Evening journal., 1920-01-12

Z
combination Of circumstances. yet We
realize that Price did escape, and IL Is
our duty TO place the responsibility fH
such escape where we belieY5 il
belongs.
After securing all the evidence that
could be obtained, and after thorough
inspection Of the workh0use. the grand
Jury ares OF the opinion that the re
sponsibilty for the escape Of Lemucl
Price rests equally upon the trustees
and the warden Of the worlhouse We
believe that both Tho trustees and the
warden were derelict ia their duties in
not jaking proper precaulIon 10 make
the escape Of Price impossible.
I'VE further ind that the clerk and
some Of the guards were negligent in
performing their duties, although we
hold that the trustees and The warden
are primarily responsible
RECOMMENDATION.
Based upon our Investigation Of the
affairs ond conditions Of N work
house, The grand jury desires TO make
certain recommendations, which the
members believe will make impossible
a repetition Of an escape similar 10 that
Oi Lemuel Price, and which recon-
mendatlons. we believe, Will greatly
increase the efficiency Of the inslilu-
tion
"1) There should be an immediate
examination of all locks and locking
devices Of the prison made by an ex-
pert, familiar with the locking devices
Of penal Institutions.
THE Grand Jury requests that a
copy Of the report OF this expert on
the first day Of the March term of the
Court Of General Sessions be submitted
20 it, together with a report OF the
trustees stating what changes have
been made.
~. More frequent inspections and
supervision OF the workhouse by the
trustees and warden.
".3). Improvement of lighting sys-
tenn especially at the door leading from
center into the front corridor and in
the front corridor, as already set forth
"til. That The locker box should be
locked at all times, day and night. ex-
ccpL when prisoners are out Of cells
and that a guard should be in charge
Of the locker box, when opened IN
this connection, we would urge rigid
enforcement Of the regulation that no
prisoner shall touch any, Of the levers
or locking devices.
20. That The cell in which a pris-
Oner under sentence Of death is con
fined should be cut out of the locking
system and that a separate paddock
should be used on the condemned pris-
Oner's cell. Such would not only
serve as an additional safeguard but
would require The guard to make CON
slant visits and Inspections Of the cell
Of the condemned prisoner.
",6). A watch should be placed upon
a prisoner under sentence Of death. i'm
mediately after imposition of sentence,
and continue until date Of execution.
30. We believe that the number
Of guards employed at the present time
is not sufficient and recommend that
three additional guards be employed.
That one guard should al all times, be
on duty in the center and that one
guard should be in charge Of and re-
sponslble for the west corridor where
the long term prisontrs are confined.
"(S) That adequate compensation
should be paid TO all guards and that
no guards should receive compensa4
tion from any other source.
"9) That all guards including the
warden and the deputy warden should
be sworn officers and wear a badge Of
authority, especially when in charge
Of gangs outside Of the WOrkhouse.
40 We also urge that guards in
charge OF gangs working outside Of the
prison should be armed and that guards
ID. 90 oh civ
vided attention TO the guarding Of the
prisoners and perform no other services
whatsoever.
"II) That the clerk should not be
required 10 do guard duties except in
case Of great emergency.
"li2) That no attOrney-at-law should
be q, member Of fhe Board Of Trustees.
"13) That all officers of the institu
ton should be required TO be versed
in the rules and regulations Of the
Workhouse and that the prisoners
should have knowledge Of such rules
and regulations as affect them, and for
the violation Of which they would be
subject TO punishment.
40 That some distinctive mark
should be adoNed for TRUSTEES, who
should be required TO wear such mark
at all times.
"15) That some system Of records
should be adopted for checking The go
iug and coming Of frusties who are per-
mjtled outside Of the institution proper.
"lG) That long. term prisoners and
prisoners convicted Of homicide should
no, be permitted to work outside Of the
institution. unless well guarded.
"H7 That finger prints and photo
graphs should be taken OF all prisoners
and preserved in order TO facilitate re-
captures in cases OF escape.
"HS) Immediate notification OF the
escape of any prisoner to the proper
authorities. especially TO the Police De-
partment of The city OF Wilmington,
elate detectives and constables. and to
the aftorney-general or his deputies,
and that stringent efforts should be
made in all cases Of escape to recaptuTe
the prisoner.
"19, That upon recapture, we urge
a severe sentence for all Jail breakers.
",20) That the trustees promptly
furnish the police authorities with
names. address and dates OF discharge Of
all prisoners.
"t2i) That a proper checking sys-
tenn be at once instituted for the store
house and a record kept Of all supplies
taken in or out Of the institution.
Had such system been in operation
at the time Of the escape Of Price, it
would have been extremely diflicult If
not impossible or the escape TO have