The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-08-28
BUNCOMBE PRISONERS
AND THE MANNER IN WHICH
THEY ARE TREATED,
They Have Plenty to Eat, Their
Cells are CIeanIy Kept and Well
Ventilated, and They Have no
Cause for Complaint.

Cause for Complaint.
One among the most admirably man.
aged public institutions of Buncombe is
its county Jail, and the care of prisoners
confined therein is worthy of much
favorable comment
While ths discipline is rigid and strictly
enforced, the wants of the inmates their
comforts and convenienccs are as strictly
looked after by efficient sheriff Reynolds
and his jailcr Mr.. w. II. Unison. There
is no brutality, careless neglect or hard
ships, beyond close confinement, ex-
pcricnccd here by these unfortunate
wights, most Of whom are colored and
ncarccratcd on charges Of petty larceny
and similar offences against the statute
law.
Their food is of the best quality,
thoroughly prepared and bounteouslv
served, and a goodly number of those
who now eat three full meals each dav in
Jail would think it strange and a stroke
of fortune, indeed, if they succeeded in
having their paunches filled twice a day
outside ofprison walls.
AS a rule the prisoners appreciate the
kind treatment they receive at the hands
OF the big-heartcd sheriff, and give him
but little if any trouble, in the enforce
mcnt of his splendid government of Bun
comics chief penal institution. Oc-
casionally an ugly customer gets his
feathers rumplcd the wrong way, but
they are quickly smoothcd out by the
cool and determined sheriff, and after
this is accomplished the ugly individual
is as docilc and obedicnt as any taller
would wish to see. Kindness, not harsh
ness or violence, is the shcriff's idea of
prisoners, and he finds that
the rule works well.
The sanitary condition of the iail is
perfect; the cells are clean and airy; the
beds and clothing free from the slightest
of filth and that disaprecable
species of vcrmin SO often found in the
best managed institutions of this kind.
The bathing facilities are ample, and
every prccauton is taken to prevent dis
conditions by totally cradi-
eating any possible cause for their ex-
lStcnCc.
DR.. II. b. Weaver is the Jail physician
and is frequent visitor among the num-
erous cells and cages. He prcscribcs for
the prisoners when sick, and at each
visit makes thorough examination of
the sanitary condition of the building.
If there is anything wrong, and it is sci.
dom there is, sheriff Reynolds is notified
at once, and tnat official Immediately is
sues his orders to the jailer who as
carries them out to the letter.
An cXcelcntly managed Jail is that of
and its conduct is credit to
the competent officials who have it in
Charge, and under their control.
At present there are twenty persons
in the Jail for various offences,
among whom there are three charged
with homicide; two with horse stealing:
)nc with countcrfeting; two with vio-
ating internal revenue laws; one with
attic stealing, and the rest withcommon
larceny
OF those in for homicidcis John Wilson,
white, from NanCey, who was convicted
IF murder i'll that county early this year,
aud who was sentenced to hang. His
attorneys, however, secured an appeal to
he supreme court, and Wilson was sent
lcrc for safe keeping until the decision of
he higher tribunal i'll his case is made
lnOwn.
Next on this list comes Jesse Peterson,
llso white, charged with murder in Mad
son. He, too, is awaiting the result of
III appeal to thcsuprcmc court, and is in
Jail for safe keeping.
The last of the trio is William Fore, of
his county who figured in Sundays
tragedy at the Turkey Creek camp meet
ny. He is awaiting trial at the October
crm of the criminal court for the shaving
If Amos LunSlord, of Leicester town
ship.
Thomas Wright and David Swatzcl,
he horse-thievcs, also occupy a cell on
he second floor of the Jail The decision
If the supreme court in their case has
not yet been handed down and they are
and hopefully awaiting the
result. Wright sjust tnow recovering from
IN attack of pneumonia and presents a
Ditiable spectacle. He is terribly ema-
lated, and has horrible, hacking
cough, frightfully suggestive of con-
His companion, however, is
n robust health and carefully nurses
Wright i'll his feeble condition.
\ curious assortment and mixture of
rhine and petty meanness is found in all
penal institutions, and Buncombe jailis no
Exception to the rule; but THE CITIZEN
IS free to assert its belief that if all iails
were managed as efficiently and their
inmates treated as humanely as are those
in sheriff Reynolds keeping, the news
papers of the country would not contain
one-tenth of the horrible exposes of the
brutality of shcriffs and keepers ofprisons
that now shock and disgust mankind's
better feeling by their recital.
Sheriff Reynolds is due much credit for
his faithful, efficient and humane care of
those untortunatcs i'll his keeping.
The RutherfOrCltOn Connection.
Capt. Matt Atkinson and Col. Thad