The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-03-01
Refined White Woman, De-
mented, in a Filthy Cell.
Would Shake Mind Of
Sane Person. Says Judge.
SAYS SHERIFF NOT TO BLAME
Larimer Does Best He Can, but
New Jail Needed.
Urges Isolation Ward, New
Mattresses and Bedding.

The absolute inadequacy of the
Shawnee county Jail and alleged
shameful conditions that exist there
are uncovered in the report made
this morning to the county commits
sioners by Judge Robert D. Carver. of
the first division of the district court.
pursuant to statute. The insufficient
accommodations and the fmpossibili-
ty of properly caring for prisoners.
especially those being held on charges
OF insanity, are explained by Judge
Graver. who has just completed his
inspection In one instance he tells
refined and &c Icated and had lived a
decent life, but who is alleged to have
suffered some mental arrangement,
Who was put into a misera BILE cell out
of which filthy male prisoner of low
class had been taken to make room
for her
The situation" says Judge Carver,
was enough to have shaken the mind
or a sane person and certainly was
little calculated to lessen the distrac-
ton of this unfortunate person"
The judge also points out that there
is no means by which prisoners suf-
fering with various diseases conta-
gious or otherwise, can be isolated
from the others. but they are kept in
the same cages with the healthy, with
the result that the disease usually goes
thru the whole Jail once it gets a start.
Judge Garver's Report.
Judge Garver's report follows:
Pursuant to the statute have Just COM
pleted an inspection of the Shawnee county
jail. find the sheriff doing the best pos
siderlng the means at his disposal. 1 be-
lieve that your idea of the jail is about the
anntv same as ss9 nine which ;ai Is that shawnes
the fact that 1t is not IN your power to
| alter this, | make the following suggestions.
which I beIfye would materially help a
/ truly deplOraDle situation
First. l find that there is no place in
the Jail where an insane person. held await
| ing trinl or otherwise. can be kept decently
or properly. On the day of my inspection
young white woman; who had lived
had been most comfortable and pleasant,
but who happened to be unfortunate
that her sickness happened to be mental
one, was confined in a miserable cell out of
which male prisoner of low class and
! filthy. had been taken to make room for
her on her arrival at the jail. The situa-
ton was enough to have shaken the mind
| of sane person and certainly was not
calculated to lessen the distraction OF this
unfortunate woman. The sheriff. jailer.
matron and county physician were all
plored the accommodate tions they were COM
PEELED by necessity to force on this prisoner.
! I. w. WIS Tormenfed Mexican.
I'm the cage for men prisoners | found
. deInented Mexican confined with some
l. w. VS. and criminals who were tor
menting and abusing him until he begged
by the jailer that other dementcd men were
confined in common with criminals in these
cages
1t seems to me that the necessity for
| treating those suffering from mental
| troubles the same criminals, should be
overcome at any cost.
while the situation is particularly dis
| tressing as regards mental sufferers. Il is
! also true with those sick with other all
ments- Tie sick. whether the disease be
contagious not, are kept in the same
cages with the other prisoners. and as DIR.
! W. il. Steward expressed IT. case of sore
4 throat. influenza or other disease. usually
, went thru the whole jale once it started.
Need Isolation Ward.
what is needed to remedy both these
conditions is an isolation ward for the
| sick. both mental and otherwise After
looking over the jail property carefully,
with this In mind, can see no possibility
OF doing this properly except by extend
I, Ing the garage building up two stories and
/ thus furnish the much needed accommodate
| ton.
| Il would think also that one or two of
| the cell rooms In the cages should be fitted
| with private toilets so that prisoners could
be confined in them in cases where it was
! necessary to isolate them from the com
i mon herd, but not proper to place them In
a hospital ward.
Second New mattresses and bedding
: are badly needed, and l understand have
/ already been ordered"