Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1910-11-14
THAT old COUNTY JAIL
To Be Subject OF Discussion AT
State Conference Of Chari-
ties And Corrections
MORE THAN A CENTURY OLD
Prison Here Furnishes Contrast To
Modern Penal Methods


to provide the opportunity for the
public discussion of problems related
to the conduct of philanthropic ac-
tivities, the treatment of various
classes of people who are unable
alone to cope with living conditions
as they are and related also to need
ed State legislation on charitable,
correction and public health lines.
The program includes an address
on present Jail Conditions in Mary
land" to be followed by an address
by Frederick II. Wines, statistician.
Board of Administration of Chart.
able Institutions of Illinois, on PRO
posed Remedies for Present Jail Con-
ditions'"
OF special interest will be the dis
cussion of the Annapolis Jail. This
institution is in charge of Warden
George L. Warfield. 1t is located in
part of Annapolis occupied by the
negro element and is about four
blocks from the Court House. The
building is of brick, part of it new
and part old-very old. In the old
part the walls, although about TWEEN
ty-four inches thick, are so disinte-
grated that the bricks fall to dust
when scratched.
There are no available records to
indicate even the approximate date
when the house was built, and it was
evidently not built for a Jail. Yet
there is record of its having been
used as such as far back as 1736-174
years ago. The structure is sup
posed to have been put up originally
for a slave market, with pens for the
slaves. The walls are settling and
the doors are not plumb. Numerous
iron rods, extending from side to
side along the floors, hold the build
ing together.
The rear wing is of modern con-
struction, but built to conform to the
ancient plans of the original. The
jail is three stories high. the first
floor being used for female prison
ers, the second for colored males and
the third for white males. The old
part is divided into large rooms of
about five on each floor, evidently in
tended for congregate confinement.
These rooms are now used for kitch-
en-, storeroom, eating room and bed
rooms Cor the warden and assistant
others may be used for cells in emer-
gency.
On the third floor is the hospital, "
seldom used. In case of illness of
prisoners, however, two physicians
are employed by the year to attend
the sick. At present the physicians
are "on strike" There are two pris-
oners, believed to be insane, who,
when their cases are formally passed
upon, will be sent to an asylum.
The physicians refuse to act because
the fee has been cut from $40 to SIS
for making the diagnosis. The pris-
oners will be held in Jail until the
"strike" IS settled.
The new wing of the Jail is d.
vided into twelve cells, four on each
floor, opening on a well-lighted cor
ridor. Prisoners not violent are al
lowed the privilege of the corridor
during the day. The cells have iron
beds, mattresses and blankets. The
blankets are washed two or three
times year. The Jail is lighted by
electricity. Stoves heat the old
building; the new wing has furnace
heat. There are no facilities for san
itation, and no provision is made
against the possibility of fire. In one
of the larger cells are suggestive
looking huge iron rings fastened to
staples in the floor. These are regu-
larly used for Furnishing refractory
prisoners. The gallows for hanging
condemned murderers is inside the
Jail. The average number of prison
ers through the year is about twenty.
Nearly all are negroes.
The prisoners receive two meals a
day, of substantial food, and them.
selves say they grow fat on their
menu of corn bread, molasses and
coffee, meat and vegetables. Any
prisoner may send out for meals il
be can afford to do so. There are
two sessions of court in the year
April and October. Detained wit.
nesses and committed prisoners in
default of bond are held at the ex,
pense of the county until court con-
venes. This is manifest Injustice
on possibly innocent prisoners.
The case of one man in this jail &C.
cused of petty larceny is related.
Two strangers were his accusers, and
they did not appear before the mag
istrate. but wrote letter. In case
the prosecuting witnesses are not
found the prisoner must expiate the
crime, whether guilty or innocent.
Detained witnesses, however, are
paid 81 day. Under the admins
tration of former Sheriff Linthicum
the male prisoners did valuable
work in keeping roads in good re-
pair. But little of this work il
done under the present Sherff's ad
ministration. Religious exercise!
are held Sundays in the Jail.
The fee system does not obtain IL
Anne Arundel. All expenses are
charged to the county. The Sheriff
receives $4,000 a year salary ant
So, 900 to pay deputies salaries.
There is no suitable yard for allow
ing prisoners to exercise. The win
dows are barred, but face entirely Oh
the street, so that prisoners make
practice of obtaining tobacco, whicl
is prohibited in the jail, matches an,
other articles from their friends b
means Of strings. Poison or pistol
could a. easily be secured.