The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-12-22
REPORT MADE
BY THE JURY
ON ITS WORK
Better Care of Insane Wom-
en- at the Women's Jail Is
Strongly Recommended to
the County Board.
Continued from Page One.)

Continued from Page One.)
with, and we wish to say before going
into details as to the conditions in
this institution that the members OF
the jury were wholly misinformed as
to the relation of this institution to
the county, and we are of the opin.
ion that a very small per cent of the
tax payers OF Wayne county realize the
true status of affairs in this institu
lion.
The Home OF the Friendless Is a
wholly charitable institution in it's pur-
pose and organization. managed
through the assistance Of charitably
inclined persons who may become
members of the association by paying
800 dues per annum. This entities
the member to vote for board OF trus-
tees consisting of nine men, which
board of trustees elect board of fiji
teen ladies' who have direct control OF
tho institution. and hire a matron.
This institution Is open to women who
are unfortunate and are compelled to
have temporary home, or women
who are destitute and homeless, or
persons being financially able to pay
for their keeping in this institution not
desiring to be taken to other institu-
itions for reasons of their own. The
primary purpose of this is certainly
aaudable and should commend itself
TO the good people OF Wayne county.
while the building Ia an old structure
built Of brick 1t Is reasonably COM
i1ortable and fairly we'll ventilated. Its
furnishings are sufficient for it's needs
and altogether it affords very COM
,fortable home for those persons who
Iare compelled to seek refuge there.
This institution Is not owned, con-
ltrolled or operated by the county. 1t
he entirely a separate institution and
under no obligation in the least to
receive or care for the prisoners of
Wayne county.
In the administration of the affairs
Of the county our courts find persons.
or misdemeanors for which they
must necessarily sentence them un-
der the laws of our state. For the
imprisonment and care Of the male
portion Of our county prisoners a
large brick. structure consisting of
fairly decent prison walls. including
cells and corridors. is provided in
which these male prisoners may be in.
,carcerated. and in connection dwell
ing Herewith for the sheriff and his
family. He has in his employ wo-
man to cook for the inmates, and the
turnkey. as we understand it. has care
of the insane, besides the sheriff and
hia deputy to take care of and over
see the male prisoners and care for
the unfortunate insane that may have
TO be imprisoned there while awaiting
admission to the hospital. This much
for the Imprisoned of the male prison
Sors from our local courts.
Now we will inquire into the facts
,as to what becomes Of the female
prisoners from these same courts. In
order to care for them the county COM
Imissioners have supplied a small struc-
kure built just in the rear Of the above
mentioned Home of the Friendless
This structure encloses six cells in
which women prisoners may be confin.
I'D. which part has been built within
the last six years. The old portion Of
this brick structure located just north
OF the corridor OF the new part. con.
Sists OF one large cell and one small
cell. and these eight cells constitute
the whole arrangement for caring for
the female prisoners of our county
There IL no turnkey. no guardian for
the insane. no attendant. absolutely
no person paid COR by the county to as
Sist in caring for the women prison
ers and the insane women. The mat
ron Of the Home Of the Friendless is
paid for her services by the associa-
ton that keeps up the home-$36O 90
. year. This association receives for
boarding women prisoners committed
70 this institution 4Oc day. which mo-
uey Ia put into the general fund of the
association and aids in the upkeep Of
the institution. The court has not
been paying one penny to the matron
Tor her extra work in caring for the
Oick and insane, and We are told hat
many cases Of violently insane women
have been imprisoned here. likewise
many cases Of women suffering with
delerium tremens. with no one in au.
thority except the matron with the as
distance OF hired cook who Is paid
$500 per week for cooking and serving
the meals. The institution is furnish.
ed with no straight jackets. or restrain
ing apparatus, and no arrangements
OF any kind to assist the matron in car
ing for the dangerously insane
At the present time q much needed
and commodius insane ward is being
added to the mems county Jail. While
at the time Of our visit to the Jail
there was not an insane man impris-
oned there. and at the time of our
visit to the women's Jail in the coun.
~ there were two insane women
there and We are told that there is
usually from three to six insane wo-
men. and We would respectfully call
the attention OF the court and of the
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