Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-04-22
A STRAY JURY.
The Grand Jurors Make a Round OF
the Different Institutions OF
Shelby County.
Abuses on the Island, and Defects in
the POOrhOuse-Other InstItu-
tions ALI Right.

Having desire to see how those hive
| who have fallen into the hands of the law,
| and are now undergoing the execution Of
| their sentence in the county workhouse for
| various misdemeanor otfensee, an APPEAL
representative Thursday took passage on
| the tug-bost that was to carry the grand in
| quisitorial body OF the county-more COM
monty known as the grand jury-to the
! Island TO investigate the condition and
| management of the convicts there confined.
The tug left the city at 10 o'clock, and
soon landed at the upper end OF Presidents
| Island and a walk of about one mile
brought it to the prison proper. The entire
| east banks of the Island is rapidly washing
away, and it is likely that the main current OF
the river will soon pour through the Tennes-
see chute, thus cutting off the immense horse
shoe bend now made by the main channel of
the river.
There are about 800 acres of cotton cult
waited on the lessee's farm, by convict labor,
about 400 of which already planted.
There are seventy four prisoners in all con-
fued on the Island; this includes both city
and county prisoners, together with one pris-
oner from Upton county, who is in wretch
ed condition on account of his health and
should, by all means, be released. The les
see, Mr.. w. II. Drummond, is anxious that
something be done for this man.
The prison ia built IN the shape of let
ter vt" The left wing is for white prison
ers and the right for colored. There were
FIVE colored prisoners sick in the wing of the
building set apart for the colored prisoners.
The sick and well are all kept in the same
room. In the middle OF the floor in this
room was tub full of
A MOST OFFENSIVE FLUID,
and which they say, had not been emptied
tor more than a week. One of the persons
confined there was suffering from most
loathsome disease, and it was very uupleas-
ant 10 be in his presence, much less
for ffty-two men to be shut up and
have to sleep in the same room with
him. One of the men who as sick said that,
on asst Wednesday night, when the Waterman
called out "bed time" he was sitting on
bench greaeing his hands with some taller,
and did not get up and go to bed at once.
The Waterman thereupon unlocked the
door, came in and seized a plank and
knocked him off bis seat, hitting him on the
head, and that he has been in bed ever since.
This statement was verified by many Of the
other prisoners, who witnt s-ed the act. The
name Of the man is William Robinson. T.
G. Grifis,
THE NIGHT WATERWAYS STATEMENT,
in regard to the hitting of this man, is that
at certain hour all prisoners are ordered to
bed; that he called bedt lime and all retired
to bed except this man, William Robinson,
who refused to go to bed. Thereupon he
went into the wing TO make him go, and he
was assaulted by Robinson. He told him
not to advance upon him, but he continued
TO advance, and thereupon he knocked him
down with the plank.
THE BEDDING
used by the prisoners, both white and black,
Is very unclean and filthy. The scribe Wis.,
tied the diniDghouss where they were pre-
- MA n
tin-pan and spoon. These constituted all he
had to eat with. Shortly afterward waiter
came with tray of bread and meat, and put
a slice of meat and bread in each plate; then
another, with bucket of pot-liquor, with
few greens, and poured about pint of this
into each tin-pan over the meat and bread
then he had to fish his meat and bread out
OF this liquor with his fingers, as they have
no knives or forks; neither have they any
cups, or anything TO drink out Of while
eating.
THE BILL OF FARE,
ii is understood, was the same for supper
and breakfast, except that they have coffee,
which is poured into each ~ ans plate, he
holding his bread and meat in his fingers
while he drinks his coffee out OF his plate.
The men have nothing to wipe their faces
on when they wash except some part OF their
clothing. There are four little boys at the
better place could be had for yonng offenders.
THE VISIT TO THE JAIL.
Yesterday afternoon the grand jury visited
the Jail and found it to be in most excellent
condition. There is probably no better
prison in the country than our Jail. and it is
kept in the very best order by the jsiler, Mr.. |
John Mason Bill Rivers, the sentenced |
murderer, whose case has been thoroughly |
reviewed by the Court of Appeals, and pro- |
nounced flawlese, was the oh Get OF considsra- !
BILE attention on the part OF the grand jury. |
He seemed to be in pretty good spirits; said |
he was we'll treated. He stated that at the |
time of the murder he was 80 drunk that he |
vas not conscious of what he was doing. He |
dimly remembered that some woman had |
snatched his hat off, and he never knew what |
had happened until he woke up in the sta |
tionhouse He declared that if he had to |
die, he had made his peacs with his Maker, |
and was prepared to go. He did not have |
anything new to contribute to the annals Of |
crime.
OTHER VISITS
The hospital was found to be in most |
excellent condition, but the poorhouse was |
open to decided criticism. The food was bad |
and the inducements TO personal cleanliness
were few. The statiUnhouse, which was |
visited last, was found to be cleanly kept.
WHAT THE REPORT WILL BE.
The grand jury's report will be submitted |
10 Judge Horrigan probably to-day. From
various expressions an APPEAL reporter |
yesterday that the grand jury |
will recommend:
Fy.st-That the system at the poorhouse
should be ameliorated.
Stcond.-That the hospital is in better
condition than ever before.
Thad.-That the jail is kept in 6rst-class
'tyle.
fonfh.-That the stationhouse is made
Iuate for its own purposes.
Fifth That there are many evils existing
IN the Island that demand correction.