Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-02-03
AT THE COUNTY JAIL.
Some Things Going On There, Within
and Without.

While a newspaper man was chasing
the proverbai iiecting item during this
mornings drifting Hnowstorm he ran
up against ono OF sheriff Howella
deputies who took him 10 the county
jail Arriving ~ the Institution tho
ncwrgnthcrer WAS welcomed by JailOr
Thomas who explained the initintory
process through which the prisoners
passed. Mr. Thomas stated that he at
present has thirty-niN guests stopping
VI hia hotel. an males. lie has ample
accommodation Tor more hut II salts
He'd with the number IN limbo. The
thirly-slN, for tho most part. represent
the lower strata OF society They also
represent various nntlonalitics. with
Ireland leading aud the United States
a close second. The prisoners are also
nearly all white. at least IN y are nov.
for this was bath day. a few are
awaiting trial. but the majority ARE
serving out sentences ranging all the
way from fifteen days 10 six months.
The majority OF the prisoners belong
To that class OF criminals known na
"the light fingered gentry" They boz
lievc that fingers aud thumbs came In
10 existence long before knives ana
forks did and they put their belief into
practice IN a most rcprehcnHlblc fash
Ion whenever IA favorable opportunity
presents itself. Out Of thirty Ia for
stealing. there are twenty-nine who
claim 10 he Innocent Of wrong doing;
the other admits hiH guilt and says "
he got his Just deserts he would be In
the state prison
The greatest character without doubt
" Herr Weber, awaiting trial on the
charge Of cmhcxzlomcnt Weber N not
his true name lie says he adopted his
present cogn0mcn while In ogden few
months ago He was born. he alleges,
on the Russian frontier 90 years ago.
aud came To America when quite lad.
but has been twice around the world
since He spent two years In the
asylum ut New Jersey. where he made
an attempt on his life by cutting the
arteries OF his right arm with II piece
Of glass, He claims 10 have made lila
escape from the institution one night
by jumping out Of n second story win
dow, His sister, he says, was lnstru-
mental In having him committed Ia the
asylum for fear that he would come
into the estate OF his deceased father.
lie In quite "a musician and the possess
SCR Of an excellent baritone voice.
When the reporter reached Wehcr'A cell
he found him sitting on a rude bed
sinHlng Loves Old Sweet Gong" To
the accompaniment of an autoharp.
which he handles with skin,
The prisoner, Il viii be remembered.
came here some months ago for the
purpose Of conducting "a gents cutting
establishment" lie IL said 10 .haye
swindled Numerous parties by me VlR Of
forged checks. lie skipped out and
was subsequently captured by eH-Sher-
m LOWS, In Nevada, and brought back
None Of the parties who were robbed
have shown any Willingness 10 prose-
cute him. The offense with which he
now stands charged Is the embezzle-
ment OF a horse and buggy belonging
10 Il. NJ. Holt a. Sons Weber says he
can prove his innocence II Judge Nor
rel VIII allow him To conduct his own
defense He has no use for attorneys.
claiming that the majority OF them are
In league with the prosecuting officers.
4 number OF improvements are going
on at the jail. 40 present the interior
II receiving much needed coat OF
paint.