Norwich bulletin., 1910-09-09

Stamped instantly as a last deSper- |
ate move to sway public opinion. with
a view to making political capital in
contest that is county wide and of par
amount local interest at this time, the
venomous attack ON and outrageous
attempt to discredit the management of
the Windham county jail at Brooklyn, |
which was reported in the state papers
of Thursday, was nevertheless start
Ter to the people of Killingly and sur
rounding towns. The published state
ments as to conditions at the Jail are
universally regarded in the eastern end
OF the county as gross exaggerationS.
They have been repudiated by the peo-
ple completely and absolutely; they
have been rejected in their entirety in
the belief that their faith in those who
have the affairs at the pail in charge
will be demonstrated as justified when
the investigation by the committee of
the state board of charities is complet-
ed. These statements are based on
opinions expressed Thursday by prom
fnent men resident in the towns Of
Killing1y, Brooklyn, Plainfield, Put
nam-towns in closer touch with Jail
matters than is that county township
from which a campaign of villification
has been conducted against the Off
Gals of the institution for a year past.
Alleged Conditions impossible.
That such a state of affairs as is al
legged exists at the Jail could be so
carefully concealed through a term of
years as to escape the attention of the
people of all the towns in the county
about Brooklyn is regarded as absurd.
The fact remains. however, that such
a discovery has presumably been made
at the western end of the county and,
opportunity, on the eve Of an election.
The motive for the discovery is, there
FORE obvious. It is the proper time for
discovering, and, incidentally, for pub
1icity. So much for the game.
Stands on His Record.
When asked Thursday if there was
any statement that he desired to make
relative to the charges that had been
so viciously made against him, Jailer
Albert Fields said that he would prefer
that anything given out relative to the
matter should come from Sheriff P. B.
SibIey Mr.. Fields did not display the
slightest Indication of the temper that
he is accredited with, when talking on
the subject. He did say. however and
with every sign of confidence, that he
would welcome the investigating com
mittee to the Jail, and that he would
as soon have the inspection begin at
once. The Jail is open at any time to
anyone desiring to visit it. While ad-
verse to talking in detail for publica-
ton, Mr.. Fields did not hesitate to
make it clear that there are days COM
ing when his side of the story will be
told in full He showed no trace of
bitterness in his remarks or any desire
to conceal facts as to conditions at the
institution.
Sheriff sibIey's Statement.
Sheriff Sibley gave out the following
statement in connection with the af-
fair:
To All Whom It May Concern
I notice in the issues Of the morning
papers Of Sept. 8th that D. E. Lyman
of Willimantic has filed with the state
board of charities a complaint asking
that a committee be appointed to in
vestigate the Windham county Jail, es-
pecially as to cruelty inflicted upon
prisoners by Jailer Field, and that DR..
E. A. Downs and Mrs. Frank A. Mitch
ell were appointed a committee to in
VesLgate
I am not aware OF any cruelties, but
If there are any I desire that the full
est investigation be made, not only as
to such cruelties, but as to any and al
of the acts of Jailer Fields. am will
ing to CO. operate with and assist the
committee in every way possible, and
have so notified them.
PRESTON b. SHELLEY,
Sheriff of Wind4lam County.
Danielson, Conn, Sept. S, 1910.
A Clean, Upright Citizen.
OF the hundreds of persons who have
come to know Jailer Fields since he
came to Brooklyn, it is doubtful if
even 1 per cent. of them has any faith
in the charges of cruelty and brutality
that have been made against him. Here
in Danielson. where he is q daily Wis
itor, his standing is that of a clean,
upright citizen of excellent moral char
acter. This standing is his also in all
those towns in the county where he is
intimately known. The attack upon him
is regarded as shameful.
Firmness Necessary.
That he is a. stern dtsciplinarian may
also be set down as a fact; but he is
not an inch a brute. A man who fills
his place must deal with a class that
are. as a rule. degraded, reckless, vic
fous and violent to a deeply tainted de-
gree. 1t is no uncommon thing for
them to rebel against the rules and
regulations that apply during their in
generation, no more than it is for them
to attempt to override authority given
to control them No weakling could
ever hope to successfully manage q
considerable proportion Of the prison
ers that come there. They are never
abused however, and if an occasional
one is severely dealt with, 1t is be-
cause he has merited such treatment
Every man Of them is given a square
deal. They are as well fed and cared
for as are prisoners in any Jail in this
state.
Charges Considered Unfair.
The charges preferred have, never
theless, created sensation because of
their manifest unfairness. The belief
is that the investigation will prove
them unfounded and result in bringing
an end to the TRADE that has been di-
rected against the management of the
institution.
SeIcctnen's Meeting.
The selectmen of the town Of Kill
fngly held their regular monthly meet
ing in their rooms IN the Town hall
building. Routine business was trans
acted. The meeting is one Of the last
to be held before the next annual town
meeting in October, at which time all
of the members OF the present board
viii be candidates for re- election.
: Spr aging Saves sElms
I That many OF the beautiful elns in
the borough Of Danfelson have been
saved from destruction by pests
through proper .spra wing lras been dem
onstrated The trees about the -era ded
school on School street are good exam
pies of what may be done with this
means of protection against the beetle.
Next Week Fair Week.
Next week will witness the opening
of the first Of the fairs in Windham
county, for four Of which arrange ments