While scouring the 1930 census for my grandfather (he should have been at
home in Kansas City!), I found him half a continent away in the Roanoke City
Jail, one of 171 prisoners (including 27 females) enumerated in the facility
at 210 Campbell Avenue.

My grandfather may have started working for the railroad at that time.
However, finding him in Roanoke raises some questions:

1.  Was the old Roanoke City Jail, located on the top floor of the old
courthouse, routinely home to 171 prisoners?
2.  If not, what would have accounted for so many prisoners that year (April
1930)
3.  Were there any railroad or labor issues at this time?
4.  Are Jail and Inmate records for this period still extant?  Who is the
holder of these records?

I would like to explore what brought him to Roanoke and, ultimately the city
jail.  Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks in advance.

Victoria Robinson

"The danger to political dissent is acute where the Government attempts to
act under so vague a concept as the power to protect 'domestic security.
Given the difficulty of defining the domestic security interest, the danger
of abuse in acting to protect that interest becomes apparent." -- U.S.
Supreme Court, 1972

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