Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-07-12
DALLAS BASTlLE.
PRISONERS TREATED WORSE
THAN CATTLE.
A Disgrace to a Civilized Community.
Motion for New Trial for Lafayette
Rodgers Oyerruled.
Special TO the Gazette

| Special to the Gazette
DALLAS. TEX. July 1.-THE crowded
condition of the Dallas county jail has often
| been the cause OF newspaper comment and
criticism. The grand jury, whose report Is
given below in full, shows that that body
found the county bastile all that the press
had said forit:
DALLAS, TEX, July II, 1891.
To Hon. Charles Fred Tucker, District Judge,
Dallas, Tex:
DEAR SIR-The grand jury consider it
their duty to call attention to the county
jail. As Jail it is grossly inadequate IN
size, to the necessities OF this county.
1t was built many years ago for small
population, and the city and county have
long since outgroUn ii. From knowledge
and information we are aware that a num-
Der of former grand juries have looked into
this same matter ana recommended an az
dition to the present building, and it has
not been provided.
The accommodation for the male prison
ers is terribly overtaXed.
The accommodation for the female prison
erS consists of one general room, and where
white and black are mixed.
We DO not find any provision made for
lunatics that have to be held over awaiting
their turn to 90 to the asylum, and are in
into the general room of blacks and whites,
and have been held there sometimes for
months. We do not find any better pro-
vision made for male Iunatic5.
We find no provisions whatever for boys,
and they are packed like serdines in a box.
in along with this overcrowded mass OF
whites and blacks, most of whom are pro-
badly stepped in crime, and there they have
to remain for months, until their time for
trial comes. We can imagine an innocent
man. woman or child sometimes getting
into Jail, and they should not have to suffer
the indignity that this fearfully crowded
condition forces on them. Under the law
all the prisoners are innocent until they
have had their trial and are proved guilty,
and this prosperous and civilized county
has no right 10 treat worse than cattle,
those who, whether guilty or innocent, are
unfortunately in tho hands of the Ulcers.
We have fully considered the present
financial conditions, we have fully conSid-
cred the burden of taxes, and the fact that
courthouse; and in the face of this we IN
hesitatingly recommend and urge in the
strongest terms, that increased accommoda-
tons be at once provided, and If these
new accommodations are TO be long de-
layed through a desire to get up elaborate
plans, that IN such event temporary accom-
modations be Immediately provided.
Discussion with some of the commission
ers of the county disCloses that fear of in
creased taxes has had something to do with
the delay already experienced in the matter
of the increase of quarters, but the amount
necessary to increase the accommodations
is in our opinion SO little, that such an eX-
cuse has no weight: and if the good people
of the county would take the trouble to in
vestigate we are satisfied they would order
the work done, even il it costs double, treble
or four times what in our opinion it will
cost, and at once blot out this shameful and
mercilcSs condition, which should not exist
in u Christian nation, towards even the most
hardened collection of criminals.
We have purposely made this presenta-
ton to your honor in strong, unmistakable
language, as the conditions fully warrant it,
and we have more particularly done SO for
the reason that the recommendations of our
former grand juries may have been ignored
possibly on account of their not presenting
the matter as forcibly as the occasion de-
manded.
We have only to add that if it was with
in the province of this grand jury the nee
essary work here recommended would be
ordered and done without any delay what
ever.
Very respectfully submitted.
ROBERT GIBSON,
PAUL II. JAMESON,
WILLIAM SHIRLEY.
7. c. HARRY,
j. d. A. HARRIS,
W. J. RUPARD,
S. T. STRATToN,
j. Is. FRANKLIN,
S. A. FRUsH,
j. w. Coon,
NJ. c. LIVELY,
G. A. HEATING.
A motion for new trial in the Lafayette
Rodgers case was argued before Judge
Tucker to-day and the motion overruled.
The attorneys for the defendant gave no.
tice of au appeal. The history of the
Rodgers case will be remembered by the
readers Of The GAZETTE as the one where
defendant was tried and convicted of Grim
inal assault upon the person of Rhoda May
Dexter. The jury found Rodgers guilty
and the penalty fixed at death
Bank cearinCs for the week ending to-
day, 81, 557, 0O3. So
The Cockreil grain and commission COM |
pany quote the following prices on grain: |
Wheat, from 65 TO IS cents, carload lots. |
Oats, IS to 80 cents, +. o. b. at shipping |
points. The receipts are very liberal.
Mrs. Charles Freeman to-day received |
telegram from her absent husband, dated |
at Childress, Tex. That gentleman stated !
that he had seen the press inquiries as to |
his whereabouts. MIR. Freeman has |
caused his wife much anxiety on account of |
his prolonged and unexplained absence.