Correctional police.
--
Messrs. Williams and
Kimbrough, Overseers of the Chain-Gang, were summoned before the
Mayor yesterday to receive some instructions as to the mode of managing that penal institution.
He said that formerly he had nothing to do but assign suitable parties to positions of labor and to discharge them therefrom for good and sufficient cause.
It was incumbent on the
Superintendent of Streets to say where they should work, but in no case was it to be beyond the limits of the corporation, and was to be on public works owned by the city.
The Superintendent of Streets, who was present, said that the ordinance was silent as to who should direct where the gang must work, but that he had assumed occasionally to direct in conjunction with the
City Engineer.--The
Mayor said it was his duty to appoint persons to take charge of the gang, and that the duty of providing balls and chains for the members devolved on the
Superintendent of Streets.
The latter said the articles could be had in quantities to suit.
The
Mayor alluded to the recent escape of
Wm. Booth, a member of the gang, and the circumstances connected therewith as reported, the accuracy of which the overseers denied in some particulars, and inquired what they must do when parties refused to work.
In reply, he said there must be no more escapes, there need be none, and when such an event did occur it must be reported instantly to him or some other magistrate.
He said in reference to the government of refractory subjects, power was given him by a law passed March 27th, 1860, to order 10 lashes to be given to a free negro for each separate offence reported, and to order a white subject to solitary confinement, with bread and water diet, for ten days for each offence, with the accompaniment of balls and chains.
He had not exercised power heretofore not delegated to him, but having authority he could now, in cases being reported to him, exercise the same, not only in behalf of law and order, but to the upholding of the authority of the overseers.
We would suggest to the overseers, that in case of an attempted escape, "personal violence" is not incompatible with their duty.
