Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-03-30
GRAND JURORS
ALSO FIND USE
FOR JAIL PLANT
Say Abandoned Power House
Should Be Made WOman's
Cell Building.
AGREE WITH DIR. WRIGHT

Branding as shameful and dis
graceful the decay and waste of the
abandoned power house located near
the county Jail and recommending
that the county commissioners take
the proper steps to convert the build
ing into a cell house for female pris-
oners who are now inadequately
housed in the Jail proper, the Marion
County grand jury today returned a
special report which makes it bind
ing upon the commissioners tn carry
out the recommendations.
The inspection was ordered by Judge
James A. Collins of Criminal Court fol-
lowing u conference OF county and State
members Of the boards OF charities, the
county commissioners and members OF
the county council. at which 1t was de
cided to see II the recommendation Of
DR.. Henry c. Wright, director Of hospital
and Institutional bureau Of consultation
Of New York City, who made an expert
survey of county Institutions, that the
power house be converted into e cell
house for women could be carried out.
ON FILE MONTHS
WITHOUT ACTION.
DE. Wright's specific recommendation,
which has been on lle before the com
missioners for months without any ac-
tion. Is as follows:
THE women occupy one cell block on
one door Of the jail the capacity of the
I cell block Is about twenty eight; the av-
erage census Of women does not exceed
eight; thus a capacity OF fully twenty
goes unused. 1t would be very adYan-
tageous for classification purposes to
utilize for men the cells now used by
the women. This can readily be done
by transferring the women TO the build
ing formerly used as a power house. This
building is easily accessible Ia the rear
Of the jail and we'll suited as Jail quar-
ters for women. Some Internal repairs
Mr. Wright signed his report in May
Of last year and no definite action has
been taken by the county commissioners
to carry out this recommendation.
WHAT GRAND JURY
HAS TO SAY IN CASE.
The report Of the grand jury con
eerning the power house, is as follows:
we, the grand jury Of Marion County,
Indiana, desire to report to this honor
able court that on Tuesday March 20,
1921 We. the grand jury made an inspee-
tion and investigation of the old power
house located In the rear of the Marion
County jail with respect to the advan-
tages OF its use as a cellhouse for female
prisoners, whose quarters are now To-
Gated IN the Marion County Jail, and after
such investigation and inspection we are
Of the following opinion
THAT the power house at the present
date serves absolutely no purpose, al
though il is well constructed, aud Its To-
cation is very accessible 10 the county
jail and with q little expense could Dc
remodeled and equipped TO properly,
safety and In a sanitary manner, house
all OF the female county jail prisoners.
The power house ia its present con-
dtion Is housing two dynamos, num-
Der of pumps, and a battery of boilers,
which no doubt were costly and valuable.
but have not been operated or used for
| a number OF years, and are depreciating
in value very rapidly by reason Of their
dsuse, and not being cared for, and we
the grand jury suggest that immediate
steps be taken to legally dispose Of all
of the machinery contained in said power
house at the best possible price, and
| that plans be prepared at Onde to re-
model said power house into quarters for
the female prisoners hereinaDOve re-
ferred to.
ALSO RECOMMENDS
BUILDING NEW WALL.
I'VE, the grand jury, further recon-
{
the north side Of the Jail yard along
| Pearl street. between the old power house
and .he main building of the Jail, and
/ that said wall be extended south along
the east side Of the present power house
to Maryland street, then east to point
at the east end of the south cell rooms
/ of the present Jail, and then north to
4 the southeast corner of the present cell
rooms of said Jail, and that the enclo-
/ sure so made by said wall be used as a
recreation exercise ground for the
Jail prisoners.
at is the opinion of your grand jury
that to allow the present power house to
remain, as it has for years past. being
used only as a shelter over valuable ma
/ cinery, which is rapidly going TO waste, is
shameful and disgraceful condition Of
affairs and should be remedied at the
/ earliest possible time, and utilize q build
Ing which is rapidly going to waste, when
such building could be used for the
! purposes hereinabove referred to-"
! 1t is expected that Judge Collins, TO
whom the report WAS returned, will in
struct the county commissioners to fol-
low the recommendations of the grand
! jury, which is the same as suggested by
DIR. Wright.
EIGHT INDICTMENTS
ALSO ARE RETURNED.
The grand jury also returned eight in
dictments and the following were made
public: William Thomas, 2049 Broad
way, railing to stop his automobile after
an accident on March 15; George e. Kel-
| sey, 904 College avenue, embezzement of
SIS from the Hatfield Electric Company;
Claude Durham, forgery, and Henry
Jackson, vehicle taking.
Randall NJ. Ball, plumber and a mem
ber of the grand jury. rendered his resig
nation because of work He was ex-
cused by the court and a new juror or
dered drawn. The grand jury will
cess until Monday, April 4.