Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-07-29
THE CITY JAIL
ONCE AGAIN.
Visit to the Standing Disgrace Of
Salt Lake City,
ITS CONCENTRATED MISERY.
The "Itobo lawyer Ciamors for re-
form In the Manner OF Housing
Ways aud Drunhs.

Jailer Sol Kimball has "a full fedged
revolt on his hands among his guests
at the brown stone front mansion. be-
hind the old city hail.
The Insurgents In solemn conclave
assembled have nailed their colors to
the mast. elected the sad eyed Hobo
Lawyer Judd as president with
Spinal Mcnlngitls' Gorth as secretary
Of war. and cx-Con Smith as corro-
spending secretary with philnnthropic
Mrs. Boydcn their champion. That
lady visited the city jail a couple Of
days ago and was considerably shocked
10 observe the existing surroundings at
the city prison. The prisoners. accord
Ing 10 tho officers. told her their tale
and then turned right around and made
some Hcpiling and dcroEntory remarks
at the expense of the lady In question
Co Detective Sheets.
The condition uf the city Jail has been
placed before the public time and time
again but the Disgrace Htill stands as a
monument of public scandal Mrs,
B0ydeu, who has been trying To- Tighten
the lives Of the prisoners confined In
that dark ana nois me jail, has lent a
willing ear to the appeals u the In
John Smith. who " doing time for va
grancy. The following h an extract
from the sonnet
Most inmates are unprovidcd with
a second shirt or drawers. 30 that they
are Obliged TO go without "A change dur
INK their term ~ confinement. Bed.
buEs and lice Hwatm all over the place.
The bedding II horribly nlthy. a clt.
zen OF the city In for iutoNiCatlun 10 US
Ing quilts clotted with the blood %
suicide. No dlslnfoCtHnts are used. nor
are there any facilities for fumigting
bedding or clothes. The only thing used
Tor the determination uf vDrmln ~ bed
bug powder. which seems tp make no
Impression at an"
1aller Kimbali this morning stated
that he was doing the best he could
undor the circumstance he said that
every room In the jail la scrubbed daily;
she entire interior ~ whitcwaHhrd twice
a month aud Insect powder IL supplied
10 the prisoners nt the rate bordering
upon one pound each week. Regarding
the change Of clothing Mr.. kimbal said
that n they had undertaking for each
of the $500 men who pass through his
hands annually. that the city would
have to run % regular clothing store.
Any prisoner according tu the jailor.
can take hot bath every day " he
chooses. The tub. soap. and other I'M
pcdimCntn stand IN the corridor ready
Tor use. A. TO fumigating therc Is "A
fumiantor at their disposal In the form
or cell that has been iitted up for that
purpose. In support OF hlH statement n
reporter accompanied him through the
Jail this morning. Upstairs the cells
were fairly clean, with the whltewnAhed
wallis literally frcaCoed with tobacco
Juice and the corners plontifuiiy decor
ntcd with hhndfullf of insect powder.
According "a q prisoners statement the
Vcrmln rather fntteued on that Kind Of
dict. Ia tho womcn'H department the
girls were highly Indignant at the state
ment that the place was Gravity and
Vmphatlculy nVvrrod that there was
not a "grcyhnok' around the place, and
that u the hohoa on the other side
weren't no lazy. that they would enjoy
q similar condition. They have their
tobacco, papers and cards; what
more Do they wnnt1 I guess
they will be- asking for rockers
next" said the spokcawoman Of the for
| lurn half dozen.
Downstairs In the mems quarters.
| however, there was r. decided difference
nll around. The visitor pccrcd through
a grating into the gloom.
Here, you reporter, just you come
~ hcrg' We won't hurt you" said the
| Hobo Lawyer.
The Tailor unlocked the door ana tho
/ exploration continued. The cells on the
south side were pitch dark 30 hair a
/ dozen matches Wcrv struck and the
| torchlght procession started The
matches ana not take kindly 10 tho
| surrounding atmosphere ana seemed Inc
/ cllned 20 burn but dimly ana taken nl-
] together there was more 90 be- Hmelt
| than seen. The stone nag stones on the
| floor were covered with water that had
| leaked from faucet In the corner, and
| ~ each cell there was distinct odDr
/ Of n variety calculated 60 nccessltntc
| tho Introduction Of clothes peg. The
lawyer was very anxious 10 Introduce
testimony IN the form VI bottle fun
| % livestock" but refrninod and con-
| tented himself with exhibit A IN the
| form Of bloodstaincd rullt While
| G0rth contcnded himself with promia-
| Ing Co stir up things generally when
| he got out OF Jan IN the form OF IAN
| Investigation" The Introduction OF "a
| lighted match TO the corners Of the cells
| revealed the fact that the prisoners
| were not very particular regarding the
manner In which they cleaned out The
| same
Takcn altogether the city Iar Ia nm
| awful place. especially the downstairs
| portion, where the fourteen hardest
| cases are incarcernted.
In tho face Uf the agitation on tho
part Of the prisoners, tho primo movers
/ in the reform Will be- given chance "a
| tidy up a little. From this time on
| the Hobo Lawyer together with his
| Counselurs, viii be- delegated 10 clean
! up the abode " sin and misery aud
| otherwise occupy bis time when not en-.
| gagged In the uucrnus duties as preai,
| dent OF the lNiCkorH' Club,
-------