The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1876-06-08
Grand Jury Report.


To the Hon. W. S. McLemore,
Judge. We, the Grand Jurors, as
charged by your Honor, have visit
ed and examined into the condition
of the poor house, Jail and court
house of Giles county, and submit
the following report.
The poor house is situated upon
a tract of 1877 acres of land belong
ing to the county, about four miles
East of Pulaski, on Leatherwood
creek, in a healthy neighborhood.
OF the tract, % acres are being Gull
tivated in corn, 10 acres in wheat
and 4 acres in garden vegetables
here is a sufficient supply Of
healthful food on hand to last for
some time. The inmates of the
poor house are % in number and
are made up of males, S females
> children (white, and colored
females and one cOlOred child. The
Grand Jurors examined into the
condition of the inmates, visiting
each room separately, and they are
of the opinion that the condition of
all could be greatly improved with
cut much additional expense to the
county, and that humanity and
christian benevolence demand the
expenditure. The health and com
fort of all the inmates would be i'm
proved by a fresh supply OF beds
and bedding, and especially is this
the case with the white males and
coiored inmates, We found the
dining room wholly inadequate for
the purpose for which it is used. It
is a very small room in a diiapida-
ted condition, and Is used both as
dining and a cook room, when it
Is not suitable for either purpose.
We recommend that it be tom down
and other rooms built in lieu.
The rooms set apart for the ac-
commodation of the coloTed in
mates are two in number, and they
are small, badly constructed and lily
suited for the purpose to which
they are applied, and their interior,
when visited by the jury, presented a
picture of poverty and filth which
it is hard to describe, and which is
disgrace to humanity. But the
Jury, in reporting the wretched
condition of the colored paupers
would exonerate the keeper of the
poor house from responsibility.
From the testimony taken by them
they are satisfied that he is humane
and kind in his treatment of the
Taupers, is industrious and atten
tive TO his duties. But In cases Of
sickness his duties are too onerous
aud we recommend the employment
of able-bodied nurses ia cases OF
sickness. We also recommend that
/ the filthy rags with which they are
clothed and upon which they sleeI
be removed from the rooms and
that new beds, bed clothing and
clothes for their bodies be furnished
to them. And they also recon
mend change in Commissioner.
for the poor house.
The Grand Jurors report thai
they found the county jail clear
and in good order. Tue iailer ha:
done everything for the health anC
comfort of the prisoners which
could be done consistently Will
their safe-keeping. But the Jurors
report that they do not eonside
the building secure against the es
cape of the prisoners. The lowe
tier of cells has been lined with iron
but in a very imperfect and inem
Gent manner, and the upper tier o
cells has not been lined ct all. They
! further report that the sewer 70
the drainage of the prison is to,
small and is in q damaged condition
They therefore recommend imme
date action as necessary in the par
ticulars mentioned.
The Grand Jurors would furthe
call attention to the damaged con
dition Of our court house. This il
public building, which is justl,
looked upon with pride by our citi
zens and admiration by the visitor
. to our county town. But tho wa
ielt. it's walls defaced by obscen
pictures and writings, and tn
beating rains have forced their wa,
through the cupola and caused tn
plastaring 10 crack and fall, ant
tshllo our neighboring countie
have built new court houses or re
nodded and repaired their Old one
at considerable expense, since TIA
war. nothing has been done towar
repairing the damage done to onrs
: We recommend that immediat
action be taken in replastering an
repairing the court house.
The Jurors cannot close their n
port without rendering their thank
S 20 your Honor and the officers {
: the Court for acts of kindness dul
ing tue term about to close, and 70
kind assistance rendered In the pei
Torrance Oft the duties imposed NJ
on them as Grand Jurors.
e Alfred Houze, Foreman; Henri
t NJ. Bsgg. Thos. 3. Phelps, job
Il N. Hewitt, Robert Reed, James {
Sanders, John @. Johnson, Abe
. 81. Gaines, Wood Bogldin, Van. ]
Moore. goldman G. Harwen, ioh
{ ". Vaughan, Nicholas 6rubbs.