Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-05-26
THE GRAND JURY.
a soATHlNa REPORT ON THE
CONDITION OF THE JAIL
Add lis Inmates Charges That Policemen Are
Dstclicl in their References
10 Many Existing Evils.

The grand jury IN the Torty.eiehth
district court has adjourned until the
last Monday in June Before ndjeurniug
the jury visited the jail and filed the fol-
lowing report with Judge Greene;
To the Honorable $. z. Greene. judge
Of The Forty-eighth district court:
We. the grand jury Of Tarrant county,
having visited the county jail for the
purpose of Inspecting its condition. make
the following report.
We lind the cells IN very unclcanly
condition. We find the facilities for
cleaning the cells and washing the cloth
ing and bedding and bathing Of the pris-
oners inadequate. The cells are filthy
and are infected with yermin We Gnd
the bedding in some of the cells con
sists of few torn blankets and com
forts, and these are on the floor. Some
cells have mattresses, and these are on
the iron floor Of the cells.
We find one iron bath tub in one Of
the run-arounls of the cells in the east
end of tue Jail with no signs OF having
been usel In long time, and this was
confirmed by the prisoners.
We find one prisoner. John Vaughan,
who Is in fearful condition. He is
dangerously III, yet he is lying ON a mat
tress In one Of the cells with the other
prisoners. His recovery, so the county
physician reports. is doubtful under the
most favorable circumstances.
The culinary portion of the jail Is
not In the most favorable condition. The
kitchen Is not clean; the vessels are
worn ont and Tie facilities are made
qn0te for the purposes of serving the
number OF prisoners In the jail ut pres
ent.
The food served the prisoners il in
abundance. but II IL not served In. rs
clearly manner and Is NOT as well
cooked as II should be.
We find white and negro women Oc-
cupying The saine quarters, which are
The womens quarters and the hospital.
Ii is Il notorious fact that men and
women are living IN open adultery on
the most prominent streets In our city,
and YET when the grand jury attempts TO
investigate the fncts with . view Of in
dieting the parties they meet with the
greatest difficulties. We summon wit
ness after witness, including the officers
Of the law, who display the suprcmcst
Ignorance of the most common occur
renecs.
II Is a well-known fact that saloons are
run wide open ON the Sabbath for the
purpose of selling beer and whisky.
and these days are considered the best
business days in the week, aud yet.
when the grand jury summons witnesses
who know these facts, after being duly
sworn TO tell the truth. testify that they
know nothing of the kind
Policemen whose duty IL Is to guard
our city come before this grand jury and
testify that they know nothing Of the
commonest occurrences on the streets.
la Ga. at lu.aN III
that he knew nothing about certain
saloons being open on last Sunday.
WHOM this grand jury was finding in
dictmcnt after Indictment against GER
tain saloon men whose places Of business
are oil the beat of this same policeman.
Ii Is evidence before this grand jury
that policemen are allowed to 20 into
saloons only for the purpose If SUPPRESS
ing u row or TO serve papers, and are
forbidden 10 ~ into them for any other
purpose, thus cutting off one Of the ave.
NUTS of getting evidence with Il view 10
supprcssing tue whisky traffic on Sun
day.
\ committee appointed by this grand
jury for the purpose Of visiting the poor
farm report the condition very favor.
able. Thomas Bratou, foreman; j. NJ.
BrnbrOuk, LOnia Brown, g. H. Isbell.
j. j. Scott, John ID. Cooper, \, =. Eas-
ley, q. w. Holingsworth, W. d. Farris,
W. A. Clements, Porter, King,
Wherefore IL is ordered by the court
that said report be spread upon the min
utes of this court. and that certified
copy thereof be delivered to the follow
ing parties. eowit The commission
ers' court of Tarrant county, the sheriff
of Turrant county. lie city council Of
Fort Worth, and to the newspapers of
Fort Worth with the request that same
be published
A true copy certify.
; Attest: X. II. M'NATT,
District Clerk, Tarrant County, Tex.