The Morning herald., 1876-07-22
NEWS

AA L NI w ~
POOR PRISON FOOD.
Shameful Treatment of PyisOneTs at Nesc
Castle JatL-Tainted Meat and Poor
Coffee Given IAens-What It CoSts to
Complain. 81.
The management Of New Castle jail has
cast an imputation upon itself, that admits
of many interpretations, suggestive enough
to the mind of the reader without mention
ing them here, after perusal of what fol-
lows. The prison is guarded against visf-
tors with vigilance. None are admitted un-
less under the immediate surveillance of a
keeper. But by accident strangers gain
entrance sometimes, and secrets of the in
stitution are revealed to the public, which
are not intended to be known. They are of
a nature that but few will scarcely credit,
but at the same time are so well fortified by
indisputable evidence, that their truth is
only too we'll known. One day last week a
representative of the MORNING HERALD
learning that the fare furnished prisoners
in this institution was of very Indifferent
kind, and often not in sufficient quantities
to sustain physical energies, visited New
Castle and applied at the Jail for admission.
This was refused him under any circum-
stances. He then engaged gentleman In
front of the Court House in conversation,
and explained to him that he was stranger
there, and desired to visit the interior of the
jail, having often heard of it since Big
Franks easy escape from its walls, and he
would be very much obliged If the newly
made acquaintance could gain him admis-
sion.
'You see SIR" said the gentleman as he
assumed very imperious manner, "we
are in a position that demands secresy, and
care should be used. The outside world is
disposed to view New Castle as small vii
lage, and this is fresh incentive to people,
who arc not governed by the most honcra-
BILE intentions, to come here, and endeavor to
gain entrance to the Jail with the fixed pur-
pose of giving information to the prisoners,
This has been discovered, sir, more than
once, and you must see the necessity of
great care upon the part of these who have
the prison under control"
"But believe your intentions to be those
purely of curl sity to see the interior of our
Jail, and not presuming upon our greeness
| w u" w lAS p ioohS'o AA "oy wy
will see at once If you cannot be admitted" +"
And with this the gentleman started off at
busy gait and soon returned with the
"open sesame" in the shape of permit.
This was poked through door of fretted
iron. duly examined by the keeper; the key
grated harshly in the lock; the ponderous
door swung back upon its hinges, and the
representative of THE HERALD stood in the
I. -, - ,sA 1,or cil hr,n lie n
prisoner himself from the outside for the
time being. Into each cell, dark and dreary,
only lighted by small window, he peered
and saw the forms OF men in various posi-
tions, amusing themselves by every means
within their power. There was but little
ceremony in making such enquiry as would
lead to the Information that he wanted, and
he discovered as he had often heard, that
the prisoners were fed upon mean
and unhealthy food. On each day
except Sunday they got alternately
beef and soup for dinner. In the
morning bread and water, and for supper
they feast in the imagination, for they get
nothing at all And as numbers said 1--WE
sleep to stave off hunger and thirst it
| was with al earnestness that showed there
was reason for It's utterance.
"What is she quality of the soupyou get"'
asked the reporter Of several. "VeYy poor
was the reply, "and so weak that it can
hardly be called soup, we would as soon
have so much thickened water. 1t Is only
| fit for hogs ard not human beings, and We
have often refused to eat it,"
The reporter was next led to enquire
about the quality of the beef they are re
ceiying, "Ah" said one man, +" if those who
gave it to US could be made to eat it think
we would receive much better. To tell the
truth, sir, il is often tainted, aud but for the
fact that we are compelled to take 1t into our
stomacbs to sustain life we would often re-
fuse to admit it into our cells"
The coffee they say is not worthy the
name of coffee as it is simply colored water
and molasses. The Sunday fare consists OF
nothing but bread, molaeses and coffee
twice day.
The prisoners have frequently made COM
plaint against the fare they receive, and Tor
| this the doors are locked against them, and
they receive 10 breakfast the morning after
the compisint is made. On the eighth day
of this month they arose en- masse and de-
manded that if the food was not improved
they would receive nothing at all. This
| had the desired effect, and since that time
the food has been much better. The Jail is
IN cleanly condition, and but for the poor
food no fault could be found with the man
agement. II the proper fu1 DIS are not furnish
ed to keep the prison In wholesome food, II
should be seen at once that they are. These
statements were not obtained from one
prisoner but from several.
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