Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1886-06-29
FEEDING PRISONERS.
RUMORS THAT THE SHERIFF NEG
LECTED PROPER CARE OF
CRIMINALS TRACED.
what "Times" Reporter Heard and
SaW-What Steps He Took and the
Result Of His Action.

SaW-What Steps He Took and the
Result Of His Action.
For some time the TIMES man has
heard indirect charges, often hints,
that the Sheriff of Alturas county,
who has custody of persons under
criminal charges and who, for the con-
s'deratlon of one dollar per day, has
to feed all such prisoners, has been
and is yet st'nting and cutting down
the food necessary and proper for
their comfort and health. In other
words, that while he demanded his
pay he did not give the persons in
Jail enough or proper food.
Yesterday two gentlemen, reputa.
BILE and responsible citizens of HALEY,
spoke to the reporter and enabled him
to get directly at the case where this
complaint has been made and no
time was lost to investigate it fully.
Not soul except the informants and
the reporter knew Of the information
given or the purpose of the reporter in
the premises.
1t is proper to say that on various
occasions during the past four months,
in daytime and night, at almost any
hour, the reporter has entered the Jail
and its different cells in search of in
formation Of public character, as is
the right and duty Of every honorable
newspaper man.
Last night, after the general COM
munity was quiet, the reporter visited
the Jail and found the inmates eating,
singing and smoking. He listened to
their conversation without Their knowl.
edge. 1t is just what may be ex-
pected among thieves, incestuous con-
victs, habitues of dives and tine like.
At the outer door of the Jail were
gathered the hummer element who,
under the pretense of "seeing a
friend," get lunch from the food the
Sheriff furnishes. This is a constant
Occurrences.
This morning the reporter went to
the Jail at the time the prisoners were
about to set down to breakfast. file
has several times seen their dinners.
The food consisted of tea and coffee,
we'll prepared, good bread; meat we'll
cooked, with nice gravy; we'll cooked
potatoes, seasoning, etc. The food is
we'll served, everything is clean and
In abundance and, it IS safe to say,
compared we'll with the home food of
eight tenths of the farmer and work.
ing people of Idaho. There we're no
French rolls, broiled tomatoes, etc.;
nor was bottle of claret seen beside
a single person.
After seeing this, the reporter told
Sheriff Furey why he was there, and
was at once taken through the cell,
and saw enough meat and bread, and
potatoes, stacked up to feed the entire
lot day. This is the habit of these
people. The cells are open and free
for each prisoner to enter. They
lunch where they please on the fooc
taken from the table. They set W
cold lunches to "friends" who gathe
there as "busted" men do around {
free lunch stand. The Sheriff invite.
full investigation. He has the bes
cook he can get; instructs her to fur
nish plenty of good, substantial food
has man daily to inspect it and re
port any deficiency in quality or guam,
tity. These are the facts.
1t is most probable that the matter
reached the ears of honest men
through rumors that, when traced, or
iginated from wholly irresponsible
sources. The TIMES knows that its
informants of yesterday would scorn
to do injustice to any man, particu
larly to an officer of the public
Prisoners of all Iaen should be
cared for, kept in comfort and health
but it must not be forgotten that, as a
rule, they are of class who scruple
at nothing; complain at everything;
are idle, plotting and to a. great ex
tent unreliable, and it is a safe prop.
osition, that person who will steal,
or ravish, or burglarize or, in fact,
knowingly commit any crime, will lie
In regard to the particular case
learned of yesterday and in this i'm
mediate connection, 1t is fair to incor.
porate Sheriff Furey's words to the
l IA