The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-01-02
TIE STATE PEEITEETIARY.
Biennial Report of Maj. T. ]. Nc
aaiston. Superintendent.
So 0EEeF, Dec. ia, 1sS3

1
the statistical tables and the report OF
the Rhysician
Table No. /. shows that the number OF
con fiefs in the Penitentiary is III. OF
thisinnn1bgr, 67t are coIored males; rs
are eoiorett females; l Indian male, and
| "A are white males 81 are sentenced for
| life, and 50 for longer periods than 10
years.
In 1882. 40S were received by commit
ment, and u BY reeapture, and in 1888,
1913 were received by commitment and
Is by recapture.
The numberdischarge in 1SS2was 219,
and in 1888 II; 35l were colored males
and females. ard I2were white males.
The nationaiities, States, counties, and
crimes of the convicts are enumerated.
1t will be seen that a good many foreign
nationalities and States, nearly every
county in the State, and most OF the
crimes in the calendar are represented
The names Of those that have died
and escaped are given; also the names
of those c3nvicts who have been par
doned by the Governor and released by
order Of 4e courts after their commit
ment to the Penitentiary.
The buildings within the walls are in
fair good condition. The walls are also
in a fairly good condition, except the
western wall, which was torn down and
new one contracted for by my pre-
decessor. Hon. Marion Smith, under the
administration of Gov. Stone. This Is
partially finished, perhaps half done,
with material on hand for completion,
and in process Of construction.
General good order and discipline have
been maintained within the walls. The
rules for the government of the lnstitu-
ton areenforced with firmness, but with
a consideration consistent with law and
humanity. The treatment of the in
mates has been kind and humane. Great
attention is paid to cleanliness, and the
eonvicts are furnished with comfortable
clothing, and are required to battle their
persons and change their apparel reg
ularly. The halls and prison cells, and
THE Enclosure within the walls, are white
washed. disinfeeted and cleansed regu-
larly, fer the promotion of comfort and
health. A hospital IS provided for the
sick and afflicted, with nurses and me-
dicines, and a skiliful physician who
visits daily the Institution. The health
of the inmates kept constantly within
the walls, has been comparatively good
1t is from the Railroad camps of Sub
Lessees, where the greatest amount OF
| sickness comes; their sick and disabled
are returned 10 the prison for attention
and treatment More hardships are .ex
perienced, and greater fatality has
! existed on railroads, than organizations
Attention is given to the preparation
and cooking Of the food, which is whole
some and Substantial, consisting of corr
| and fioar bread. fresh beef, bacon, rice
coffee, moiasses, and great variety O.
vegetables, cultivated in the gardens con
nected .Nith-4lsa-i nstiLutioIf n
The labor eE the Inmates Is employed
lin diEieEentz capacities, to- wit. In thu
slcarpenter, blacksmith, shoe, paint ant
wagon shops aud are taught q esdiffer
lent trades,
Divine service is conducted on tn
Sabbath day by Rev. c. b. Galloway
assisted By q number Of ladies and gen
tlemen, and mach zeal and interest
4 manifested ty them in this praiseworth,,
undertaking.
r The health and general conditions o
the convicts employed on plantation
has been as good as usual for the pas
two years, aeeordingt to the monthly re
port received from those to whom. the
are sub-leased.
The conyicts employed outside tn
walls are in possession of Hosklns
Hamilton, J. w. Hoskins, Wesson
Persons, Lincoln county; r. Burdett, !
L. Hebron, G. II. Smith, Gay 4 GwiI
u. P. Withers, Allen, West & Busl
Washington county; j. 5. Richardson
W. L. & r. J. Nugent, ". F. Randolph
Bolivar county; L. & I'll. N. WarfelC
tB. S. Kicks, Holmes county: Hamilton
Sage & Co, Franklin county; w. I
Noble, Bolivar county; ]. NJ. Allen, IL
county; Townsend Il Hemingway, Co
homa county,
The contract Of Hamilton, Allen
leo. with the State is hereto annexe'
$ The amount due the State under tt
! contract is $50, APO. The amount of r
r r airs and Improvements contracted Il
q | by me and approved by your Excellent
: is S5,475 g., leaving balance unexpendt
; of $39, ga SO. This amount has be-
+ paid into the State Treasury by tt
i Lessess, to the credit of the Penite
S tiary improvement fund. The repai
Q and Improvements done were necessal
Cor the protection Of the property al
II the comfort of the inmates.
I'll By an act of the Legislature of 18e
| lit was made the duty of county supt
is fYisors to visit convict camps MONTH
4 wherever they might be employed +
r, their respective counties, and to inspe
If the same and to report any treatme
n contrary to law to the Grand Juries.
a. have had no means of knowing b.
lei faithfully this service has been p
Is formed.
'ot Tie Lessees, Messrs. Hamilton, All
d & Co., endeavor, as far as is within tn
x power, to protect the eonEicts from hal
TO treatment. The States Fepresentatli
q the Superintendent, should be vest
er with some authority requiring him
IN visit and inspect the camps, to enfo
y the preparation of comfortable quartz
rs and the supplying of wholesome d
lie This might be done with less expeI
n and be made more effeetual for g
re- than the present system, and give bet
& satisfaction to ali persons concerned.
de Great complaint has been made OF
RS, treatment Of county prisoners =
nd county contract system is not prope
ey guarded, aud ii IS charged that in g
DIS localities prisoners are kept over ii
time, not furnished with proper Gle
N, ing, are abused, and 10 seems that
ns, one is required b LAW to look after tt
ess matters. The attention of the Les
ne vas called to the law providing !
fnl convicts whose terms Of sentence
'ut ceeded ten years should not be VOL
re- outside the walls of the prison.
ell Lessees claimed the right to eml
hat them on public works, aud the cues
icy was submitted to the Attorney Gen
hat who rave The opinion that they had
md fright to employ conyfcts on work
mn Public Improvement outside the pr
:. walls.
ma With anacknowledg nent and adul
re- probation of the uniform courtesy
we'd Kin 1ness ex tended to me By your =,
hey Ilency. / alA, VERY respectfully
sses I. J. McQuTsToNs Superintendsl