Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-01-16
WORKHOUSE TRUSTEES
Continued from page 4


the board in writing a full report ADVISING
,be board of the general conditions ana
detailed management and requirements oil
the institution, with any reconinehua-
tions that he desired 10 make T.,
If there was any necessary detali re-
ouirinc the attention OF the Doaiu' "a
which the board was not informed, II vac
due to the fact that the same had not peei,
rs,orted 10 it bv the warden, who hau
t'de1, seIocted as an EXPERT in the manage
80 of on institution of this kind and
,,ron whom the board implicitly relIed ior
its information. ,.ls
II Your Honors will read the detailed
1escription in the presentment made oy
the Grand Jury of the method ol t,io
Price escape, We are StaIisnei ~
uanors will be convinced that had the
rules and regulations provided by the
hoard and submitted To and accepted ps
The warden. been fully followed OUT,
Iemuel Price could by no possibility iive
escaped from the INSTITUTION anu Viia
unfortunate disaster could nave D'oii
avoided tIu,
.t,enf,on 10 the rule providing that two
officers duly authorized and instructed at
,hort intervals. examine the locks, levers
and Grating in and about the entire work
house and see that they were III good CON
dition. - ,i;,,,-
II there was any defect IN the locking
device. II had never been reported 10 inc
board of trustees.
We would respectfully call your az
tention to the rule IN relation 10 h"u
guards. whose duty 1t was 10 patFoi V'ic', ,
resnective halls and to keep constant
.etnh on the convicts in their cells or
r,ovinr about the halls, and report to inc
Jen,,ty IN writing, any violation of ru'eS
rr brescb of discipline among the prison.
Il vss also provided that the conylcts
~,,,,St not he allowed to lock or tnlocA
doors or CRATES anywhere about t"'
W. would also particularly call your
attention To Rule IL under ne duteS ol
the warden" as follows:
'eHe must not permit the prisoners 10 e e
together at any time WiIhout piofNi
supervision OF an othcer' ;: ~
In relation to the complaint ih VIZ
.,-esentnent made by the Grand jury
as 10 insufficient lighting IN the WORK,
house we desire 80 say that contract ny,
oI,ead< heen given and work coInnencsh
rr;or IN the escape Of Lemuel Price or thc
rer,ort nj the Grand Jury 10 our honofs'
ror the installation Of means oi supply ing
,-reater Dower for this purpose. with thS
sdded current we can take care oi the ad-
yiitlonaI lights reconmended
NATTER or MORE GUARDS,
r. ,rosentment az the Grand jury
also charges that more guards Shooii i...s ~ :
been appointed tor "orShouSs ~ u. e
Il a,exrar III thus. VIC desire TO say. aS
r1-srioI,slv stated, that the warden mao
t,,II ,.oUer and authority 70 recommend th'
,,,r,ointrnent of guards, that ~ no Ji'lc
80 m. REQUEST made by the warden loF
-, a,,-,ointTnent. of any extra gll3rds 20
+be hoard ~ trustees that Was hot l''iiH
,.,,r,nI,ed with In addition. when GUARD
tIast,pqs resigned from the nStltunon ~
To,,cr3her last. the warden was asked pN
he trustees whom he desired 70 Tccolh-
rnnnd 10 take the place q Guard h3S'lhgS
and he informed thu trustees 'ha' I"
thought RI would not he necessary - ira
time 10 appoint any addluonal cuaru; =
sbI ,.,,,,latior had greatly decreased dur
mo the last vear and there were pTactIca ~ 4,
tha san,f number Of guards a. Wnen ti't
C-eater number Of prisoners were conhheo
s. the vorkhoJlse and no escaPes from t'''
all rror.er took place. In fact, we deslrt
- rau Your Honors' attention TO thf
fac+ that during the last four years thoF'
mas been onlv one escape excepting Tpt'
f-o,n he inside OF the Workhouse wher
v,anv thousands Of prisoners had pee1
confined therein during that tune,
COMPLAINT was also made about the
compensation paid the guards oenS ~,
adequate when the present hleh cos -
- = taken into consideration We
would hike 10 call our hohoFS q ~ >lt'Lu. II.
to inc fact that these guards were pald no'
orIy . saIarx. but were furnished IN ad-
Ji-;or IN +>,ir salary with board ana
sI,it nj clothes aud an extra pair OF trous-
- Zach year. We have increased the
salaries oi the guards for several years
rel al the end OF each year. namely, II
Daceuhe- or January, and coInmt'et
bod f..an anv.ointed at the December meet
inc ~ arrange for an increase IN the sala
rIes 10 he paid 70 the guards ana report ~
finding At the regular January ineeLihs
the increase to take eject from I'eCelli
her I. 1919. and the giaros had i'ten u, :
notified OF the action OF the poIo- AHi
committee reported and an increase .
salaries was provided. IN n&tlle 'ile S-'a
mes we had regard not only Tor the well ar'
ri the institution, but also 70 the tax
ravers of the three counties OF the state
masking strong efforts TO avold, Il pos
sible. the necessity Of petitloning the neX
IegisIst,Ire to grant an increase IRON tin
+hrr4 counties for the maintenance
urisoners At present the taxpayers ar
s,,-r;shino less than one-haf Of the eX
nenses for the upkeep Of the institution
EXTRA COMPENSATION STOPPED.
As n the presentment Of the Grand Jur,
that two OF the guards had received eXtr
..ornuen satior from the Levy Court ~
from private parties, Ne desire 70 MAJ
answer thai so far as the payment q e1tr
compensation by the Levy Court ~
concerned. the matter was brought 70 %
attention Of tie board Of trustees, ~
the warden was Immediately notitied Z
cause the same 70 be discontinued and To
Lew Court instructed 70 pay DO NOR
n1onev a. extra compensation 70 on
guards
At the reques, Of Prank l. Speas mar
Iso.. who was at that time attorney te
the Levy Court, that the Levy Court d.
sired 10 secure the services Of one Of gu
guards At time when he was not IN tf
regular service Of the workhouse and whe
II would not interfere with his duty as
guard OF the worknouse the board {
trustees decided that IS It had no cor
sre,l Of the men when not IN It's employ.