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

CURED knowing as we DO unaE small
pox is a disease propogated 10 an ex-
tent by filth and that a Case was brought
intro this Prison containing about $50 ne
groes, race peculiarly susceptible to
the disease, with absolutely no spread OF
said disease, lis in itself suffice MT evil
denIce of the cleanliness of said prison.
Tine prlSonarS are required to take a
bath at least once a week, and the Jail
is scrubbed with soap and waiter twice a
week, in addition 10 the ordinary CLEAN
ing every day.
AS TO the food. have not heard a
complaint in months. and 1t Is lit lie
singular they do not complain to me if
they are not getting wholesome or suf-
flcient food. L have never been refused
request for a special die. for amy one
sick, but ON THE contrary I have been
furnished everything asked for and have
been in every way encouTa ged and aid
ed in all my efforts to better the sur
roundings of the Prisoners both by your
self and all others in authority.
The county furnishes a building which
IS used as "a hospital for the sick. This
bu1ldfng Is commoldious and well VEN
thlated. l am sure no other Jail In the
state is 50 we'll provided for IN the way
OF facilities for caring for the sick. The
benefits of this hospita1 are extended to
United States prisoners without rastric-
tion.
Very respectfully.
j. S. GILLESPY.
County Physician
FROM DIR. J. p. LUCKIE.
Birmingham, Ala. Dec. 8. 1897
Frank P. O'Brien, Esq, Sheriff:
Dear Sir: My attention having been
called TO the report of the federal grand
jury on the condition of the county Jail,
L take the opportunity to make a state
ment on the subject.
AS physician in charge of the United
States prisoners. I frequently visit the
Jail in the discharge of my dufes. 1
can say without reservation that the
Jail is comfortable and Clearly. and that
the sanitary condition is eXcsllem and
that tlJsre is total absence of unpleas-
ant odcrs.
I wish to state. further, that my di-
rections as to special dieting of invalid
United States prisoners have Invariably
been carefully complied with, and the
tailor has always bsen prompt, upon ev-
cry reduisibon made by me, in supply
ing milk. eggs, rice and other delicalcfes
for the sick and convalescent.
My experience and observation in my
Jail visits have been such as to Impress
me most favonably with the result of
your efforts to improve the condthion of
the jail and to modify the rigors of Jail
life for the unfortunates committed to
your charge.
Very respectfully,
j. B. LUCKIE. M. d.
THE COMMITTEE OF HEALTH.
Birmingham, Ala, Dec. 4, 1897.
DR.. E. H. Sholl, Chairman of Committee
of Health, City:
Dear Doctor-We, the undersigned.
acting for the committee of health, have
in conformity with the law made an in
spection of the county Jail, and submit
the following report:
We find 1.-The interior of the building
and cells clean. The beds are supplied
with good warm covering, each cot hav-
ing from two ITO four blankets, which are
in good condition. We visited the kitch-
en- while dinner was being prepared and
found an abundant supply of fresh beef
and corn bread. We were informed that
vegetables were served once a. week,
fresh meat daily, flour bread twice a
week. We tried some of the corn bread
and found 1T quite palatabte. But few
of the windows had glass shutters; some
were covered with canvas, and some
had no covering at all. but the building
was comfortably warm throughout. The
air i'm the upper and middle cells is a lit
tie Stuffy and close. The air shafts (two
in number) are not in working order,
and ventilation lis not what 1T should be-
We find that air comes in at the shafts
instead of going out. ALL prisoners are
bathed and vaccinated on admission,
and are required to bathe twice a week
thereafter The women are kept in the
clean. We detected no bad odors from
closets or bath rooms The prisoners
seemed satisfied and made mo complaints
to us. Very respectfully.
S. L. LEDBETTER. Nj. D.
CUNNINGHAM WILSON, M. D.
Hon. Frank P. O'Brden. Sheriff of Jeffer-
son County, Alabama:
Dear Sir: AS practdcng attorneys of
The jefferson county bar who have fire.
quently baen caleld upon to defend per-
sons confined in the county jail of said
county, we desire to state that in all
our experience since you took charge of
the Jail no complaint of unfair treatment
nr of Insufficient or unwholesome feeding
has been made by any of our clients.
We join in this statement as matter
of common justice to you and to Your
admins ira ton.
Lee c. Bradley. J. L. Meade, Morris
Loveman, Richard H. Fries, Vassar l..
Allen, L. J. Haley Jr., r. H. Kerr, w.
H. Denston, ]. l. TanneIr J. FINLEY
White, III. III. Brown, b. M. Allen. j. G.
Crews, II. B. Abernalthy, John j. Alt
man. c. W. Hickman. w. P. McCrossln,
w. e. Martin, w. X. Terry, Danl A.
Greena, Oscar Floyd. c. P. Beddow,
Bowman e. Harsh, John D. Strange. D. J.
Ponceller, Weaver & Cole. e. r. Rivers,
A. B. Perdue. Gregg & Thornton, John
W. TOmlinson-
FROM PRACTICDNG ATTORNEYS
THE COURT HOUSE ENGINEER.
To the Pubdc