Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-20

ally. The TALLER and his family occupied
rooms in the west end.
The unfortunate debtors had the privi-
lege of going outside in the daytime, the
prison bounds being LIST. and III streets
northwest. and 1t is said that one OF them
took advantage of this privilege to marry
into the jailer's family. One day the
debtor happened to meet the daughter of
the jailer as she was shopping. and after
a few minutes conversation a marriage
license was secured and they were mar
ried. The debtor reported at the prison
with his wife before the day expired and
peace was made with the parents
Executions on Common.
Several executions took place from this
building. usually on the common north of
the square. Corporal punishment under
sentence of the court was administered
at the whipping post near the building.
and the lash was sometimes used on white
culprits. Runaway slaves were often sold
, at the door at public auction.
The grand jury reported often on the
inadequacy and condition of the building
to the courts, and through the latter an
appropriation was finally obtained to erect
| new structure. The site then chosen
was the northeast section of the square.
4th and G streets, and on the plans OF
Robert Mills. the architect of public build
| ings. Jail was erected. Messrs- r. r.
| and r. H. Stanton. then bricklayers OF
Alexandria, and afterward members OF
| Congress from Tennessee and kentucky.
respectively, did the work This, In COM
| parison to the old Jail, was q fine prison,
| but in time 1t became too small. 1t was
| of brick, three stories in height, and its
| color gave the popular name of the blue
| jug" The original cost was $4,000 but
| for the erection of a wall. blinds to the
windows. etc. $4,000 more were required.
| Robert Ball, the jailer, moved the pris-
f~<, xl,@ 41I ,.tr. IN fhn nnxy
| in 1910
An attempt was made Immediately
after the old prison had been vacated
| to establish an insane asylum In the
District for the lunatics here, and those
of the army and navy. This class, who
| had been confined previously In the
| Jail, needed care. and the marshal was
authorized to provide for them in other
places, and he selected one OF the inStt-
| tutions in Baltimore. Early in 1Sf
| the Medical Society of the District pc
| titioned for the building as a national
| hospital. and in August of that year
Congress appropriated $4,000 and d.
| rected the commissioner Of public
| buildings to fit it up for the accommo-
dation of the insane of the District and
| of the army and navy.
Declared Unsuitable.
In 1914 1t was decided it was un-
suitable as place for an insane asy
lum, and by the act of June Is of that
| year its use was granted to the medi-
cal faculty Of Columbian University,
| now George Washington University,
| for an infrmary and other purposes.
and for few months it was in opera
/ ton as the Washington Infirmary. In
1853. under an appropriation of $4,000,
two wings were added. also third
story, more than doubling its accom-
modations. In April. 1861. the United
| States took possession of this building,
the first soldier patients being those of
the 9Th Massachusetts Regiment, who
| had been wounded on their passage
! through Baltimore. April 10. November
3 of that year 1T was completely de-
stroyed by fire.
AS before stated. the Jail was under
| the control of the marshal until 1864
when the wardenship became a presi-
Dental Office. BY the act of March
| $50, the office was placed at the dis.
posal of the Supreme Court of the Dis
| trict, and March Is Gen. John S
| Croker was appointed
| The Jail soon was found inadequate
| 1t required constant care to keep it In
a sanitary condition. Therefore, q
| new site was selected and the struc.
ture erected on reservation thirteen.