The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-01-31
Seven Women in Richmond
Jail Because State Has
No Facilities,
Ttmes star Oorrs.pondent

Mentally incapacitated, feeble in
body and with no crimes besmirch-
ing their characters other than the
misfortune OF having to depend up
on the mercies OF public institutions
for their existence. seven women,
all more than 80 years old, are
passing the waning years of their
life in tho home for the friendless,
a women's prison in Richmond.
How they came there Is one story;
why they stay there is another. The
sact remains that the following are
there;
Miss Eva Plat, 81, confined in
the prison nine years.
Mrs. Mary Esther Brown, 10, con-
fined seven years.
Mrs. Leora 7. Taylor. rs. two
years.
Mrs. Catherine Carr. "a. two
years.
Miss Mary Ann Dunbar, colored,
age about 90, two years.
Mrs. Louisa Gettell. rs, little
less than a year.
Mrs. Eva Addlngton, 50, little less
than a year.
The case OF Miss Plat is one Of
the most outstanding In the hun
dreds coming to light over Indiana
In survey conducted by Judge
Delbert o. Wilmeth.
Although not mentally unsound
at all times she is at irregular In
tervals seized with spells Of illness
when her power Of mind fades into
darkness. Prison matrons must
keep a constant watch over her.
She has several brothers and sis.
ters living in Richmond and its vi
cinity. Her mother also is living
But Miss Platt's condition is such
that 1t is declared impossible TO
keep her in a private home.
Nine years ago she was placed In
the prison. Application was made
for her acceptance at the Eastern
Indiana Hospital for the Insane.
Her name still is among the list
OF applicants and she stlll sits In
her rocking chair in the cell or shut
fies about the prison, waiting-just
waiting.
Mrs. Brown, who Is now Willing
away the seventh year in the prison,
Is kept in a cell about five feet wide
and seven feet deep. She is violent
at intervals.
Mrs. Carr is rational except in one
respect. She spends hours and
hours compiling figures. The work
must be done, she says.
Miss Dunbar. the colored inmate,
was born in slavery. She Will die
In mental slavery. physicians say.
And her death will be in cell unless
present conditions are improved.
But, the saddest case OF all is that
Of Miss Addington. Her condition
was not so very serious when she
was first admitted TO the prison, sc-
cording to the matron. Days and
weeks OF staring at prison walls
have done their work, however. The
worry Of confinement has broken
her physically and mentally to the
point where a complete collapse
is feared by the prison attaches.
"It certainly is not our wish that
they remain here" said Mrs. Sue
Gaylor. matron in charge. I'VE have
tried repeatedly to get them into
institutions where they can be
properly cared for. but the asylums
won't accept them because they
say they are too crowded to care
g. 800
is a possibility Of a cure"
A doctors inquest was held re-
Gently, Mrs. Gaylor said. and all OF
the prisoners were pronounced IN
curably insane.
1--WE do the best for them that
is possible" she continued. but a
prison is no place for such people
and we certainly cannot give them
the care they should have. When
their conditions become acute, all
we can do Is call in doctor AS for
treatment to improve their condition
we cannot give that at ALL
Tho prison also is used as a De
tention home. Mrs. Gaylor is as
sisted by Mrs. Merrald Bright.
William A. Bond, Judge OF the
Wayne County Circuit Court, ex-
pressed regret that the patients
should be kept there. but stated
there was nothing else that could
be done.
Every grand fury in recent years
has recommended their removal,
but where are they to go?' he said.
THE insane hospital won't accept
them and there Ia no other place
where they would receive better at
tention than at the Home for the
Fr1endless."
Dan Chapman, sheriff OF Wayne
County, agreed that 1t was a shame
for the women to be retained at the
prison. The same conditions exist
In the county Jail where mentally
unsound men are kept, but the hos
pital accepts them more speedily and
IT is seldom an inmate is kept more
than two or three weeks. he said.
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