Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-01-16
A DISGRACE TO THE CITY.


On several occasions during the
pas. three or four years this paper
has commented upon conditions at
the city police station-that part OF
OF the station popularity known as
the Jug" in which persons arrest
ed for crimes or misdemeanors are
confined pending a hearing in the
police court. The public has been
told that conditions in this place are
not what they should be end that
common humanity demands change,
but for some reason or other. Meth
err the public, the council nor the
police board has evinced any particu-
lar interest In the matter. Conse-
aueutly, the Jug" practically Is what
II was five years ago. Perhaps 1t
is. kept cleaner now than II was some
years ago, and probably as q lookup
in which to confine prisoners for a
few hours 1t will pass, but as prison
in which TO keep human beings
throughout day and over night. II is
intolerable.
In spite OF the details concerning
this Jug" which have been publish
ed in the newspapers from time to
time. nine tenths OF the people prob
ably do not understand Just what the
place Is and what 1t is used for
"The jug" occupies the rear base
ment of the city hall, the outside door
opening upon the hall OF the police
station proper. II contains one large
room. en- one side of which are To-
Gated cells for women and on the
other cells for men. In the large
room are placed NAL fsoners OF
all ages, sizes and ,Iors charged
with minor offences, while men ac-
cused of felonies are put in separate
cells. On the women's side there
is large cell in which are put all
prisoners accused OF misdemcsuors,
while there are several separate cells
cOI lut VI ACAHo%'e hNt~.
for felonies or whom the officers de
sire to incarcerate separately for
csner reasons. The flooring of all
these compartments is OF concrete,
the walls OF brick and the ceiling OF
steel. The furniture" in the general
room for male prisoners consists OF
one OF two wooden benches. The
women's quarters are furnished" In
the same way. The cells for men are
guiitiess even Of benches
In this place prisoners arrested 81
any time after the adjournment Ct
the police court. which usually takes
place about II O'Clock in the morn
ing. all persons arrested by the
police department are locked up &c
remain until the police justice sits
AZ O'Clock the following day. unIes:
they sse able to furnish bail A man
woman or child arrested for any Sor'
OF offence and unable to furnish Sc
curity for appearance in the polic'
court. Is compelled TO sDend the nigh
in the Jug without privacy. viii
nothing but a wooden beach or I
concrete floor 10 sleep upon and. no
in:requently. with q bedlsm Of noise
N the place. II prisoner j. M o
suffering from an injury. he or sh'
fares no better Than the rest !
bcre bench. OF .: al the benchel
happen to be occupied. the concret
floor. y the best bed the station keep
or can ofer. Unless u has bcei
provided very recently. there Is no
- much a. . sinEie blanket a. To
station Cor use 81 prisoner Nh
plight sursr for want o. some kin
Of covering
Because most of the persons Nh
zre 80 unfortunate ~ IN have Z
<p<a< : asrhs m he Jug bsioEg ;
VIZ boz rlass d humanity. fhcs