Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-03-25
OUR BAsTILE.
Condition of shelby County Jail as
Seen by Another Grand Jury.
Shocking and Inhuman Treatment
Of Prisoners by the Keeper and
His Assistants.

The Grand Jury Of the Criminal Court,
at present in session, made report con-
corning the county Jail two or three days
since, which now comes to light for the
frat time. 1t makes shocking revela-
ton Of the most scientific cruelty. The
document is as follows, having gone on
the record yesterday
The Grand Jury of the Criminal Court
Of Memphis, upon information brought
before them, have deemed it their duty to
call the attention of the Court to the con-
dition Of the prisoners now confined in
the jail of Shelby county, and from ex-
animation of the Jail made by the Grand
Jury, which has shown great neglect
upon the part of the officers in charge, as
well as testimony and information COM
municaied to them, they for the present
AS necessary to the immediate relief of
such ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS to the Court
that the jsiler of Shelby county be or
dered By the Court to furnish all prison.
ers now and hereafter in his custody, who
are held by process from this Court or
by commitment of any magistrate for
appearance before this Court, the follow.
ing articles: One clean bed or mattress,
two muslin sheets, one pillow, two mus
lin pillow-cases, which sheets and pillow
cases shall be washed aud changed twice
q week.
That be also furnish such prisoners two
meals Of good sound bread and meat well
cooked each day, with vegetables in adj
dition at one Of the meals, and plenty of
good clear water twice day.
That be also furnish to such prisoners
as may need them, each, two shirts or
uudershirts, with two pairs Of drawers;
and for these latter articles he return the
bills TO the County Commissioners that
the said drawers and shirts be washed for
each prisoner, SO as to enable him to
change the same twice week; that the
said jailer furnish the necessary apps-
raius for shaving once week keep the
Jail cleaH, and remove all filth from each
cell and other parts Of the Jail every
tventy-four hours
Tha. the said jqiler shall permit no
such prisoner to have more than one pint
of whisky every twenty-four hours.
That male and female prisoners, ex-
cept husband and wife, shall not be kept
in the same cell.
That abundance OF yas.e paper be fur
nished for the comfort and secommoda-
ton Of the prisoners.
1t has also come to the knowledge
Of the Grand Jury that crus,
and inhuman punishment have been
inflicted upon said prisoners, and
that, for that purpose, dungeon has
been constructed Of not more than three
or four feet square, and six or seven feet
high, almost entirely without ventilation,
IN which prisoners have been confined
By the arbitrary order OF the jailer OF bis
subordinates frequently without food
for periods OF twebty-four or forty-elght
hours; being unable from the small size
OF the dungeon 10 sat or lie dotoR, or
10 rest in dng manner, and necessarily
eomysllsd to stand upright during the
lchoie time 90 the iron aoor Of the dun
geoh without shoes or socks, and without
any provision for relieving nature, ex-
cstt only upon the floor on which they
staa.si:
That in one instance an iHaane person
vas confined in such dungeon for q
period Of tioentyJour hours or more
and that these p1Bishnents are inflicted
for alleged misconduct upon the part OIL
the prisoners They therefore recon
mend that such order will be entered by
the Court as may prevent these abuses 10
future. II. L. JANIS,
Foreman Of the Grand Jury.
1t is therefore ordered by the Cour
that the above report be entered Of record
By the Clerk Of this Court; that the re
concentrations therein made be adopted
and entered as sn order Of this Court
and that the said jailer be hereafter pro
hibited from iuhicting any punishment
Of any kind upon such prisoners under
his charge, unless such as may be per
mitted By the rules for the regulation o
said jail which may be adopted BY th'
Grand Jury and permitted BY the Court
and that the jailer be furnished By ID
Clerk with copy Of this report, aud th
order entered therein.
A true copy from the record.
Attest: II. l. Fox, Clerk
r. S. CAPERs, ID. {.
March "a, 1869