Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1919-03-14
By Ston Correspondent.

NEW BRUNSWICK, March H.
A new sport has been discovered here
by freeholders and officials having
charge of prisoners in the county jail
and workhouse. 1t resembles the old
pastime of passing the buck, or bat
tledoor and shuttlecock with TRUSTEES
or short term county prisoners as the
, pawns.
The new tangle has also developed
animosity toward these so called trus-
ties by Custodian of County Buildings
Alfred Puerschner and Sheriff
Charles Anderson. They neither of
thom want to be bothered with the
men who come to the county Jail
from the workhouse to help about the
county buildings.
Puerscchner says they're damn
I nuisance" and he would prefer TO
have one good man in place of all
/ the TRUSTEES sent him. Sheriff Ander-
son said he didn't want them housed
In his county Jail another day, and
wanted them shipped back to the
workhouse instanter. He finally
agreed. however. to keep them for
another week, pending a settlement
of the difficulties.
Anderson and Puerschner are ap-
parently the best of enemies. Any
work that is to be done about the
county Jail the sheriff and Warden
! William Goodwin will have to have
(done as they won't allow Puerschner
inside the portals of their domain, the
new Jail building.
The men about whom this contro-
versy seethes are short term pris-
! oners; thirty day drunks, sixty day
disorderlies and ninty day buns. They
are sent by the various municipal
judges and by Judge DAILY to the work
house. They rae separate and dis
ha arts In hn "
jail. who are awaiting grand jury or
| trial jury action. 1t has been the
| custom to bring these men, as trus-
ties, to the county jail. house them In
| a special corridor, to work about the
| county buildings as Puerschner's as
| sistants.
Freeholder George s. Applegate, re-
Gently appoined committee OF one 70
investigate charges made by Anderson
that the workhouse prisoners cause
a great deal of annoyance to people
| living In Paterson street, directly be-
hind the jail. reported to the board.
The sheriff stated that he refused
/ to keep the prisoners in the county
jail another night and that they must
be returned to the workhouse each
night.
Applegate had suggested that
Puerschner keep the prisoners for an
other week and see IL the conditions
cannot be remedied. Tn sheriff a
nally consented to this arrangement.
The friction between the sheriff.
Warden Goodwin and Puerschner is
warm at all times. Solicitor Richard
son suggested yesterday that the sher-
iff's bill be held Up and not paid by
the freeholders If he continued to re-
fuse to cooperate with the board In
these jail matters.
The sheriff had suggested that the
prisoners who are sent from the
workhouse be housed over night in six
cells under the county court house
six obsolete. dark cells. without san
itary facilities-but Puerschner re-
fused to listen TO this arrangement
as the men would be there all nigh;
with no one TO watch them or care
for them If they became sick.
Here Master William Masterson OF
the workhouse. reported that IL the
men are dirty as charged by the sher-
| III. IL is the latter's fault. as the men
are clean. physically and sartorially
when they leave the farm. He also
said that he would not stand for any
reflections cast upon the workhouse
by the sheriff.