The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1877-01-04
dents and Boards of Trustees which will be transmitted
to you.
THE STATE PENITENTIARY.

to
THE STATE PENITENTTARY.
On the goth day of December, there in the State
Penitentary I'll convicts, SO white and 62S colored
Between the goth day of November 1875 the date OF inc
Annual Report. to November 30th 1876 there were re
ceived AS convcts within the walls, and 552
outside whites and 81 coored effected their escape ou
ring the past year The health of the convcts both IN
side and outside the walls has been good The hospital
average inside during the past year was about most
of which chronic cases. the diseases having been
contracted previous to admission Only TOUR deaths o
Cured among the convcts inside the walls during the
year There 200 cells in the Penentary, of which
only TIA are serviceable.
In accordance with the of April 18th, 1S76, the
Inspectors on the 9th day of June, leased the Penen
tary convicts buildings and property to Messr Jones
S. Hamilton and John L. Hebron on the following terms,
owit: The lessees bind themselves feed cothe and
maintain the convicts, to furnish them with medicine,
medical attendance and proper and treatment when
sck pay all expenses OF conveying them to the fenl
Tertiary of guarding etc. all rewards for escapes lnclu
ding advertising jail fees, charges for returning etc. to
employ and pay all necessary officers, superintendent
and guards excepting the State Superintendent and Tor
all convic 40 in number to the State the sum
Of 81 10 per head per month dating to each convict
from the day he shall into their hands said payment
to made annually the LIST day of June 1877 1'7S,
1879 and 1880. The essees entered into bond for the
faithful performance of their contract provided in the
Act
On the 9th day of November, in pursuance of author
ty granted them by the said of April 18TH the
lessees of the Pentenary entered into contract with
E. Richardson, sublessee under Messrs. French and
Jobes the latter of whom held certain convicts under
contract made with the Inspectors under the act Of Feb
ruary 26th 1875. Under the contract between E. Rich
ardson and Messrs. Hamilton and Hebron, Richardson
retains possession Of all the convcts held by him sub
lessee of F. and j. the st day OF January 1873 the
number being So and no reduction to be made
of escapes etc. R. releases to said H. and H. his
right insist upon specific performance of the contract
under which F. and j. hold beyond the said 1t day of
January 1875 at which date he to deliver said
victs to Messrs. H. and III.
On the 3Oth day of December, 1876, Messrs Hamilton
and Hebron lessees entered into contract with Messrs
French and Jobes who held under the act Of February
26th 1875, by which contract Messrs F. and j.
dered Messrs H. and H. all the convicts which the
former in possession of under said act AT present.
all the convics of the State, excepting the $50 in posses
sion of E. Richardson above stated, embraced in
the contract of June 9th between the Inspectors and
Lessees
AS authorized by the act of February 2Oth 1875 in
structed the 18th day of August last the Supernten
dent of the Pentenary to visit Washington and other
counties where convcts worked, and make in
specon of the food, clothing AMI general treatment of
the convcts in possession of Mesrs French and obe
of others holding under them. The Superintendent made
careful and thorough inspection. He found the num-
Der of convcts held under the lease of F. and j. to be
32l, stationed ten different plantations in Washing
ton, Issaquena, Coahoma and Bolivar counties. He
found all the cOnvicts furnished with medical
tention when sick, and generally well fed and we'll
clothed. The guarding of the convicts found be
inefficient and defective This has given rise, and Justly
to much complaint and uneasness in the neighbour
hoods where they stationed. 1t has tendency to
corrupt the morals of community, besides subjectng
citizens to insults and outrages. The contract with
Messrs. French and Jobes requires them to furnish su
Gent guards their appointment to be approved by the
State superintendent This requirement, informed,
has been entirely ignored by Messrs. F. and J.
Inspectors of the Penitentiaru