Police Bid Farewell To Aged County Jail

PRISONERS MOVED TO NEW COUNTY JAIL

County Police Stand Guard During Change Over

County Police bade farewell to their old quarters late Friday afternoon as the ancient jail was deserted for the first time since 1896.

The transfer of prisoners and records to the new County Court House moved along without a hitch. The convicts actually were smiling as they walked into the new jail where soft music was flowing from speakers in each cell block.

A modern communications system in the new jail building links cell block areas with the dispatcher's office. Music is played thorough this system during the day.

One of the most unique devices in the push-button ultra modern jail is a specially constructed elevator.

The elevator, which is operated by a key available only to the jailer, has a built-in cell. The cell allows the jailer to operate the elevator with no danger of an attack from a prisoner.

Sheriff B.B. Brockman recommended and designed the cell in the elevator although the original plans did not call for the security measure.

Sheriff Brockman explained the reason for the cell by recalling an incident stamped on his memory in a western town a few years ago.

A prisoner killed the jailer and then himself while Sheriff Brockman was visiting the jail in the western town. The incident occurred in the elevator of the jail which contained no special security equipment.

Daniel Jackson Turner, 27, of Boundary Drive, was the first prisoner locked in the new jail by Sheriff Brockman Friday afternoon. He was arrested Friday on forgery charges.

The Sheriff's Department and Judges Ralph Mitchell and Bobo Burnett were the only departments moved into the new courthouse Friday.