The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1877-01-07
"A ~ ~ u "A L II e p OR
Superintendent and Physician
Mississippi Penitentiarv.
no Has ErceUency, Governor j. N. Stone :.

SIR have the honor the following annual re-
port superintendent OF the Mississippi Penitentary
of the year ending December 14h 1876 showing the cond
tion OF the different buildings; condition of the Ipsn
U s 10 heath ana cleanliness, conduct, number
OF on the register including those within without
e "as OF the Pententiary, by natonaities and
ana Tor the different crimes, their treatment food
ana employment the number escapes discharges paron
ana Deaths by races and the report Physcian
also statement of suits brought by virtue of an
Act OF the Legislature approved April 1876 entitled San
70 o leasing out the Penitentary and the convict
Iachardson Tor the recovery of number of ie
gally held by them.
In assuming charge of the Penitenary March last |
ouhd TO be IN bad condition respects The
convlcts poorly clad and ndeen provided with bed
cotnng The discipline very lax, and the ''pardon
mania supenduced doubtless by reprehensbe conduct on
the part of some then high in official position seemingly
nost OF he inmates The supply OF provisions had
been exhausted The fencing Pntentary grounds
was IN diapdated condition, making thorough repairing
absolutely necessary. There little nothing in the
shape of materials in the workshops point fact the
Institution had been pretty we'll caned OUT rendering it
almost to do anything in the nature Of
labor AS consequence of this condition Of affairs con
siderable portion of the time from the date of assuming
control the leasing Pententiar of the conycts
engaged in putting repairing Penen
tary and the houses fencing and gardens Herewith
A number OF the cOnVcS also idle
from necessity occasioned by the impraccabty of
into arrangements labor i'll
which advertised to be made day stated The
amount of money taken thousand hundred
and fifty five dollars and forty CENTS ISL 755 4O) will be
by reference filed in accordance with
the Auditors office and published in his annual report The
same dsbursed therein stated The vouchers
Tie IN te state 1easurers office ~ reference to the
OF the State Treasre who er-0~o Treasurer
Institution the will be that only
thousand hundred and seventy dollars
eight the three thousand
lars $37O0 appropriated for the support Pentenary
expended by date of lease which leaves unexpended
nine hundred and twenty-five dollars and thrytwo
1925 32 theamount appropriated in the Treasury AS
pared wth drawn from the Treasury last appears
that the expended month before the Institution
changed hands, in of the amount expended during
the three months under control This amount would
have been less but the above The average
number per month of convic within the walls during this
period one hundred and fifty, (15o.)
received from my predecessor one hundred and twenty
dollars and eghtythree cents, (Sl27 83 which
balance remaining over from what was called the building
fund" Of this seventyseven dollars and seventytwo
CENTS ($7 72 paid to Messrs Smith and Bickham by
order of the Board of Inspectors for mileage and per de
dollars and seventyve CENTS (S45 1o
expended by me in deayng expenses OF trip OF Inspection
TO the convict camps Issaquena Wash
ngton and Bolivar under direction of your Excellency
Leaving balance due State of four dollars and thrts1 cents
(s4 36.)
The large building recently constructed and known the
factory building is covered with tin roof which Is very
defective A examination showed that there were
innumerable leaks which will necessarily impair the wood
work construction and render UNFIT for the pro
lection of any of materials manufactured work The
rooof the building in which the are eonneo eaks
very badly rendering of the cells unit for use The
other building is also in need of repairs ~ 49,
There are hundred (20O) cells twenty-five 25 of them
upper tier without DOORS which renders them
taken away years and have not been returned
The walls surrounding the prison buildings are also in much
need of repair cracked in different places from top
to bottom place the northern end the wall
liable fall at any moment
CONDITION OF CLEANLINESS, CON
DUCT, ETC,
Tho bea of the inmates of the Penentary has been un
xcentouav during the past year. as Will be seen Oy
to report of the Physician Dr. Writ Johnston
n whose constant attention, and SKILL attribute the re-
degree health enjoyed by the prisoners and am
t;fed TO be enabled bear testimony to faithful per
frmance of duty him. Puncua in attendance every day.
he has also always responded promptly to calls made at any
bonr o the day Great attention has been given TO
nness within the walls; the cells and halls OF the main
bnldnos have been whtewashed regularly once week. ana
uCpdW
in ond deemed necessary. Two suits of clothing are
;d each convict who is required to change MS appare
wee These regulations having been strictly observed
nnribnted greatly exempting the convcts from oisease
d sickness General good order and dlscipne nave Deen
erva5 and maintained during the year, ana with put e"
on+ons has not found necessary TO resort TO the
aon Of punishment. This is due III great measure TO
M nd hut firm maintained towards the PRISONERS
or,,r1oN ETC OF PRISONERS ON PLANTATIONS, ETC.
1 baath of the convicts employed on the plantations In
A M;ss;sspp bottom and elsewhere has been comparatively
W for az have able to ascertain from reports maze
g those in charge by personal maoe curing
W st summer and fall But few deaths nave occurred
ee p tho wallis which, however, was not Que TO proper
"leoS clone but more the hardhood OF the conVicts
not having been in some partlcuaIs as was
1nei h law and the dictates of humanity on seVeral
Tequlo huddled together In midsummer, ike