The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-12-22

Out are aWalClnR an inquest, tnaL our
county commissioners have frequently
refused to pay the 40c for keeping
them.
Now, this grand jury having investi-
gated this institution very carefully
and interviewed the matron, Mrs.
Thomas. who is certainly deserving of
great commentator for the most
creditable way in which she has per
formed her dual duty for the women
OF the Home of the Friendless for
$4,000 a month. and being deputy
sheriff without the authority of depu-
ty sheriff for the county for nothing,
desires to say that we consider it a
disgrace and a shame that such con-
dition Is allowed to exist. There is
absolutely no reason in law or justice
for these conditions to be as they are.
The women prisoners of Wayne coun-
ty have absolutely just as much right
to care and attention as the men pris-
Oners OF Wayne county. Why this
condition exists we can attribute to
no reason except that the people Of
Wayne county do not understand that
this institution is the woman's Jail
OF Wayne county. and as such
is entitled to it's just portion of the tax
es for it's maintenance, and the insane
women are just as legally and justly
entitled to proper care as the insane
men. and while we desire to commend
our board of county commissioners for
taking the step that should have been
taken years ago in securing proper and
suitable rooms for our insane men, we
must emphatically declare that just as
strong reasons exist for doing some
thing to relieve the unsatisfactory
conditions as they pertain to our wo-
men prisoners and insane women. If
1t were within our power we would de-
mand some immediate action to make
conditions better and provide for a
we must content ourselves by making
very urgent recommendation to our
county commissioners that the larger
cell in the old portion of the women's
Jail be partitioned off into three cells
SO as to accommodate three insane
women and in addition to the one cell
already located there: also that they
should supply the Jail with the neces-
sary restraining apparatus SO that the
one in authority may take care of
these violent cases in the proper man.
ner We also vi gently recommend
that provisions be made Immediately
by appointing the matron of the Home
of the Friendless a deputy to the sher-
if of the county, or giving her the au-
thority and paying her wages COM
mensurate with her duties of caring
for the insane women.
We understand that Mrs. Thomas is
considering taking the stand that she
will refuse to receive any insane wo-
men. If she would do this, and under
present conditions she, we believe is
entirely justified in doing 1T. the coun.
ty will be absolutely without any pro.
vision to take care of this class Of un-
fortunates. Further, we recommend
that suitable restraining apparatus be
supplied for caring for the violently
insane, partitions be placed in the
large cell in the old part of the build.
ing. making three cells out Of the one
for the insane, and giving the present
matron the authority and the compen.
sation chat will justify her in secur.
ing sufficient help to take care of these
prisoners.
We believe that any fair minded tax.
payer of Wayne county visiting this
institution will agree with us that our
recommendations are exceedingly
mild in view of the needs.
On the same afternoon we visited
the county Jail, where the male pris.
oners of Wayne county are incarcerat.
ed. and found the conditions there
very satisfactory. The Jail and cells
within seemed to be kept clean, but
we believe that there is sad need of
ventilation in the cells which may be
remedied by having an air shaft SO
placed as to afford ventilation, and
also we believe 1t is due the sheriff
and his deputy that greater protec-
ton be given them in entering and
leaving the Jail proper That vesti-
bule door should be provided so that
they might step into this and close the
door back of them before opening
the inner door and entering the main
corridor of the Jail. AS it is now as
the door opens it affords the tempta.
ton to the desperate prisoners to
strike down the sheriff or his deputy
and gaining his freedom. and we re.
commend that this change be made
We were very much pleased with
the new insane ward for the mems
Jail and believe that the taxpayers
of Wayne county will join us in say.
ing that the money expended for this
much needed improvement has been
justly and we'll expended
We next inspected the county in.
| Urinary and found the same to be
clean and generally speaking in good
,, condition. The food served to the in
mates seems to be ample. wholesome
and we'll prepared and the general
management of the institution is to be
commended
In conclusion. we wish to express
our appreciation of the efforts OF
Judge Henry c. Fox. the board OF
county commissioners and the coun
ty council in providing a separate de
partment in the county Jail for the