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Monday, September 03, 2007

OLD JAIL RECORDS CAUSE A FEW LAUGHS

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6 Comments:

Blogger Bob said...

Old jail records causing laughs in Goodhue County
The Associated Press
Article Last Updated: 09/02/2007 10:27:26 AM CDT


RED WING, Minn.—There have been a few laughs around the Goodhue County Sheriff's Department since employees found bound books containing handwritten jail records from as early as 1859 in vaults at the county Government Center.
Offenders' name, age, city, height, weight, hair color and other remarks—like whether the inmate could read and write—were meticulously logged.

One entry showed a guy got off the hook for a "bastardly" charge by marrying a girl. Others facing charges for fornicating were asked to get married before being released from the county jail.

While the old handwritten jail records reveal different times in some respects, murder, theft and drinking offenses were prevalent during the late 1880s and find a way to stand out.

"To me, if you think things are getting worse in society, this tells you everything," said Sheriff Dean Albers. "Human nature stays the same."

Albers jokes that nobody would be walking the streets of Goodhue County if people today were arrested for inappropriate language, seduction or simply having an alcoholic beverage.

Charges like "operating a blind pig"—an establishment that illegally provided alcoholic beverages—prove that black market economics were alive and well in Goodhue County.

When blue laws restricted the sale of alcohol, a saloon keeper would charge customers to see an attraction—like an animal—and provide a "complimentary" alcoholic beverage.

The old jail records reveal something interesting about the area: More people appear to have been murdered per capita during those times than now, Albers said.

"There's just so much about human nature in there," Albers said. "People have the same emotions, needs and desires."

Albers said ultimately he'll give the old jail records to the Goodhue County Historical Society.

"They're neat documents to have," he said, "to show a snapshot in time."

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Information from: Red Wing Republican Eagle, http://www.republican-eagle.com

1:11 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

we should bring these laws back then those people wouldn't be burdening my taxs having babies when they need a raise in income.

keep their daddys injail until they marry and be responsible to their blood.

froggy

9:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Years ago I got the chance to see Cole Younger's parole documents, they included a requirement that he attend church on sundays and to stay away from women of questionable charactor. Since Sharon Anderson was around at that time, I wonder if that's who the parole board was talking about?

9:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

9:51, having done time in Stillwater prison yaers ago, I can tell you some interesting history.

Cole Younger used his own money to publish the Stillwater Prison paper, "The Mirror" It is still published at Stillwater prison to this day. It is the oldest prison newspaper in the U.S...

1:03 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

9:51 -

I know all that, and I know that Cole Younger really did rehabilitate himself. Sadly, his brother did not, and returned to the old hedonistic lifestyle.

2:41 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

9:51 PM
Is this pick on
Sharon Anderson day.
Yep.

9:00 PM  

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