The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-08-08
inspection Trip Made Follow
ing Discussion of Project in
Which Views Ware Inter-
changed.
LETTER FROM BUTLER
UPON CARE FOR INSANE
Subject of Removing Women
Prisoners From Home for
FriendIess Jail Caused Dif-
ference.

TIICItuICoS JdII OduSCu III.
ference.
The county officials including the
commissioners and the council are
willing to entertain the subject of
erecting an addition to the county jail
1t will be intended for the care of the
insane, both men and women and the
detention of Juveniles This decision
is evident from their attitude express
ed yesterday afternoon following the
conference of the board of charities
and officials. 1t was decided to hold a
public meeting Wednesday afternoon
at the court house at 2:30 o'clock
Amos w. Butler. Of Indianapolis, Sec
retary of the state board of charities
and DR.. S. e. Smith. superintendent
Of the Eastern Indiana Hospital for
the Insane will be invited to be pre-.
sent and address the officials and pub
lie on the subject. The question must
be settled in the next 80 days, as the
commissioners must make up their list
of appropriations to be asked of the
council in this length of time in order
that the county council may appropri-
ate the money and comply with the
law.
Mis- Franciss Robinson and Mrs.
James Beeson representing the chari-
ties board, C. E. Wiley president Rob-
RanSnn irI
county commissioners Walter Commons
chairman of the county council and
Linus P. Meredith. sheriff, discussed
the question of the new addition to
the jail for the care of the county's
insane at some length The parties
met in the commissioners room in the
court house where Miss Robinson
read in letter from Amos Butler,
state secretary of the charities board
In which he reviews the question of
counties carry for their insane
when they could not be admitted to
state hospital for treatment.
Letter From Secretary Butler
Mr.. Butler favored the placing of
the insane ward at the county infirm-
ary, west of the city. He says thesto-
cation is ideal. He mentioned a
number of other counties which care
for their insane in this maner. His
letter was very lengthy and covered
the subject thoroughly.
However, Mr.. Buffers views are not
shared by the local officials They
believe that the addition should be
erected on county property adjoining
the Jail. This location is favored be-
cause the state law provides that the
insane of county, until their admit
tance to state institution shall be
under the surveillance of the sheriff.
The sheriff lives in the Jail and there
fore would be on the spot and could
give personal attention to the question
without investing the care Of the pa
tients to an assistant
No Site Is Proposed.
The question of a site has not been
settled upon officially. In fact the Of
ficials gave the impression yesterday
that their decisions will depend large
ly on what DR.. Smith and Mr.. Butler
advise on the subject.
The county commissioners have not
as yet asked an architect to figure on
the addition but c. E. Wiley speaking
for the board believes that an appro-
priation of from $1,000 to $4,000 will be
necessary to erect and satisfactorily
equip the ward.
A difference of opinion exists be-
tween the county officials and two
members of the board Of charities pr,-
sent at yesterdays conference. The
officials are unanimous that tn
new ward should include department
for both women insane and prisoners.
This would do away with the Jail at
the Home for Friendfass. All were
unanimous that he addition should
include a detention ward for the ju-
veniles found guilty of delinquency.
Residents Make Protest.
The county officials say that the
residents on South Tenth street. near
the Home for Friendless are anxious
that it be removed and will be up in
arms If ever new jail or addition is
made which does not include a wo-
mems department. Walter Commons
of the county council said that the wo-
mems Institution Was unweildly and
hard 40 manage and very unsatisfac-
torySheriff Meredith speaking both
from a personal standpoint and also
from what he believes his successor
will wish slater that he wanted the
women confined near the county Jail.
It is very unsatisfactory for the Off
Ger to have to go to the Home for
Friendless to attend to his duties as
required by law.
Speal<s for Home Jail.
Miss Robinson in defense of the in
stitution said that the various charity
boards though the best way was to
confine the men and women insane
and prisoners in sseerate buildings.