes in the wall of
each cell, which are intended for venti-
latiou, and a register for heating.
Each cell is furnished with an iron bed.
The mattresses on these beds were very
much soiled and torn. The bed covering
was mainly double blanket, and these
blankets were unnecessarily dirty.
1t was noticed that two of the cells were
unusually clean and inviting, with decora-
tions that gave them 9 home.like ap.
pearance. This difference was due to |
the fact that each of the prisoners is sup.
posed to look after his own quarters, and |
the cleanliness of the cells was due to the |
of the inmates. While the |
responsibility of keeping the cells can be |
commended, yet at the same time the
administration of the Jail should insist
upon standard of cleanliness for each. |
There were IS inmates, all males-6
white and 9 colored-at the time of in
spection. Physically there is not much |
opportunity of separating successfully |
males and females, if the present freedom
is always allowed the inmates. Two are
awaiting trial,~and court does not con-
vene until September.
1t was discovered. very much to the
amazement of your secretary, that two of
The inmates had been in Jail for about II
years One of these is an insane negro
and seems to be staying in the Jail as a |
public charge. When your secretary
entered this man was Justify singing;
when he left the man had become in
rensed at some of his fellow prisoners and
was threatening then, with a piece of
brick in loud and vile language. No re-
ligious services of any nature are held.
Some little complaint was made that
The meat is at times tainted, but, on the
whole, the average dietary programme
for each day was sustaining and whole
some.
The Sheriff and Warden was very
courteous to your secretary, and gave him
leave to inspect the institution thor
oughly.
Talk with some Of the ministers and
Iaymen after the investigation showed
that they seemed surprised and shocked
over the conditions discovered, and
promised their cooperation in forming a |
county committee to bring about im
Wash goods for school dresses,
and all kinds of School Supplies at