Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-10-02

highly Interesting Report OF the
Grand Jury-The Jail, Poor House,
Pest House - recommendation OF
the Health Officer, etc, etc.
The grand jury of Davidson county yea
terday made a return TO Hon. John Hugh
Smith, Judge of the Criminal Court, of
various matters, of interest to the people of
the county, from which we extract az fol-
I lows:
THE JAIL AND ITS CONDITION.
/ There are confined in the county Jail
| siKty-nine prisoners-one white and two
| colored females, and thirty-fve white and
| thirty-one colored males. Say the jury
| ain our examination of the building, we
found a portion of the cells very damp, the
remainder in fair condition. We found
| in one of the cells the bars of the window
sawed through; and the cement in the
division walls has been picked out bv
which the prisoners can communicate with
each other from cell to cell throughout the
prison. The prison is reasonably clean,
and the health Of the prisoners as good as
could be expected. During our examina-
tion we were present at the morning meal,
and found the walters, (who were prisoEers)
dealing out from a tub the provisions, con-
sisting of piece of very inferior beef and
a small piece of corn bread and in several
instances we did not think the quantity
sufficient, and not as we'll prepared az it
should be. In conversation with the pris-
oners We heard considerable complaint in
regard TO the quantity and quality of their
neutrality-suspicious. in regard to vege-
tables. They have but one small Irish
potato each per day. There is also con-
siderable complaint as to their medical at
tendant. They charge him with intoxica~
ton during his visits, thereby neglecting
his official duties. We would further state
that we do not think there is sufficient
bedding for the comfort of the prisoners"
THE COUNTY POOR HOUSE.
There are twenty-five inmates in this
institution-six white and four colored
females, and eleven white and four colored
male paupers-all invalids. The Jury say
eve found three double frame tenements,
which were occupied by the white paupera.
near the residence of the keeper. The col
ored paupers occupy a double tenement
some six hundred yards distant from that
of the white paupers. The buildings are
very comfortable. We heard no complaint
in regard to the provisions furnished Dr.
Searcy is the attending physician, who
visits the inmates regularly once each week,
and az often as necessary besides The iury
concur in opinion that the location of the
institution is very bad-distance remote
water indifferent, and wood very inconve-
nient."
THE PEST HOUSE.
The jury also visited and examined the
pest house, which is situated on the Buena
Vista pike, about one and half miles from
the city. They found no patients The jury
say: Upon examination of the grounds We
found two collins containing dead bodies,
resting upon the ground near the pauper
burial place, with no person to take charge
of them, and no preparation for burial
supposed to have been left by the under.
taker for the county"
BONDS OF COUNTY OFFICERS.
Owe find" continues the report, 'the
bonds of the various county officers well
secured. We also find the various bonds of
guardians and administrators all solvent"
OFFICIAL TERMS EXPIRED.
We find the terms of Office of the follow.
ing officers expired or vacated at the dates
mentioned, to-wit: