The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-05

United States prisoners now confined in
the county Jail, and among other things
said:
I'VE are informed that the steam is
cut off at midnight and not turned on
again until late Lhs next forenoon"
This part of the report, / am in a posi-
ton to say lis false in every part eufar.
The steam is never turned off night or
day, except at the request of The pits
oners themselves. Furthermore, since
Capt O'Brien has taken charge of the
jail, st ann has been kept up contirullly
during the summer months. in order tha'c
the inmates can have hot water for ba TIL
ing purposes, they being compelled to
bath twice a week, also for the purpose
of more effectuaaly keeping the Jail
clean.
/ wish no state that neither Mr.. Hardy
nor any other member of the jury visited
the boiIer-house. Had they done so they
could have ascertained to their full ga it's
faction the fals1ty of the statement.
4 make this statement in my own be
half and in behalf of Mr.. Robert Rut-
ledge a brother engineer, who shares
with me the responsibility of M aing the
Jail and court house. We are elected by
'tlhe county commissioners and RESPONSE
BILE to them and mot 70 the sheriff. Re-
spectfully, ROBERT SAMUEL
Engineer Court House.
HON. JOHN J. ALTMAN
DitIilil5IIdiIi, Ara, Lee. ., 1881.
Frank p. O'Brien. Esq:
Dear Sir-I have just read The Age
Herald's report of the United States
grand jury. While 1 have no reason to
doubt the sincerity of the gentlemen
composing the jury, | confess that, con-
siderdng my experience with prisoners
for a long time (more than twenty-six
years during active practice as a law
yer), l am surprised that they (the
grand jurors) made such a report based
on the statements of prisoners without
giving you at least a chance for vindica-
ton, answer or reply to the charges.
AS soon as 1 read the report in the
paper, 1T occurred to me that the same
plan had occurred to these prisoners
that was seriously considered and dis
cussed about four years ago by other
prisoners. My dates may be wrong, but
l know lit was while John Parker. Fart
Gilley and others, who were charged
with conspiracy, in this, that they shot
one Cotton and wife, United States wit
nesses were in Jail. I am almost sure
that NJ was i'm the spring of 1898. AT any
rate the plan as developed to me was to
raise a terrible racket against the sheriff
for bad treatment generally and to ap-
peal to the judge Judge Bruce to send
United States prisoners, who We're con-
victed and sentenced, to serve the time
of their sentence to the jails' of the coun-
ties whence they came $50 they might be
near their families and friends), or, If
they were not tried at the next succeed
ing term Of court and failed to make
bond, taht an appeal of like character
would be made; that is to say, what
confinement was suffered would be IN
the Jail at their home counties, respect
lively.
In thinking OVER the matter SO as TO
fix TIMES and persons and circumstances
in my mind, / remember Tap Sprouse,
a. United States prisoner, and one Ircltt
af0tf0
been convicted of murder in Bib coun-
ty, were i'm the Jail then. You WIN re- e.
member, or If you do not Ex-SheriIL
Morrow will, that Tap Sprouse escaped
from jail, remained away awhaEe and rs-
turned or offered to return, at any RATE
was tried and acquitted.
some of the men informed me OF TINS
scheme at first jolSed with them ABOUT
it.. but when felt that there was cause
fer serious consid nation | told the par
ties that their plans w1cufd not WORK pc
cause founded on untruth ana tndit
would Rneo1-m Sheriff Morrow and tine
court of their scheme. Nothing more was
heard by me from thsm on the supJeot
There were some promises by me, ana
possibly by oilers, that Judge Bruce
should be asked to send prisoners 10
their home counties tor coHllneiHene' liz
proper cases.
All these matters coming back to my
memory [ felt as soon as L read the
United Staes grand jury report tifal
ought to write the above TO you, as II
may be that these poor unfortunates are
simply CRYING to get as near nome as
they can, in the event they are sentenced
To Jail: or are compelled to remain In
jad1 in default of trial or bond the mo-
tfves In the two cases may be the same.
we must not judge them harshly, as
theirs is a hard lot even under the
most favorable conditions as prisoners.
Yours very truly,
JOHN J. ALTMAN.