Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-08-26

To Jhe Hon. II. +. Hudson, Judge OF the
Criminal Court Of Memphis:
We beg leave to make the following
final report of the Grand Jury for the
June term, 1867;
The Gost Of Construction of lail,
Upon an examination into the affairs of
the county Jail, we find that tie original
contract for building the tail. with }. J.
Powers. was for the sum of SAP, 100 90;
that damages for not furnishing cash on
estimated work were sustained 10 the
amount Of 8,7l4 IS; for additional thirty
feet in length and increased size Of cells,
iron roof, walls around the Jail aysd mapY
other things in alditipn 70 original con-
tract, Sl3S,te5 co. making a total cost ny
Mr.. Powers of S2sl ,20q -, This amount
was to have been cashed. On this amount
Mr.. Powers received in cash s4O, ,OUO ",
leaving balance due him in cash of $40
2O9 IS, for which he agreed to take in cash
S24O, 600 90.
Mr., Powers has received eCUuty var
rants at various tiUaas wAen they were at
a discaunt, ON final settlement Mr..
Powers claimed county warrants to make
them equivalent to cash. The warrants
at the time the final settlement was made
were worth 6Oc, and he proposed to e!loE
for SAID warrants 65sLC, winch was
agreed to lY tie hoard. 1t required in
WaraaAta $50, 900 90 (at G63So) 10 be equal
in cash to s240, ,O00 90; Mr.. Powers thereby
received from the county in warrants
$3.50. l75 20, and in cash $50, coo CO.
Total to j. j. Powers con o.,.,,-..S3s0,l 10 %
J. b Coo,, -9g9 g99 Go g
John K. WincheII, architect, -. ESQ %
]. 7. Swayne, Ex. Comm 'd-......--...----~ goo %
John Johnson - ....,,...-.-.. Az "
Reuben Daily, Clerk. -..-.....-s 2i9 y
Korte 8 Meilonongh, Pinfnoers'"---.' V.VVV W
Total cost .....................sl2a, ~, ,2S6 %
How much Mr.. Powers received for his
warrants. when he first commenced re-
ceiving as pay, we are unable 10 state, but
at the final settlement he was allowed 10
estimate them at 663&c, which seems to be
an easy wav the Board has of making
settlements, as we find it very often done
by estimate instead of actual figures.
This makes the total cost of the iail
amount TO S126,7lt IS MORE than W0uld
have 5eea required If the county had
paid the cash when due.
The Cost of Maintaining the Iaii and Prls-
oners.
We find the ;ai! yeil Ultilt and in every
respect a first-elass building, safe and Sc
cure, recurring not over three guards at
any ordinary time. We also ind on m
veStigatiOn that the AMOUNT pflabCr and
vigilance reuaired TO he exercised in adj
mitting visitors into the Jail; the constant
watch required to keep the prisoners from
saving the bars and grating, and people
from giving them the various implements
used in cases OF escape; the conveying of
persons to and fro from Court, demands
more help than the jailOr and his assist
ant can give. The iailor and his assist
ant receive Sl25 90 each. Both ofthese Off
GERS are indispensable, as one could not be
there all the time.
Guards at the new Jail have cost the
county SS,OlS 62. which is entirely TOO
much. The cost of guards at the old jail
amounted to 81, $50 50. This was under
the former Sheriff
Tho ongineef aild his assistaill logeth
receive SI75 per Mouth.
Mai. A. R. Morton has the feeding of
the prisoners in Jail at Coo each per day,
this being according to the law fixing the
price. We believe this to be too much.
when the present law was passed every
thing was much higher than nj this time,
and there were not the cOnveniences cN-
istiug for cooking and distributing the
food that now exist in the HeE Jail. water
is furnished la each cell for cleansing and
drinking. He is required to give twomeals
per day- and does not give the prisoners,
only when sick, either tea or coffee, or
soup. At this season of the year the
principal diet is corn bread AID meat one
meal and liehtbFead| and meat
for the i'Other Fnwhich appears 10
be cood and wholesome. O. Negeta-
bles are occasionally given, and
oftener when asked for by the prisoners.
The county has been furnishing mattras-
ses, blankets, ETC., which duly belongs TO
the one feeding the prisoners (the Jailorl,
to furnish as he stands as landlord, and
the code presoribes that he shall furnish
these things at his own expense. The
Board of Commissioners have been fur-
nishing large amounts Of such things for
the Jail under an order of ex-Judge VIZ
liam Hunter. lie certainty must have
known he was transcenCfing his duty when
ne Issued such 8n'order; see code sections
54l9, $40, 1914. There has been lack of
due diligence an the part of the County
Commissioners in looking after the inter-
est of the people in point of economy in
regard to the fail, which we hope will be
remedied in the future. We subioin
statement of the number of prisoners
now in Jail, and the condition ofthe ca1es.
Also, itemized bill of e9tra work over
first contract,
Number Of Prisoners and Condition Of Cases.
Number of prisoners confined in county
Jail August goth, 1869.
For Criminal 42
For Mgpicpai Court.-..,..........-.... Is Is
For CircJtit Court u
For County Cottrt
For United States
For Witnesses .....-.
lotai....s..,,, '..''-.''
OF the A. cases over which the Criminal
Court has iurisd iction there are now under
conviction. -
Cases continued on affidavtts of defendants
until October term, loj9. IA
arNstla
tOber term,
Cases Indicted awaiting gtrial...-..............-.
Total .....,. Al