Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-01
EXPERTS REPORT ON
W0RKH0USE LOCKS
Inform Court They Found Them
in Good Condition Following
Prices Escape.

Communications from experts to the
Judges Of the Court of General SESSIONS,
were read today in open court at the
BEGINNING Of the March term, To show the
condition the locking system ut the work
house right after the escape OF Lcmuel
Price, Negro murderer. The system was
found pcrfect and one expert declared no
man could have escaped from the prison
without conniyance of some tr,stv or
keerer. The communications were turn
cd over bv the court to the clerk OF the
peace and the member OF the grand.
Jury. after listening to the reading OF
them, were told by the court they. might
have access to these letters, If they should
so desire.
These letters we're turned over 10 the
court by Attorney J. Frank Ball, secretary
Of the board of trustees OF the workhouse,
acting upon instructions from the board.
Mr.. Balls accompanying letter to the
court explaining the correspondence,
together with the experts reports, follow:
Wilmington. Delaware, March /, 1920
To the Honorable, the judges OF the
Court Of General Sessions IN and for New
Castle County:-I am instructed by the
board OF trustees of the New Castle
county workhouse, to present to YOU
the reports OF Mr.. II S. Lippincott, and
Mr.. Aeby on the locking devices at the
workhouse. The locking devices having
been gone over. cleaned and adjusted
prior 10 their examination by one OF the
guards. Mr. John Black. Mr.. Lippincott
Is vicc-presidcnt of the Pauly jail Build
ing Co. of st. Louis and has charge OF
their steel construction IN the East. Mr..
Aely is the expert on locking devices of
the Pauly Jail Building Co. and has been
a. f-r +. bn iac thirty
The Board of trustees also directs me TO
say to your honors that they have had
Mr.. Hastings Hart of the Russell Sage
Foundation, and who is also chairman
# the Committee on Jail Investigations
Of the National Prison Conference, to
make an examination OF our institution
Mr.. Hart has not rs Yet sent his report
10 us, but as soon IS we receive II we VIII
forward the same to you. Respectfully
submitted. ]. +. Ball. secretary.
February 25, 1920
Hon Board Of Trustees, New Castle
County Workhouse, Wilmington, Della
ware, Judge J. Frank Ball.-Dear Sir.
As per the boards request on February
10. | inspected the locking devices in the
workhouse and found them in perfect
lockable condition. | take this oppor-
tunity TO say that it is a pleasure TO
inspect an UtStituilpu tfi ~ bAdAiN 1ttiis
standing, and find the locking mechanism
in such perfect condition. can safely
saw that the inmate who is locked in any
OF the cells and makes his escape from the
institution, can only do SO with the able
assistance OF trtIsty. or the careIessness
of the individual in direct charge OF the
locking system. In my years OF experience
in inspecting hundreds OF institutions OF
this kind, il has not been my pleasure 10
inspect any institution where the locking
system hiss been In Use rs many years.
as in the New Castle workhouse, and
have found il in better condition. Very
respectfully yours, II. 5. 'Lippincott.
February 25, 1920.
Hon. Board of Trustees, New Castle
County Workhouse, Wilmington, Della
ware. Judge J. Frank Ball.
Dear Sir: inspected the locking de-
vices of your institution on February Is.
and have 10 report that found that the
lock mechanism locked perfectly
inspected all the locks in both wings with
the exception of the tuberculosis depart
meut. Respectfully yours, Alfred Aeby
Whether the grand jury will 90 into
the workhouse matter further has not
,leyelopei