A COMEDY JAIL.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 18, Issue 11, 5 February 1907, Page 6

A COMEDY JAIL.

T®w« fiaardlinusc in Pennsylvania Thfit In Merely a CouveuleUWl lor Prisoners. Elizabethtown, the county seat of Essex, in the Adirumlacks, possesses a comedy jail, according to Use Philadelphia Ledger. It is small,, having' window a secured by wooden bars and a jailyard inclosed by. a solid fence of three-quarter-inch boards, which a healthy male could push over with his shoulder. But the prisoners rarely, if ever, attempt to escape. Some good stories are told by Judge Kellogg, Judge Hand and other residents. It is a custom to allow the prisoners outon parole, »o that they may cut the grass on neighboring lawns, do garden work, or repair roads for the village or county. Recently one prisonel', who should have returned at eight o’clock, did not apply for admission until nearly an hour later. The warden angrily demanded to know the reason, and added; “Don’t let this occur again, or I will not allow you to come in. I lock the door at eight o’clock, and Won’t open it in the future for you.” Another accused of and awaiting trial for manslaughter, overstayed his parole and pleaded- as an excuse that as it was Saturday he thought he wc.uld go and spend Sunday with his wife, returning to the jail on Monday morning.