Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-04-14
PLUMMER IN CHARGE |
At n. {. WORK HOUSE
In Company With Members OF
Board, Makes Close lnvesti-
CATION of Institution.


United States post Office inspector, who
was unanimously chosen for the oihce OF
chief warden of the New Castle County
Workhouse at the monthly meeting OF tho
Board of Trustees yesterday morning,
took charge during the afternoon. Leon
ard Crawford, acting warden IN place OF
CAPTAIN Richard f. Cross, who was re-
moved by the Beard, will continue ana
render Mr.. Plummer any assistance ne
may need until April 30.
After the business of Ahe board mao
been transacted, the members accompanied
by n representative OF Every Evening"
made a minute inspection OF the prison
and an investigation of tho report that
prisoners were not getting enough to cal.
This report was apparently uniounded,
as the men were seen to receive second /
or more helpngs of food at the tahies |
during the supper hour. The investigation /
also indicated that reports ot-the work I
house being sweat-shop were unfounued'
The prisoners appeared not to be pushed
with work, for when their allotted task
is finished this can be done IN hall q
dav--t is to their own interest to turn
out work, for they are paid n bonus on
all work over their daily allotment
The shops in which the prisoners work
are well-ventilated during the warm wea-
ther and there is ample provision for heat
during cold spells. The buildings them
sci YES are kept scrupulously clean and
particular attention Is paid to the sanlta-
ton of the work rooms. Prisoners having
contagious diseases are not permitted to
work among the other men but are kept
10 themselves especially in the dlningroom.
These diningrooms have been equipped
with aluminium tableware recently, for
the reason that it is more sanitary. The
utensils Of the men affected with con-
tagious diseases are kept separate, washed
in separate basins and dried ON separate
towels. thus preventing possible com
munication of disease.
The floor of the dining room ia scrubbed
daiIv and the walls are frequently white
washed Great care is also taken that the
tables and seats are kept IN the cleanest
Of condition.
The food furnished the prisoners,
while not in great variety. IS of good
quality and cooked on the day 4 IS served
Samples were taken Of batch oi bread
that had been baked in the morning and
i was found TO be As good as some that
was purchased in city stores during the
war. Meat is purchased and brought ~
the prison daily from Wilmington butchers
During the summer time vegetables
EEONN III AttC ~ At1pA AttAfA'ti-2 tt''@
in the prison
Several inmates told the Every Evening
reporter that they receive the best ct
treatment and are not pushed ~ their
work. As for recreation, they are allowed
Saturday afternoon in the court yard
aud dmost of Sunday Ball teams have been
organized and ther' IS q great deaf oi
rivalry between the teams. Warden Plum
mer said Yesterday that he was gong TO
arrange for matches between teams oi
the institution and several reputable out
side teams He said that he will r'iie the
prison with policy that will build up the
men incarccrated. physically, rs well as
mentally and morally.
Mr.. Crawford was offered the thanks
of the board during the business session
for his assistance IN taking charge OF the
prison in the absence of q regular warden.
Ii was voted that he receive $500 month
dating from January I until April 80 for
his services.
Robert ". Tomlinson, workhouso
nhvsician, was authorized by the board
Ia secure the services Of a stenographcr
To help in the compilation OF nearly 3Oc
physical reports Of prisoners. lie Will
probably secure the services ot one Of the
inmates He was also gwen permission to
secure the cooperation OF Dr. Hawke
professor of physiological chemistry at
the Jefferson Medical University.
it his suggestion the board granted hIm
authority TO get prices on 'de-louser,
q number of which are being sold by the
United States government, Typewriter,
I 70 be used IN compiling reports. ana
/ microscope. 70 be used in labratory work,
with the option of purchase.
DR.. TomlinSon stated III his report
.fsL s.F hsa
+ prisoners was good and that the physical
examination will start this month. new
/ form OF recording the condition OF the
mon and women was introduced by the
doctor at the meeting The report Is IN
the shape of a card which will contain the
finger prints of all prisoners, no matter
how long their terms may be- ana de-
tailed health report taken at the time OF
their admittance and at the time OF their
discharge. This will he filed and kept as
record after the discharge OF the offender.
This was approved. :,
The financial statement for the month
was read by Judge j. Frank Ball. secretary.
r. stated that there was balance oi
SIS. COB 90 in bank and undeposited checks
amounting TO S9,0l3.47 were on hand
totaling S27, ,6l7.43. Bills, including the
monthly payroll amounting 10 sl6,44Z,-
OF were approved and orderedpaId. Among
the latter was bin from Chief Of vii
unington Police George Black, stating
that the workhouse was indebted 10 the
department S6699, which was used for
miscellaneous purposes during the search
for IemueI Price It was stated that the
prisoners had earned bonuses amounting
10 81 900 SO during the past month. The
population Of the prison Yesterday num-
bered 81 male and female inmates.
Those who were present aC the meeting
and made the investigation were: Clifford
]. Scott, superintendent Of schools,
treasurer of the board; ]. Frank Ball,
secretary for the board; Daniel "; Corbit,
Horace l.. Dilworth Leonard Crawford
acting warden; Mordecai Plummer, the
new warden, and a representative of Every
Evening. They were entertained at dinnel
in the warden's dining room during the
noon hour.
Father-How can you expect to marry
/ btl4 M