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wnt*u scrsu ntrc.There are no available records to indicate even the approximMt* datewhen the house was built, and it wasevidently not built for a jail. Yet there is record of Its hsv*r.g beenused as such as far back as 173ti —171The structureyears ago. me structure is sljposed to have been put up originallyfor a slave market, with pens for theslaves. The walls are settling andtne doors are not plumb. Numerousiron rads, extending from side to side along the floors, hold the building together.The rear wing is of modern construction, but built to conform to theTheancient plans of the original.three storiesjail is three stories high, the first floor being used for female prisoners, the second for colored males and the third for white males. The oldpart is divided into large rooms of about five on each floor, evidently in tended for congregate confinement.congregateThese rooms are now used for kltchand beden, storeroom, eating roomrooms for the warden and assistant;others may be used for cells in entergency.On the third floor is the seldom used. In case of# •t *hospital,illness ofprisoners, however, twophysicians to attendare employed by the year the sick. At present the physicians are “on strike.** There are two prisoners, believed to be insane, wbo, when their eases are formally passedwill he sent to an asylum.uponThe physicians refuse to act becausethe fee ha* been cut from $10 to $5for making the diagnosis. on*'rs will be held in jail “strike** is settled.The pris-until theis di-The new wing of the jail vided into twelve cells.four on eachfloor, opening on a well-lighted corridor. Prisoners not violent are al-corridorlowed the privilege of the during the day. Tne cells have iron beds, mattresses and blankets. The blankets are washed two or threetimes a year. The jail Is lighted by electricity. Stoves heat the oldbuilding; the new wing has furnaceheat. There are no facilities for san-and no provision is madeitation, and no provision is against the possibility of fire. In one of the larger cells are suggestive looking huge iron rings fastened to 'taples in the floor. These are regularly used for punishing refractoryprisoners. The gallows for hanging condemned murderers is inside theiail. The average number of prisoners through the year is about twenty. Nearly all are negroes.The prisoners receive two meals a day, of substantial food, and tbem-fat on theirselves say they grow tat onenu of corn bread, molasses andmeat andcoffee,prisoner may send be can afford to dovegetables. Any out for meals ifso. There areLwo sessions of court in the year— kpril and October. Detained witnesses and committed prisoners in lefault of bond are held at the expense of the county until court con-This is a manifest intosticepenes.n possibly innocent prisoners.The case of one man in this jail accused of petty larceny is related, [wo strangers were his accusers, and :hey did not appear before the mag-strate. but wrote a letter. In case :he prosecuting witnessesare notfound tbe prisoner must expiate the ‘rime, whether guilty or innocent. Detained witnesses, however, are laid $2 a day. Under the adminis-ration of former Sheriff Li nth i cumintrhi1*1Si!luorvtccarstthtomwhiPihsgtntIkciNSIbe maleprisoners vork in keeping roads in air. But little of thisdid valoablegoodworkre-islone under the present Sherff’s ad-sinistration. Religious exercises ire held Sundays in tbe jail.Tbe fee system does not obtain in knne Arundel. Allexpenses are iharged to the county. The Sheriff eceives $3,000 a year salary and 13,000 to pay deputies' salaries.There is no suitable yard for allow -ng prisoners to exercise. The win-lows are barred, but face entirely on be street, to that prisoners make a iractice of obtaining tobacco, which • prohibited in the jail, matches and itber articles from their friends by oeans of strings. Poison or pistols *ould as easily be secured.!•lt;thhircatlahituCh*AipotichomiA!imtopoi.\MiOilbeOiltio*ctiojre*CO!do]heexleilespoinolaficatadfaihiszlemujeceanccorterleacosjn.Va.thifro1mushomu“OfaractWoTilmudajpiaJwilatbetfoip*r*
Newspaper Details
Annapolis Evening Capital
Annapolis, Maryland, US
Mon, Nov 14, 1910
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Anne A.
MD, USA 18 Oct 2020
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