The Washington herald., 1908-09-02
WANTS THAW MOVED
Prison Commissioner Says
Conditions Not Right.
SHERIFF ct A DISADVANTAGE
Has No Room for Prisoner Except in
Corridor aH Large ns Third of POuGh-
keepsfe Jail. and This Causes Dis
crfmfBRtiOn that Has Bad Effect.
Report says, After Investigation.

Albany. y Y. Sept. Harry X.
Thaw-s further detention in the Duchess
County Jail at PouEhkeepsie, awaiting The
outcome OF litigation. IS condemned Wig
or0USIy in a report made to the State
prison commission to-day by Secretary
George Mclaughlin. Of the commission.
in connection with his observations made
IN an inspection Of the 5au on August
2 last
after noting that Thaw's detention IN
tee jail has already eOteuded over a Pc
nod Of several months and promises to
be InteTminal. the report 70 the State com
mission, which was received and ap-
proved by that body. says:
His presence in this prison is embar-
raising 20 the sheriff and Objectionable on
many accounts The sheriff has no room
for him. except the padded cell Even
this he needs for temporary uses. and II
would be an entirely unfit place N which
10 confne a man for months
Having been adjudged Insane. with
houicsdsl tendencies. the sheriff would
not be justified n couiuiug him with the
other prisoners. he cannot keep him in
the quarters intended for boys. To do so
would compel him 20 keep the boys with
the adult prisoners. which the law for
bids. He cannot keep him IN the hos
pi.aI room. for two reasons-first- It IS
not sufficiently secure. and, second, It
cannot be spared for the permanent Oc-
cupancy OF Nfr. Thaw.
The result Is that the sheriff has TO
give him an entire corridor. with the thir-
teen adjacent cells in the principal Jail
for men. he needs this room for his
other prisoners. He consumes a large
amount Of the time OF the 5ailer IN escort
ing him 10 Ftshkiu Landing, White
Plains. and other places 70 attend hear
iags before the court and before referees
There is q good deal Of public talk
that some Of these hearings are on fake
suits. instituted by his friends 10 give
him these outings. The Jail is not the
proper place for the confinement Of a
lunatic His presence demoralIzes the
discipline OF the institution
He sleeps IN the corridor, not IN the
cell. He has all the fixtures and para
phernalia Of q business Office He orders
his food from the hotel. which has to
he brought 10 him three times a day.
| SHly. people send him bouquets Of flow
erS He IS allowed the use Of a whole
corridor. constituting one quarter OF the
entire principal jail for men. while the
other prisoners are crowded. two IN 8
| cell frequently. All these things are
under the observation OF the other pris-
oners. and creates dissatisfaction and the
belief that men With money constitute
| a separate class in prison. These things
! produce an ugly feeling OF discomfort and
| rebellion among the other prisoners
IT would seem that a person who had
| been adjudged insane. but who IS con
| Quoting proceedings for his discharge or
| the ground Of recovery, should be de
/ tained in an institution where he would
/ be under the observation Of experts whC
| could advise the court Of his changed
mental condition II 1t has occurred Thi:
| commission should protest against III,
| further continuance OF Mr.. Thaw IN jan