Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-21

Continued from First Page
attempt to improve jail conditions when
the new Marlborough was built"
mo provision was made In the
county levy last March for a new Jail
building at Bladensburg and we cannot
do anything before next March, when
the new levy will be made. unless the
State Legislature. meeting next Janu-
airy. enacts special legislation author
izing us to proceed with the raising OF
bond issue for construction Of new
Jail"
The tail Is located in the low swampy
land near the Eastern Branch of the
Anacostia River. facing the Washing
ton Baltimore boulevard The Jail is a
small concrete and steel building about
20 by 90 one-story high and with the
concrete floor only about foot above
| ground level.
% There at One Time.
Two steel-barred cells occupy the
rear of the building and the front half
is large open room, with a partition
part Of the way across. shielding a
small portion from the view Of the cells.
Into this small structure sometimes as
many as 20 prisoners are crowded with
out any attempe at segregation of races
or ages. During the past week there
were % prisoners in the jail at one
time. 1t was stated by one town officer.
While the Jail Is designed only as
a temporary lookup" for prisoners
pending their transfer to the Marlboro
Jail or their release on bond for later
court action, there are a number Of
occasions when prisoners are held for
week or more because Of delays in
court action, 1t is claimed
County officials avoid as far as pos
sible holding women IN the Bladens-
burg Jail, but this occasionally becomes
necessary and they are locked up with
a pitiful lack Of privacy. When women
are detained they usually are given
the freedom of the front space In the
jail and the men are placed In the
cells. Only by remaining IN a small
corner screened by the partition can
the women keep out OF sight Of the
cells and their occupants. Practically
all portions Of the interior are visible
from outside the jail
Prisoners are left to their own de-
vices a greater part of the time with
out even jaier 10 watch them. There
are no quarters at the Jail for a guard
and the jailer spends the nights at his
home. contenting himself with visits to
his charges at Intervals during the day
Surrounded by Wire.
The jail building Is surrounded by a
wire fence, topped with several strands
Of barbed wire, a padlocked gate CIV
ing access TO the Enclosure from the
boulevard Visitors often stand outside
this wire Enclosure and converse with
the prisoners through the window bars.
One OF the prisoners recently con-
fined TO the jail sent 10 The Star a
bitter complaint against conditions In
the jail He got the letter out by toss
ing IL from the windows 10 friends out
side the Jail Enclosure
Il am up in years and a victim OF
tuberculosis" he wrote, land have been
subjected 10 the most horrible crueIties
and indignities In this living tomb or
dungeon The jail has been flooded
more than once since my incarceration
and as result / have had to wade
around In foul water day and night"
He goes on 10 describe the condition
Picture, II you can, "A dungeon food
ed with water; an old man In the
throeg or consumption wading around
all day In this vile stencil"
| In d postscript to his letter this .pris~
I oner. held on suspicion or housebrcak-
! ing says please let IL be known tG
/ the United States Public Health Service
| and Red Cross that / am victim oi
I tuberculosis and ask some one 10 come
| here. Cannot possibly see a physician
or get any medical attention. / am SC
sick now / can hardly write this tc
you"