Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-01-08
GRAND JURY REPORT.
The County Poor House n Hell mp
ON Earth-The Jail In a had FIX


ON Earth-The Jail IN a had Fix,
Etc. 10 rrets
The Grand Jury returned areport into
court this morning. The report reviewed
the yellow fever epidemic, and referred
to the death Of their foreman, ID. d.
Cennell.
The jury is Of opinion that it would
take an expert three or four months to
show the exact condition of county
affairs, as appear on the books and
especially with reference to the Trustees
office.
The County Poor House was found to
be poor house, hospital and en in
sane asylum combined, wherein the
inmates were thrown together promiscu-
ously. The sick and well, sane and
insane, blacks and whites, halt, lame
and blind, are mixed up together, and in
many in stane.s patients with loathsome
diseases are in rooms with healthy per
sons. The poor house is a disgrace to
humanity. Filthy beds, with not
sufficient covering for the sick
All seemed to have the appearance OF
perfect neglect on the part of those who
are paid to attend to these things, aud
even the food given to the inmates is
not sufficient, aud is not of the right
quality. The jury find that a perfect
disregard to the association OF the sexes
is permitted in the Poor House, and
they found one idiotic female, who had
been an inmate for five years, to be in a
state Of pregnancy. The inmates, with
out regard to sex, were kicked and
cuffed, and shamefully whipped with a
knotted bullwhip. The inmates are
beaten like oxen by DIR. &. G. Hogan,
Superintendent, and his assistant or
wardmaster, Henry A, Grady. A bar
rel of whisky is used every two months,
which is outrageous. The jury is of the
opinion that the system under which the
Poor House is governed is disgrace to
the county.
The prisoners..in the county Jail suffer
from cold and want Of proper bedding,
all of which is inhuman in the extreme.
The food furnished the prisoners is
wholly inadequate, and not Of the proper
kind and the vessels in which the food
was cooked were found in a filthy condi-
ton, full of dirt. The jury found the
druggist, the cooks and the turkeys for
the inside of the Jail all to be prisoners,
most improper practice.
The jury recommend that George W.
Powell, Tax Collector, strengthen his
county bond of $4,000 and State bond
of $25, 900; that A. M. Alsop, Railroad
Tax Collector, strengthen his bond of
$25, 600; that j. Harvey Mathes, Privi-
lege Tax Collector, strengthen his bond
of 10000; that B. P. Anderson, Com
missioner of Revenue, strengthen his
bond of $4,000; that R. B. Miller, pub
lie guardian, strengthen his bond OF
$l2, 900, and that Mat Shelby and George
Williams, constables, strengthen their
bonds of $4,000; recommend that the
Financial Agent of the county be COM
PEELED to give bond of $4,000.
The jury recommended many checks
on the office of the Financial Agent, and
also recommended that the practice of
specializing in county warrants, which
prevails in and around the Office of the
Financial Agent, be discontinued. The
Jury find that A. Woodward, County
Trustee, is q defaulter as follows In
county revenue, $77,563 80; in school
fund tax, $l5,297 10; total, $92,86O Go.
Also warrants amounting to $55,508 81
have been distracted. The jury calls
the attention of the Financial Agent to
have the warrants cancelled immedi-
ately upon being paid by the Trustee.
The jury thanks Attorney General
Wright, Criminal Court Clerk W. 7.
Avery and his deputy, Mr.. Richard
Capers, and Sheriffs Williams and Saw
age and County Attorney Mcdowell
for their uniform kindness and attention.
The report Is signed W. Y. Cirode,
foreman; John W. Waynesburg, clerk;
w. R. Lucas, ]. D. Danbury, Bun F.
Price, A. B. Treadwell, S. S. Halle, G.
W. Teager, u. Keck, F. W. Smith,
Henry James, Alexander Murray, Il.
Cloth.