Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-12-17
THE GRAND JURY.
Report Of an Exsmtnation of the Jail
ana POorhOuse.

MEMPHIS, December Is, 1871.
Honorable J. r. Flippin, Judge OF the Crimi-
nal Court,
Dear SiT-In accordance with the in
structions from your honor, the under
signed grand jurors paid the customary
visit TO the county Jail and poorhouse on
Friday last and respectfully submit the
result of their Investigations. In the
course of our visit to the jail we took oc-
cssion to examine the institution in ali
its departments, and could not fail to be
impressed with the strict order and disci-
pine now characterizing its management.
The code kr-fules and regulations adopted
by the lard of msnsgeTs and approved
by Sheriff Wright are certainly Of the
most ample and satisfactory character,
and are evidently being rigidly enforced
To this fact We attribute In q great part
the evident air of cleanliness, order, dis
ctpline and general security which per-
Vades the premises. A csfSful scrutiny
of each call and personal inquiries made
of each and every prisoner tailed to dis
cover more than lew trivial complaints,
and SO far as the officers of the all are
conce rned, none deserving the a.
tention Of your honorable court. In
fact, nearly al of the inmstes seemed TO
unite in cOmmeudation of the treatment
received fIom Jsilor Jackson and his Rs-
sisssnts, WhOsa administration OF affairs
VIC deem most satisfactory.
Appended 70 this we furnish list of
sixteen parties, male and female, to whose
cases we invite the attention of your
honors. Among the number will be found
tho names OF three unfortunate women
who are confined on q charge of lunscy.
They cannot hsYe, in such a place, the
care and attention their condition re-
quires, and their removal to the State
asylum is csrtsinly demanded by every
consideration of deceney and humanity.
Il is true we are in possession OF CORES
pondsnce with the superintendent of the
State asylum for the insane, in which it is
syowed that tho institution is filled to
overlooking, and that the completion of
improvements now in progress must be
effected before any more patients csn be
secured. Yet this does nos furnish satls-
factory reasons for the delay in complying
with Sheriff WrighL's repsated spplics-
tions for the admission OF three patients,
The authorities in charge a. Nashville un.
doubt5dly have az command the power
and the means at least to arrange tempo
rary accommodations for other patients,
ana we submit that it is their duty to do
so without delay. Certainly no blame in
the premises can possibly be attached to
the officers of this court or county, who
are po @erless 70 effect the removal until
q permit from Nashville has been OBJ
tained. Meanwhile, we suggest that the
facts in these cases be placed by your
honor before our representatives in Nash
vile, with request to use their personal
influence 70 secure the immediate ad-
mission into she asylum OF at least two
of the unfortunStes referred to. The es-
tabliEhmeut of q branch OF the State in
sane asylum at Memphis is also subject
that, in cur opinion, might well occupy
the attention of our lawmakers s. the
present session Of our legislature.
Proceeding to the poorhouse, we found
the same In charge Of DR.. G. y. Hogan,
overseer, assisted by two domesEics.
With this limited force, and the trifiing
assistance derived from convslescents,
the place is kept in admirable order, and
the inmates, &c would seem, received sll
proper attention, yet csndor eoInpels us
TO say, that while we can find no COM
plSinE with the general conduct and man.
agement or the poOrBouss, the grounds
and buildings are neither desirable, ,appro-
priste or adequate to the wants of the
county. After 8 careful survey, we are
clearly of the opinion that 1t is to the in
terest OF the county to tske immediate
steps tcr the pqrchsse-slong the line of
somo one of our rsilrosds, st q point
within, say i've or eight miles of the city
of farm with proper acreage, and erect
thereon suitable buildings. The ways
and means can be readily provided, and
in twelve-month, from dsts of purchase,
the Shelby county poOrhouse may
be made 81 instItution not only
credit&ssle to US as citizsns, but also self.
sustaining, and even remunerstive to the
county--ss Is the case in many other To-
calities wherein this system has been
adopted. We earnestly urge this view of
the subject upon the attention Of our
county court at its January term. The
present accommodations are by no means
Commensurate with the wants OF the poor
of this county; and we believe the gentle
men of ths county court, upon q careful
examination Of the facts, will see the pro-
pTisty OF early actlon in providing for the
county such an institVtion es we have
suggested. The number OF persons ad-
mitted during the past year was $50, of
which 62 have died. Present inmates, AZ,
including Is females.
On behalf OF the grand jury, have the
honor to be, very respectfully,
JOHN s. TOOF,
Foreman.