The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1882-05-27
Report Of the Grand Jury.

The Grand Jury impanneled for
the May Term of the Circuit Court
of Washington county, having per-
formed the duty assigned 1t, and
being about to adjourn sine die,
beg leave to submit the following
report:
PUBLIC BrIIDISGs.
Through a competent committee
of our body the county Jail was
examined, and found to be in good
condition; the health of the pris-
oners good; cells, bedding and fur
niture kept neat and clean, and as
free as possible from offensive
odors, with so many and frequent
changes of inmates. We found
the building in good repair, with
the exception of q slight evidence
of decay in the floor in one corner
of the outer prison rooms, and a
cell door or two which need atten-
zion. No complaint of ill-treat-
ment or improper or scarcity of
food supply of provisions, came to
our knowledge. Discipline is main
tanned with humanity; order is en-
forced by kindness; and we have
reason to congratulate the county
that, in her Jail government, under
the control of Sheriff Hunt and
his assistants, the most enlight.
ened and human public sentiment
In regard to "prison discipline is
in no DANCES of being shocked.
THE COUNTY CONTRACTORS PRISON.
The committee visited the prem.
ises and examined the prison build
ings of G. ii. Smith, the county
contractor. From former reports
and representations, we were pre-
pared to find there many evidences
Of discomfort and even brutality
in the housing and management
of prisoners, But in this we must
confess to an agreeable surprise.
We found large and commodious
block -houses-built of heavy tim
bers for safety-white-washed in
side and out, well ventilated, divi-
ded into suitable rooms and births
for the accommodation of prison.
crs, and well supplied with blank
cts and mattresses, water, soap
and towels for their use. We
found tho prison larder well sup
Piled with sound, wholesome food
material, such as picked pork
corned beef, flour, meal, rice, cof
fee and molasses, and the cooking
department in fine order and clean
" condition. We examined food
Just being prepared and divided
into ration for the field laborers
and adjudged it ample in quantity
and of good quality. There are
but few prisoners on the sick list
and they were being cared for by
IA physician in attendance on them
The sanitary condition of the place
\ is as good as time and circumstan
ces, since the late overflow of the
whole premises, would allow. We
questioned the prisoners as tC
how they Jared, and how they
were treated, and could elicit ne
evidence of cruelty or inhumanity
in the enforcement of prison disci
pline, and we failed to discover
marks or signs of ill-treatment OF
the person of convicts or abou
the premises. And from our in
vestigation there was but one o
two conclusions to come to, eithel
that appearances and proofs il
this instance are remarkably de
ceptive, or the much abused "eon
vict camp" of Charley Smiths,
if not model of its kind, is Gel
tainly not chargable with gros
violation of the statute, or TIL
laws of humanity. We make thi
statement, however, as an act o
Justice to the contractor; but no
as an inducement to the averag
citizen to change his residence t
Mr.. Smiths comfortable quarters
under the restraints which the LAY
and good morals impose.
N TiiE COURT HorsE.
We have examined the Cour
House and Clerks Offices, and fin
nothing specially to complain 0
except the vaults for the safe-keel
ing of the records and papers {
the courts, and the dilapidate
/. condition of the older records an
filed notes themselves. The oriI
2 inal records and filed notes of til
: county have become so torn an
defaced that it is almost impossibl
to trace titles to lands TO the
I proper source and get corre'
|, abstract. While it is the duty
!, the Board of Supervisors to pr
vide for the safe-keeping aud col
venient handling of the record
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