Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-12-09
THE COUNTY PRISONERS.
What Sheriff Maddox Has 20 Say
About Their Feed.

An article appeared in last Sun days
edition Of the Dallas Herald which was
signed by twenty-eight prisoners in
Tsrrant county jail, In which the plgu-
ers set forth a number Of alleged grlev-
ances, Half OF the article was nd,
dressed to the Herald and the remain
der 10 the commissioners OF TarrAnt
county.
The following Is the address to the
commissioners:
TARRANT COUNTY JAtL,(
FORT WORTH. Tx, De1. o.
To the Honorable commissioners OF rarTant
COutty:
We, the prisoners now confined IN your
county JAZZ, respectfully call your attention
10 ua as prisoners. Gentleman, we humbly
petit on you for more blankets and more 10
eat We would Inform you Of the fact that
We are only fed twice per day, and then re-
celVipg not more than half nations. We re-
coive one small ration OF meat twice per lay
20 tho man and six biscu b twice per day 10
the man, aud we are only allowed one pair nf
blankets To the man, and they are very thin
attend TO the matter and see that we receive
moro--at least, enough 10 keep us from stsry-
ing and freezing.
A GAZETTE reporter yesterday inter
viewed Sheriff Maddox in regard to
the manner OF feeding the prisoners
Mr.. Maddox stated that he WAS allowed
thirty cents per day for each prisoner
In the jail and that he knew the priB-
oners were well cared for and given
sufficient 10 eat, from the fact that they
generally did not eat all that was given
them; that they were fed twice each
day; for breakfast each prisoner was
given six ordinary sized buiscuits, a
piece Of bacon, mOlasses aud coffee; for
"A fla.aas To- -
beef and hominy, and beans
each alternate day; that the
biscuits were cooked the same day they
were given the prisoners, and that they
were the same as used by the guards
on their own table; that II was rare
occurrence for u prisoner not 10 get f2t
while they were confined Ia the jail.
Mr.. Maddox further stated that his
orders were 20 give the prisoners all
they needed in the way OF food AS 10
blankets, he said that the Jail was
heated by steam and that the temperG-
ture was always kept at a comfortable
heat, that the prisoners could easily
keep warm with the blankets given
them; that he wns certain thRt Mr.
Mccain carried out his instructions,
and that the prisoners OF TarIant
county were as well cared for as they
We're In any prison In the state.
The question came up I'm the COM
niiHstoners court yesterday aud gu in
vitatioD was extended the commis-
sioners TO eat dinner IN the jail to-day,
which was accepted. The regular din
ner, without deviation, will DO given
the prisoner, while the same food and
huge turkey will be upon the table
occupied by the commissioners. They
can then Judge Of the justice OF the
complaint mgde by the prisoners.
The prisoners OF TarTant county
enjoy more comfort In the almoct per-
fectly equipped Jail than any set Of
prisoners In Texas. The address itself
shows that they have twelve biscuits
each day and meat ~ each meal. This
Ia Itself ID better than many prisoners
enjoy. Besides this they have which
they fail 70 mention In
their nddressj coffee, m0iassea
and either beans or h0miny
each day. The prisoners are entitled
10 enough wholesome food 10 satisfy
their appetites, but II their every 70
guest Is granted, they viii soon Be en-
JoyiBg Delmonico dinners aud wash
ing them down with champaign.