Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-23
State Health Director In
structs Deputy to Report
to Baltimore.
COTTAGE CITY OFFICER
FILES FORMAL COMPLAINT
The Stars Report of Insanitary
Single Room Building
Brings Action.

investigation OF Hltny ana over
crowded conditions in the Bladensburg
Jail was ordered today by DR.. r, II,
Riley, director of the Maryland State
Department of Health, as result of a
description of the situation at the jail
published Tuesday by The Evening Star
DR.. Riley ordered William S. Keister
deputy State health officer for Prince
Georges County, to make the investi-
CATION and to report to him at Balti-
more. DR.. Riley's action was taken
voluntarily upon learning of the un-
wholesome conditions at the jail
Complaint regarding conditions at the
jail is made to DR. Riley In a letter
sent to him by Alan Leighton, health
officer of Cottage City, Md Dr. Riley
had not yet received this complaint
however, when he ordered the investi-
CATION. II was stated at Baltimore.
Holds Conditions "UnspeakabIe."
In his letter of complaint Mr.. Leigh
ton referred to conditions at the jail as
"unspeakable. and charged that the
county Board OF Commissioners of
Prince Georges County has known OF
the bad situation prevailing at the lit
tie one-room lookup for years.
THANK you for the article in to-
nights Star concerning the BladenSbur2
jail" Mr.. Leighton wrote, in announc-
ing the filing of his complaint with the
State board. Conditions are, of course,
unspeakable there; the commissioners
have known it for years The reported
statement that they could do nothing
now is characteristic.
Il had young fellow come to me
last Winter. asking me If I had any
authority over the jail as health officer
of Cottage City, do not. SO referred
him to DR. w. S. Keister of Marlboro
and Capitol Heights. the county health
officer This fellow. for minor offense.
was thrown into a cell with an old coll
ored man suffering severely with a loath-
some disease
The young man reported that he
was locked up about 8 o'clock in the
evening end that he stood until 2
o'clock the next afternoon: that he did
not sit down In all that time for fear
OF the disease. The fellow reported to
me that he was not formally charged
with anything. so was not eligible to
bail.
Kcister Denies Jurisdiction.
Il am sending the clipping from The
Star regarding the jail to the State
Board OF Health at Baltimore. l have
learned to have very wholesome
respect for the State organization They
may perhaps act. Please believe my
sincerity when say / appreciate the
service The Star Is giving in publishing
this Jail article"
DR.. Keister, Prince Georges County
health officer. said today that he has
no direct jurisdiction over the Bladens-
burg jail, as 1t is not county but a
municipal institution. He said that be"
cause of this lack of direct jurisdiction
he had hesitated to step in over the
heads of Bladensburg officials.
"Of course, ii / am requested by the
Bladensbure authorities to make an in
spection OF the JAIL" DR.. Keister said
Il shall be only too glad to do so and
to make recommendations which may
suggest themselves to me. regard II
as unfortunate that the jail should have
been located IN the low, marshy land
along the Anacostia River have read
In the newspapers Of the flooding of the
area during recent rains. but have had
no official report made to me that there
we're conditions there which would war
rant me to step in arbitrarily
Investigation revealed that sometimes
as many as 20 prisoners are crowded
into the little one-room jail. which Is
divided only by bars into two cells and
a front compartment, Here prisoners
are herded indiscriminately and with
out the slightest degree of privacy
Sanitary provisions are inadequate and
the prisoners are left unattended most
of the time, the 1ailer spending nights
at his home.