The history of the jail below writer is unknown. RALLS COUNTY JAILS THE PRESENT JAIL, BUILT 1868-69 The two-story limestone building across the street and back of the Courthouse is the County’s third jail, built 1868-69. The structure facing the street was designed for the jailer’s residence; it is now used as office space and storage of evidence. The jail is an ell at the rear. In in 1961 and old wooden wing with jailer’s kitchen, dining room and bath was torn away, and the building remodeled. The work was done by Sheriff William Harlow, who also built the new frame addition at the rear, installed closets, and the kitchen and bath. The stone part of the residence has two large rooms on each floor, with central hallway. Closets were built into rooms for the first time in 1961. The stone for the building was taken from the same quarry used to build the original part of the Courthouse. The quarry is east of New London on the old road to Organ Ferry Bridge. The same year the quarry was used for stone for the jail, stone was removed from it for the building of the Oliver H. P. Ledford residence, at the north edge of town; it is now occupied by Mrs. Otis Wolfe. THE FIRST JAIL, 1822 The county has had three jails and three courthouses. The first Courthouse and jail were in the same building, a 24x18 foot log structure on the southwest corner of the first courthouse square, which was bounded by Third, Fourth, Church & Clay Streets. The jail was divided into two rooms on the first floor of this 1820 building. One room was the dungeon, built without windows. The other room was a cell with barred windows. The jail rooms were entered through trap doors from the courtroom overhead. When the old public square was divided into lots and sold at auction, the Court kept half an acre on the southwest corner of the block, with the jail in the center, and used the old jail until 1841. This old “Gaol” had to be guarded day & night. The local militia men were deputized from the different communities, in shifts, for guard duty. Felons were put in the dungeon; others were imprisoned for non-payment of debts, betting on horses, violating the Sabbath, or fighting. Men seldom gave bond or paid fines- they preferred jail sentences to paying cash. Money was more valuable than time. PRISON BOUNDS The Court hired a surveyor to lay off prison bounds, so the men could be “in jail” while out working on the streets or chopping firewood. Since there were fewer than 50 buildings in New London in 1822, all the town & plenty of woods were in the prison bounds, half a mile square. A post was set at each corner to mark the bounds beyond which they were not allowed to venture. The bounds began at the corner west of what is now Mary Kirk’s residence; ran west to a point near the public spring, south to the corner near Cook Watson’s home, and east to the corner in front of Charles & Sue Lemon’s home; thence north back to the beginning. In 1834 a brick courthouse had been erected on the new square, but the old jail had not been replaced. JAIL BUILT IN 1841 Lewis Tracy built the second jail in1841, for $1100. It was on the northeast corner of the new courthouse square. It was two stories high, just 20x20 feet. The building had a hipped roof, and an outside covered stairway with door at top, leading into the only entrance, which was into the room occupied by debtors and minor offenders. The bottom room had no windows or doors, and was the dungeon. There was a trap door with a grill in it, to admit air; this opened into the debtor’s room. It was of brick, lined with heavy oak timbers, dovetailed and dowelled together. The walls, floor and ceiling of the first floor dungeon were lined with sheet iron firmly pinned to the oak timbers. PATROLMEN TO GUARD JAIL An act of Missouri legislature, December 1855, provided for township patrolmen, who were paid 20 cents an hour, to patrol their own townships and do special guard work. They worked at the jail in turn. The first patrolmen appointed were William Harris & Isaac Ely, Captains; Albert Lancaster, James D. Caldwell, Jefferson A. Mayhall, John C. Briggs, George W. Ledford and Robert A. Daniel. They guarded some distinguished prisoners, including James Fagan, fined $25 and 25 cents court costs (compare to $35 court costs now!) for spitting on the floor and ruining dignity of the court. Burr McPhearson was incarcerated the same day on the same charge- perhaps he spat twice, for his fine was $50 + the 25 cent costs. This jail was never satisfactory, it was difficult to guard, and the upkeep and janitor work was difficult. Ralls prisoners frequently were kept in the Marion County jail, although this was expensive. Several times the bills from the jailer at Palmyra amounted to $150 a month. The high cost of crime was evident, even then. THE THIRD JAIL The present jail was built on lot 57, block 14, 1868-69. In December, 1867, the Court appropriated $9,000 for the jail, plus $2,000 to build the jailer’s residence joined to it. Frank Buchanan and Company were given the contract. William Lindsay contracted to remove the old jail, remove all the rubble from the entire square and smooth the lawn, for $250. When the jail was completed, December 1869, $135.30 was paid for iron bedsteads to go in the jail cells. In the spring of 1870 Ezra Buchanan was paid $25 to build a stout plank fence all around the jail yard. The court also paid to have the public square seeded to grass, trees and shrubs were set out, and for the first time the County had a pretty square with a neat jailer’s residence nearby. Samuel McCune was the first Sheriff to live in the jail, and all Sheriffs since, until the present Sherriff Don St. Clair, occupied it during their term in office. Formerly the Sheriff’s wife usually prepared the meals for prisoner sand was paid a stated amount per mean. When the Sheriff was out of town, a Deputy took care of the prisoners. The jail is entered from the central hallway. The cells for men are on the lower level. There are two cells opening off the stair landing, which were formerly used by women. Women prisoners are no longer confined in this jail; there is no running water or plumbing for this floor; these old cells were in later years used for storage by the jailers family. All prisoners are now kept in jails of nearby counties. The entrance to the jail itself is made so that a wicket curves in, in a half circle, so one can see down the wall, both sides of the door, and make certain no one inside is standing against the door frame to attack. The wicket has a pass-through shelf for food, so that meals can be handed in without opening the door. The first iron beds were later replaced with steel bunks. Masonry walls inside give some privacy to the cells. Visitors usually stand and visit through the wicket in the hall. Visiting hours and days are strictly adhered to. Mrs. Logie Weaver said that the jail was empty only one night during the four years her husband Charles was Sherriff. Mrs. Loney Rosser, the only woman ever to serve as Sheriff recalls that 13 men were prisoners one night. Bill Harlow had a few prisoners who stayed quite a while awaiting trial-one man is more than 3 months. BABY BORN IN JAIL When Charles T. Weaver was Sheriff, Mrs. John Nelson gave birth to a girl in the jail. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson, an illiterate couple who lived on the “Salt River Switch Farm” now owned by Jack Briscoe, were accused of murdering a man named Stull and his mother. John Nelson was tried at Palmyra on a change of venue, and hanged there. Mrs. Weaver took care of the little baby and became very fond of her. The mother was tried in Ralls County for murder, and was freed after a successful defense by Attorney Whitecotton. The sight of the little girl running around in the courtroom is thought to have softened the jury. The mother was freed and went to live with relatives in Cuba, MO., and re-married. Mrs. Weaver was grieved to see the little girl sent away to grow up with an illiterate and possibly retarded mother. Sheriff’s families can relate many stories of attempted escapes and the other problems. One Sheriff’s wife was a good cook and an old tramp visited regularly, asking to be put in jail. “Guests” of the county have, as a rule, not been too happy with the accommodations, although they have been treated fairly during their stay at Hotel de Ralls. Ralls County “Record” November 11, 1867 County Jail; The County Court are making arrangement to receive bids for erecting a county jail, the work to be commenced as early next spring as the nature of the weather will permit. The plan is, as now contemplated to erect a stone and brick building combined, the part built of stone to ??? as a jail and the brick as a residences for the jailer. It would be safe to say that Ralls County has expended in the last five or six years for guards and the confinement of prisoners in the other counties sufficient to build a first class jail, so we the think the contemplated improvement has been delayed enough and should be shoved along as fast as possible. Ralls County “Record” May 17, 1868 New Jail: The old jail, together with the old building known as the “county house” are being torn down and the rubbish removed, a new jail will be erected immediately, east and just outside of the Public Square and a jailor house will be built with the brick taken from the two houses. Both buildings have long been a public nuisance and we are glad to see them being demolished. A house for the accommodation of those violating the law has long been needed in this place and it is hoped the one in contemplation will be capable of securing all who may be so unfortunate as to be incarcerated within its walls Ralls County “Record” May 27, 1874 We learn that while Richard Smith was riding along the road somewhere near West Ely, three highwaymen attacked him, knocking him off his horse and took from his pockets about $200 in cash, Mr. Smith was badly bruised up, but not dangerously hurt. One of the highwaymen, the one who knocked him off his horse and who had previously worked for him, was arrested the same evening and taken to Hannibal. The robbery was committed in Ralls County, near the Marion County line. Since writing the above, the arrested highwayman, while being conveyed from Hannibal to the place, was stopped by posse of citizens, taken from the officer having him in charge, conveyed into the timber and under a threat of instant death by hanging, forced to tell who his comrades were, where they were and what he had done with the money. He is now in jail here to await trail at the next setting of the court. Efforts are being made to secure the arrest of the two accomplices, which it is hoped will prove successful. The act of forcibly taking a prisoner from the hands of the officer may be called a “little” stretching of the law, yet the object and intent of the citizens was not to hang the man, but simply secure the money stolen and ascertain the whereabouts of his accomplices, hence we are of the opinion that more good was accomplished than wrong committed. Mr. Smith has not recovered any of his money. Correction- The robbery was not committed on the road, as stated above, but after night as Mr. Smith was returning from the barn to his house. We did not ascertain positive whether the posse of citizens succeeded to compelling the prisoner to reveal anything or not. Suppose however they did not or we should have heard something about it. Ralls County “Record” May 27, 1874 Last Monday night about forty or fifty armed men made their appearance in front of the jail in this place and demanded of Mr. B. T. Robinson, the jailor, to deliver the keys to the cell containing the prisoner who knocked down and robbed Mr. Richard Smith, recently.. Mr. Robinson refused to comply with their request, whereupon they drew their revolvers, placing to his head and told him to surrender the keys or they would take his life. As it happened Mrs. Robinson had charge of the keys, which were suspended on a ring. She told the infuriated mob that if they would permit her husband, herself and child to depart in peace she would deliver them the keys. To this they consented and were accordingly placed in the possession of the ring containing the keys. Mrs. R., however, while contending with the leader of the mob. Had taken the precaution to remove from the ring the key belonging to the outside door and they failed to gain an entrance. They remained in the hall for some time, but finding themselves outwitted by the brave and gallant Mrs. Robinson, they left the building, vowing that they would return and “hang the d---d scoundrels yet.” A strong guard is now watching the jail, but we trust that nothing of a serious nature will take place. Ralls County “Record” July 2, 1874 Another mob visits the New London Jail, horrible: Our citizens were again wrought up to the highest pitch of excrement last Saturday morning, between 12 and 1 o’clock, by thirty-five armed men who visited the jail for the purpose of taking there from the three prisoners confined for the robbery of Richard Smith, sometime since. With the aid of a large sledge hammer they succeeded in forcing and entrance leading into the hall, completely demolishing the locks and also damaging the doors considerably. The enraged men then commenced pounding away on the door leading up to the cell to which the prisoners were confined and then a scene took place which beggars description. The frightened men shirked for help, imploring Mrs. Robinson, the jailer, to save them from the hand of the mob. It was but the work of the moment to gain entrance to the prisoners’ cell and then shooting commenced, shot guns, revolvers and one Henry rifle were discharged trough the grate in rapid succession and the prisoners yelled piteously for mercy, at the same time crouched in the corners like freighted cats. About this time a shot was fired on the outside of the prison, when Mr. Robinson, who was in a cell upstairs, began to fire on the men who were keeping guard over the building on the outside. The men on the inside thinking, no doubt, that they had killed the prisoners went out and exchanged several shots with Mr. B., one of the which took effort in the facing of the window, within an inch or two of Mrs. R.’s head. The mob then left in a northerly direction in a quiet, orderly manner. The prisoners were all slightly wounded about the head and face, but the damage will be repaired, as the shot was small. Great credit is due Mr. Robinson for the manner in which he conducted himself while trying to defend the prisoners, as he was all alone, having discharged the guards a few nights previous. A heavy force is now on duty at the jail and will be kept there until the August term of the Circuit Court. We trust that we shall hear of no more such trouble in our midst as such proceedings greatly injure the fair reputation of our county and might end sadly if it is again attempted
Posted on: Tue, 26 Nov 2013 01:49:26 +0000