Smyrna times., 1923-11-07
KENT SHERIFF TAKES ISSUE
WITH REPORT OF GRAND JURY
OBJECTS TO CRITICISM ABOUT
KENT COUNTY JAIL AT DOVER
Cites Conditions as He Found Them
and the improvements He Has
Made Since He Took Office

The charges made by the Kent
County Grand Jury in their annual
report submitted few weeks ago,
were answered by Sheriff John H.Bul-
lock in statement issued Wednes-
day. The Sheriff explains the condi-
tiOns as he found them and also re-
lates about the work that has been
done to improve the institution.
The Grand Jury in their report
stated: owe found the Jail where the
prisoners are kept unclean and un-
sanitary. The radiators or heating
pipes have almost fallen from their
brackets. The plumbing needs a
thorough overhauling. We recon-
mend a thorough cleaning of the
floors and painting or white washing
of the walls, this work could largely
be done by the prisoners.
Sheriff Bullock states that the real
dirt to be found in the Jail could be
carried from the building each day on
a dust pan. His statement in full |
follows:
"In answer to the Grand Jury's re-
port of October 17th,. which report |
contained the information that the |
Kent county Jail was in very bad con-
dition, l will grant them the truth |
as to their statement that the Jail is
not a very tidy looking place but l
think it is plenty good enough for
its patrons. The Jail is not a mod
ern building like we find built in the
last ten or twenty years and the time
has come when there should be some
thing added to its appearances. A
coat of paint would cover the stain
of tobacco juice where the guests
have spit on the walls as high as they
could and watch it run down for
amusement.
GAS to real dirt in the Jail, it can
be carried on a dust pan after the
floor has been swept over. When the
> present Sheriff came to the Jail in
Z the early part of the present year,
he found nine panes of glass out of
| five windows in the North end of the
| building. In the twenty cells which
| each have one window thirty inches
high and twelve inches wide, l found
| five of them had glass. Twelve of
| them had frames and we were unable
to find the frames of the other eight.
The windows were all repaired within
| few days as were also the windows
| in the dwelling part of the Jail build
ing"
/ "Upon moving to the Jail building,
found from eight to ten tons of
cinders, dirt, bricks and other junk in
| the cellar. This was all removed as
rapidly as we could have it done.
did not find ten rod of fence on the
place and since my arrival there has
been about forty rod of new fence
built 1t was also necessary to con-
strhct six new gates and rebuild foul
doors. The side porch was falling
down so it was rebuilt and screened
as was also the front porch, which
was a great improvement.
every room in the dwelling par
of the Jail building has been painted
and papered with the exception of twC
and they will be done upon our re
quest Every cell in the Jail wa
whitewashed in April with the eXcep
tion of two, one of them has cot
stored in it while in the other sOm'
Of the guests removed the floor som
years ago."
"T might have started earlier in thi
article that after being here ten day
invited the members of the Ken
County Levy Court to come over AM
inspect the institution which they di
and told me after their tour of inspec
tion to get some workmen and hav
the repairing done. This cost som
money which the County, the sam
firm that employs and pays me, ha
had to pay. Surely you all kno'
where this money comes FROM"
81 have managed to turn over m
fees to the County every mOntl
During the ten months have bee
in this office, have paid the Count!
two hundred dollars for prisoner
work. The records show that les
than fifty dollars was received durin
y 1921-1922. l learn from the Conn
troller that there are $500 still du
the County for prison labor in 19z
oTr and 1922. Why this is not cOllecte
1 cannot say"
Vall "I thought l was progressing
our this office fairly well until the men
sti- bers of our Grand Jury called arOun
our One kind member remarked that the
re- gave the Sheriff H.. The Sheri
hat is glad to know that his destiny dot
uch not lay in their hands. Good uprigl
honest men or women have no ne'
or use for a Grand Jury. They a
only to deal with the crooks and di
hes honest people. l have spent a ha
century here on earth and have ma
aged in some way to keep out
their custody. If by health al
rp strength / should be permitted
~N .4o.. A. e4Io,. bolf I homo I oou e.