The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-21
|DNED At COUNTY JAIL
Grand Jurors Wanted to Investigate
Food Of Prisoners.
WE'RE SATISFIED WITH TEST
Say Food II Substantial and Palatablc.
Jury VIII Present It's Last Batch Of
Dills und Its Rcc0mmc ndntions
to Court This Mornin z.

Members Of the grand jury completed
their work yesterday by inspecting the
county buildings and dining at the
county Jail on ordinary prison fare.
1t Is not often that grand Jurors are
willing to go so far in their desire to
perform their whole duty, but this Is
an exceptional grand jury. and will live
In the annals OF Lackawanna as the
jury which, up to date. has broken all
records In the matter of labor per-
formed.
The jury was sworn on Sept. 8. and,
after being charged by Judge Archibald,
John Il. Howe was chosen foreman.
and the jury given In charge Of Dis
trict Attorney John II. Jones. Since
then 1t has been busily engaged. a large
number of important cases having been
disposed OF. The total number of in
dictments laid before the jurors by
Mr. Jones was 500. by far the largest
batch that a grand jury In this county
has ever been asked to pass upon.
Among the indictments We're two
charging murder. those against the
pursuers of the Winton speak-easy pro-
prietors. the Jennings case, those
against alleged unlicensed liquor deal
ers. and u host of others of more or less
Importance to the tax payers of the
county and those who are interested
In the preservation of peace and the
enforcement of law in this county.
Jennings Case Heard.
One OF the last cases passed upon by
the jury was that against John G.
Jennings. who Is charged with perjury
1t was taken up and considered yes
terday morning. While the jury was
In session 1t examined over 1900 wit.
nesses and returned 2S0 true bills. After
all OF the cases to come before them
had been disposed of the Jurors made
an examination of the court house. and
then went out to the county Jail to see
the manner In which that corrective
institution Is conducted. Soon after
the jurors arrived dinner was served
to the prisoners. and that they might
know by actual experience what man
ner of food is supplied to the county's
enforced boarders. Foreman Howe and
the jury directed that dinner be served
to the Jurors exactly as Is to the pris-
oners,
Two tables were quickly arranged
and Were soon surrounded by the
| jurors. District Attorney Jones. County
Detective Leyshon and County Com
missioner Giles Roberts. Meat was
| served on tin plates and the soup and
drink in tin vessels. novelty that in
| duced much merriment among the
| Jurors. A spoon was laid beside each
plate. but knives and forks were con-
spicuous by their absence. Several of
the jurors thought that this was on
oversight Of some kind, and after watt
ing for several minutes without any
move being made on the part of the
attendants to supply the missing links
between table and mouth, ventured to
suggest that knife and forks be Sc
cured.
| Was Against tho RnIcs.
| They were informed that It was
| against the prison rules to place knives
or forks In the hands of prisoners, and
since they wanted to be served like
the inmates of the Jail they would
have to be denied these very useful i'm
pliments. Prisoners cannot be trusted
with them. as they might use them to
destroy themselves when Respondent
and depressed.
So the Jurors attacked the victuals
with their spoons and hands, and de.
clared that the meal was both sub.
stantial and palatable. They after
wards interviewed number of the
prisoners. all OF whom. except Murder
Frank Beck. expressed themselves as
perfectly satisfied with the food fur
nished to them. Beck said he did moi
receive enough Of bread, and his allow.
ance will be increased.
The afternoon was spent In fram
ing the recommendation Of the jury
which will be presented to the court a
10 o'clock this morning.