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Chapter Vii Getting Ready For Work 1887 Henderson County KyArchives History Books

Book Title: History Of Henderson County, KY

CHAPTER VII.

GETTING READY FOR WORK-PRISON HOUSE TO BE BUILT, ETC.-SUICIDE OF J. ELMAS DENTON, JAILER.

AT the July meeting, 1799, of the County Court, initiatory steps were taken looking to the building of a prison house of suitable size for those times.
General Samuel Hopkins and John Husband were appointed a committee to investigate and report a plan for such a building as in their judgment would meet the views of the court. At the August term of the said court, the committee made the following report. The report is copied verbatim and was evidently written by the learned architect who furnished the plan of the then royal lockup:

    "The Commissioners appointed to report a plan of a "goal," and the necessary repairs of the school house to make it convenient for holding the courts therein, reports the plan of the "goal " as follows: the lower room to be twelve feet in the clear, built of square timbers ten inches thick, each wall three double, with the middle timbers standing upright, the floors double ten inches thick crossing each other, the loft in the same manner, the upper room of square logs eight inches thick, both stories eight feet high and clabboard roof, and the necessary grating for the windows and locks for the doors, to be doubled and fifty dollars to repair the school house.

                                           "SAMUEL HOPKINS,
                                           "JOHN HUSBAND,
                                                 " Commissioners.

WHEREUPON IT WAS

    "Ordered, that a jail be built on the Public Square in the Town of Henderson. Abraham Landers, Jacob Barnett and John Husband are appointed Commissioners to let the building and the additions to the school house, to the lowest undertaker; provided, however, such alterations do not materially exhaust the amount of funds insight and report."

    At the September meeting, the Commissioners reported having let the building of the jail to Jonathan Anthony, for the sum of three hundred and thirty-nine dollars, to be built according to the plan and specifications reported. This report was adopted, and the Commissioners continued with instructions to make further efforts to let the additions to the old school house, to any person who would undertake the work, for a sum not exceeding fifty dollars. This, the first public building in Henderson County, was soon begun and completed.

VIEWERS APPOINTED.

    At the February term of the court, and the first court held after the completion of the new jail, the following order passed:

    "On motion of Jonathan Anthony, it is ordered that Adam Rankin, John Standley and John Sprinkle gentlemen to view the house built by said Anthony, for the public jail of the county, and make report of the repairs to be made tp said house in order to make it sufficently strong for the safe keeping of prisoners of the court."

    Agreeably to this order the Committee of the court did view the jail, and returned to the court the following report:

VIEWERS' REPORT.

    "By order of the court we proceeded to view the jail, and find the doors of the lower story to be about three and a half inches thick, not well spiked, and that part of the hinge which goes into the log for the door to hang on, does not go through to clinch, the facings of the doors are not spiked, the staples are not sufficient, some of the logs of the upper floor of the under story are loose and ought to be made fast; the locks we can't say anything about, as they are not at the doors, the bars of the window not an inch thick, the door of the upper story not well spiked, nor the facing, which ought to be done; the windows not so large as called for, and the facing not well spiked, some of the logs not squared and not sufficiently close.

                                    "ADAM RANKIN,
                                    "JOHN HUSBANDS,
                                    "JOHN SPRINKLE,"

"A FAULTY GOAL."

    From this report the court determined that Mr. Anthony, the contractor, had not complied with his contract, but, on the contrary, had failed to convince them that he was a respectable mechanic. However, when the new jail had been completed, it was the pride of the town, not so much owing to its architectural beauty and finish, as to the fact of its being the first public building in the county. It had two stories and two doors, one door opening into the lower story, the other a trap-door opening into the upper story. It had one small window or light-hole in the second story. The lower story was called a dungeon, the upper the debtors' prison, where persons arrested for debt were confined. A common split ladder furnished the poor debtor a pathway from the dungeon to his abode above. There was no fire-place in the jail, so during cold weather those confined in it were compelled to go to bed, keep up a lively calesthenic drill or freeze. This little log prison house, no better than a majority of the cattle stables of the county at this time, was received in 1800, and recognized as headquarters for criminals and debtors, until proving insufficient.

"A NEW JAIL."

Was ordered to be built in 1807. From accounts on file in the office of the County Clerk, it is safe to say that during each year of its existence more money was paid out by the county for jail guards than the miserable little concern cost originally. This insignificant hut was located on Court Square on the spot, where the front gate now stands. This second prison was built in 1808 and was of the following dimensions:

    "The dungeon for criminals sixteen feet square, the sides of hewed logs ten inches in diameter and three logs thick, the floors of the same kind of logs.
and two logs thick, laid at right angles to each other, the inner door made of timber three inches thick spiked with iron spikes three inches apart, hung on strong and sufficient iron hinges with staples and two strong bars to secure the door on the outside; the outside of the door of the same dimension, and finished in the manner as the inner door, except that it shall be secured with a strong jail lock with a window nine inches wide, and two feet in length, secured with a strong iron grate. The debtors' apartment immediately above and of the same dimensions as the dungeon, appendant to the dungeon on the side out of which the door may be cut, a room sixteen feet square of hewed oak logs, one story high, with a good plank floor and loft, a brick or stone chimney in the end, with a door or window in the front of the house, and completely and comfortably finished for a guard room. It was further ordered that each of the before described rooms be covered with good jointed shingles and lastly that the dungeon, debtors' room and room for the guard, be begun and finished in a workman-like manner, on or before the first day of October, 1808. Benjamine Talbott, having agreed, with the consent of the court, to do the above described work, and for which he is to give bond with security in the Clerk's office, with covenant, agreeing with the order of the court in this particular, he is permitted to make use toward completing this work, of such iron taken from the late jail as he may think proper."

    This jail was used until the year 1820, and during its twelve years of existence was never regarded as a safe prison, and was a continual expense to the county. Accounts running from fifty to one hundred dollars were presented annually for guard service, and it may be safely said that five times the cost of the building was paid for guard service alone. These claims continually coming in, awakened the Magistrates to the importance of building a stronger house, so at the October Court of Claims, 1816, five hundred dollars were levied for that purpose. In 1817, '18, '19 and '20, additional levies were made for the same purpose. In the year 1818 Ambrose Barbour, Fayette Posey and John Holloway were appointed commissioners to have built a good and sufficient jail. They presented a plan with specifications, which were approved and adopted. A contract, on the the twelfth day of June, 1819, was entered into with Francis Ham-mill, the then leading contractor in the town, and for the sum of five hundred dollars, but from some unknown cause was annuled, and another made on the third day of September, with William R. Bowen, at, and for the same price, according to the copy and minute of the court, but for the sum of three thousand five hundred dollars, according to the contract signed and entered into between the parties. That our readers may know the character of the building which stood on the brow of the Court Hill for forty-three .years, the specifications adopted by the Commissioners are here inserted:

THE THIRD JAIL.

    "The house to be of brick, forty feet long, twenty-six feet wide, two stories high, the tower story to be nine feet high between the sleepers and joists or floors, and the upper story to be eight feet high between the floors; they must be divided in the lower story by a brick partition midway the house.
The lower story two and a half bricks thick, the upper story two bricks thick in the walls, and two bricks thick in the partition, the underpinning to be stone to the tables, the upper room to be divided into three rooms or cells, each room to be 11x12 feet in the clear, the outer wall of which to be lined with timbers six inches thick, upright, to be faced crosswise with two-inch oak plank, and at least two inches thick and nailed or spiked to the timbers. The partition walls, of and between each of the upper rooms or cells, to be made with upright timbers, eight inches thick and faced on each side crossing with two-inch oak plank, as aforesaid. The lower floor to be laid with one and one-halt inch oak plank, with strong sleepers, the plank to be seasoned and jointed, but need not be dressed. The floors to the second story to be laid with timbers, close, ten inches thick and faced with two-inch oak plank, seasoned and joined as aforesaid, above and below the floor. The upper rooms above to be made with ten-inch timbers, as aforesaid, to be faced cross-wise below with two-inch oak plank. There must be a passageway to the upper room, six feet wide, made with ten-inch timbers, and faced with two-inch oak plank, as aforesaid; on each side, the timbers in all cases, must be placed upright and close together, and the oak plank for the facings must be seasoned and joined, but need not be dressed. To the lower rooms there must be an outside door, and window of eighteen lights to each room, opposite to each and midway of each room, except the room in which the stairway is run up. The stairs to be four feet wide and the railing strong; the steps to be made of oak planks one and one-half inches thick, seasoned and jointed. The door to enter the passage above must be a falling or trap-door of two-inch oak plank, seasoned and jointed double, and spiked crosswise together, to be locked below with a double bolted padlock, and strong hinges let into the timber above. The doors to each of the cells above to be made of sheet-iron at least one-eight of an inch thick, faced with a door of two-inch oak plank, spiked with strong iron spikes, and the facing of each door to be of the same material and thickness, fastened to the timbers, and plank facing with strong iron spikes. The locks to each of the cell doors must be locked with large and strong locks outside. There must be an iron netting above each cell door of one inch square, twelve inches high and as wide as the door. The windows above to be opposite each cell door, of eight lights each, to be gurded with an iron netting one inch square, and the facings must be iron as aforesaid. There must be a chimney at each end of the jail, with a fire-place in each room below, to be placed outside of the wall above, so as not to weaken the wall to the outside cells. The materials of every kind must be of the best kind, and the whole work must be done in a strong, substantial manner. It is to be, and is understood, that the upright timbers are to be let into the timbers above and below with a tenant or groove of two inches deep in the whole width. The roof to be made in the usual way, for instance, as the Court House, in form and material. The rooms in the first story and partition must be plastered, as the Court Room of the Court House."

    This building was located on Court Hill in the rear of the Court House, and in 1820, was completed and received from the contractors by the County Court.
Outside of necessary repairs, it was never of much expense to the county, and was never broken but twice in its history of forty-three years. During that time many of the hardest characters known to the law were incarcerated in it.

    There are incidents connected with this old building interesting and amusing; there are also painful truths, which it is not the purpose of this book to tell about. In 1853 the following order was passed, which will no doubt amuse the reader:

    " Ordered that the jailer of Henderson County purchase for W J. Philips, a prisoner in the county jail on the charge of felony, one comfort, and take fire three times a day, in a pan, for him to warm by, and to guard the fire while said Philips is warming."

A NEW JAIL TO BE BUILT.

    For several years prior to 1860, great complaint had been made to the court concerning the county jail, and at the January, 1860, court,

    " It was ordered that John H. Lambert, William B. Beatty, Barak Brashear, Y.
E. Allison, and L. W. Brown, be appointed commissioners to examine the jail building of the county, and report whether the same can be heated by any safe means, and if not, and they think a new jail ought to be built, to report a plan and the probable cost of the work."

    The Commissioners returned their report to the March court following, and thereupon the Magistrates of the county were summoned to consider the same. In April the Magistrates met, and after having considered the premises for which they had been summoned,

    "It was ordered that William B. Beatty, Y. E Allison, F. E. Walker, Barak Brashear, and Mat. J. Christopher be appointed commissioners of the county, to have made and report a suitable, plan and specifications for a new jail and dwelling house for the jail, the cost of the same to be fixed at cash prices. It was further ordered that P. A Blackwell, F. E. Walker, and P. H. Lockett be appointed a committee to ascertain and report what amount of money the county may have to borrow, and upon what terms the same can be secured, upon the credit of the county for the purpose aforesaid."

    The Commissioners appointed to report a plan and specifications, did so, but from some cause the report did not suit the minds of the Magistrates, and thereupon another set of commissioners, to wit: James B. Lyne, Edward D.
McBride, and C. W. Hutchen were appointed to draft a plan of a good and sufficient jail, and report at this court. Five cents on the one hundred dollars was levied, to be collected and paid into the jail fund. At the November court, 1862, the Commissioners reported a plan and specifications prepared by F. W.
Carter, of Louisville, an architect of considerable reputation, and the same were adopted and approved by the court. On motion Mr. Carter was allowed one hundred and fifty dollars for his work. On motion it was

    "Ordered that C. W. Hutchen, Y. E. Allison, F. E. Walker. E. D McBride, and Jesse Lame be appointed a committee to let, out the building of the new jail to the lowest and best bidder and superintend the building as it progresses."

    They were also directed and empowered to borrow money on the credit of the county at any rate of interest not exceeding 8 per cent. In 1864 this jail was completed, and received, and Y. E. Allison appointed and directed to sell the old building. The present residence of the jailer was built at that time, and in its rear stood the prison, which was thought to be strong enough for all purposes. Around the prison was a brick wall fifteen or twenty feet high, which was thought to be amply sufficient to prevent the escape of any one who might break jail, but this theory proved to be incorrect, and the jail proved to be more vulnerable than the old one, which had been torn down. After some years it became notorious, and regarded as totally unfit for the purpose for which it was intended. 

STILL ANOTHER JAIL.

   The Magistrates, in commission June, 1871, by order appointed C. Bailey, Isom Johnson, and Jackson McClain commissioners to examine the jail building. They were authorized to employ skilled advice, and if in their opinion the building could be repaired, to report what repairs were necessary, and the probable cost, and if in the event the prison could not be made secure, then to report a plan, specifications and probable cost for a new prison house. The Commissioners soon determined that the jail standing at that time was worthless, the timbers having rotted, and at no lime was it such a house as to command the respect of an expert jail bird. They determined that a prison large enough and strong enough should be built, and to better do this, they visited several large cities and made personal examinations of prison houses, built upon the most modern plan, with a view to convenience, strength and security against jail breakers. After thoroughly posting themselves they reported to the August term, 1871, as the result of their labors, a plan and specifications which received the approval of the court. The court in session at that time was composed of the following named
Magistrates: G. W. Griffin, J. E. Denton, J. M. Johnson, Jesse Basket, James M.
Stone, Asa F. Parker, Ben F. Gibson, J. A. Priest, Green W. Pritchett, C. S.
Royster, Hiram Turner, J. F. Toy, William S. Cooper and William W. Shelby. The Commissioners were instructed to advertise for bids and contract for building the new jail, to contain at least sixteen wrought iron cells, and if, in their opinion, the walls standing at that time would not do to be lined with iron, and they should deem it best to build the jail entirely new. This they were authorized to do, having the walls built of blue limestone, or good hard well burnt brick, and lined with iron as in their opinion would be best for the interest of the county, taking into consideration the cost and durability of the work. At this same term, to wit: August, 1871, bonds of the county, to the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars, were authorized to be issued bearing 10 per cent, interest, payable semi-annually, and redeemable after five years at the pleasure of the county. November 23, eight thousand dollars additional bonds were directed to be issued. A number of bids were received by the Commissioners, and upon a careful and close investigation the contract for building the jail was awarded to Haugh & Co., of Indianapolis, Indiana. Subsequently the contract was assigned to Norris & Hinckly, who completed the building at and for the sum of thirty-three thousand four hundred dollars, including all alterations and changes. Major J. M. Stone, who was appointed superintendent of the work, and also a committee to have printed and dispose of the bonds of the county. He did his work well, and paid into the county treasury between sixteen and seventeen hundred dollars premium, received upon the face of the bonds. Major Stone and Asa F. Parker were appointed a committee to sell and have removed the old jail when it was determined to build the present jail entirely new from the ground up. It was sold to the City of Henderson for a small price, and all of the material of value used in building the present handsome city building. On November 30, 1872, final payment was made the contractors. This prison when completed was thought to be invulnerable. It was built upon the most approved plans of prison architecture, including strength and durability, and yet it has been broken or cut through as often, or perhaps oftener, than any of its predecessors, showing conclusively that there is nothing that tools will make that tools will not unmake; One of the saddest incidents in history is associated with this jail. In December, 1875, during the official term of J.
Elmus Denton, a high-strung, impetuous, honorable gentleman, the inmates of the jail effected their escape. The excitement attending the escapade prayed heavily upon his mind, and completely unnerved and prostrated his sensitive, though fearless spirit. He was not to be intimidated by a hundred men, but the censure of the public was more than he could withstand. He thought of nothing else, he allowed his imagination to run wild, and while his friends were far from censuring him, he yet imagined that they did, and within his mind resolved to take his own life rather than face, as he apprehended, a reproving and complaining public. On the morning of December 18, he walked, as was usual for him, up on Main Street, and while there settled several accounts that he owed.
Returning to the jail, and without intimating to a soul on earth, or taking a farewell look or kiss of his devoted wife, went immediately to a room in the second story of the residence, bolted the door, and fired a leaden ball through his brain. He fell upon the floor and expired immediately. His wife hearing the report, rushed to the room door, little anticipating what her eyes would soon behold. Other friends came, and before an entrance could be effected the door had to be broken in. Upon the opening of the door there lay the noble frame of J. E. Denton, enhearsed in death. The scene was a terrible one, completely unnerving those present. Major J. M. Stone was notified and immediately caused a jury to be empanneled for the purpose of holding an inquest. Upon the body was found the note written a short while before the fatal shot, which settled the question as to the cause. He admitted his weakness, and hoped that his death would atone for the jail escapades.


Submitted by: Joy Fisher
sdgenweb@yahoo.com



Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KENTUCKY,
BY
EDMUND L. STARLING,

COMPRISING HISTORY OF COUNTY AND CITY, PRECINCTS, EDUCATION, CHURCHES, SECRET SOCIETIES, LEADING ENTERPRISES, SKETCHES AND RECOLLECTIONS, AND BIOGRAPHIES OF THE LIVING AND DEAD.

ILLUSTRATED.

HENDERSON, KY, 1887.


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