The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-01
Find MICE In THEIR HASH
Prisoners Protest Against the
District Jail Menu.
The Rodents Discovered i'm the Food
on Two Occasions - Kitchen En-
pIoycs and Guards Fail to Report
the Complaints of the Inmates
Four Men Ordered Discharged.

Four Mep Ordered DischnrG ed
Prisoners AT the District Jail have
found mice in their hash, and with the
approval of Chief Justice Bingham, War
den Harris will today dismiss four en-
ployes. who neglected to report the mat
ter. Noncompliance with the rules of
the institution, in that they failed to
promptly report important matters re-
specting food furnished prisoners, is
given as the cause of the action taken
yesterday in recommending the dismis
sails. Those under the ban are Albert
c. Armstrong, of 3l9 Missouri Avenue
northwest; George b. Blanford. 23S Penn
sylvania Avenue southeast Eugene
Welch, 1928 Thirty-ifth Street northwest
all guards, and George ". Wilmington,
steward, residing at 1920 Fifteenth street
northwest. All named are old employees
OF the jail
For several days an exhaustive investi-
CATION, conducted by Warden Harris. has
been in progress at the jail resulting
from complaints made by prisoners. 1t
was brought TO light that food furnished
al the pFlsOu WAS DAD, lndt on TWO OCCd
sions within the past month a mouse had
been found in hash given the prisoners,
which had just been served from the ieil
kitchen. and that while several employees
OF the Institution were aware of the con-
ditions. no report was made 10 Warden
Harris. 1t is said to have been admitted
by at least one of the guards, now under
the displeasure of the officials that he
knew Of the finding of the mice in the
rrsvT #1-
to say nothing OF the matter. BY prison
ers confined at the jail, moreover it is
stated thc. food furnished at the prison
has been Inferior for some time past. and
that complaints to The guards had brought
no relief from the existing conditions
Ray White is one OF the prisoners loud
in his protests against the food given him.
He is also one OF those unfortunate enough
10 find mouse hidden snugly in his dish
Of hash. He was appalled,. and asked
several fellow prisoners 10 view the re-
mains of the unfortunate animal. White
affirms that he told Guard Armstrong of
the incident. and that he was given fresh
mess of hash, but that the food furnished
him generally was Of very poor quality.
White is the second victim OF such a dis
covery, for he says that another prisoner
went through a similar experience with
his hash not more than two wesks ago.
Not until White had suffered discomfort.
however. did the matter reach the ears Of
Warden Harris, and then it was through a
reporter for The Times. who called at the
jail and acquainted him with the facts in
the case.
An investigation was at once begun
many OF the guards being examined. with
a view OF determining the quality of food
given prisoners, and the extent of other
alleged abuses complained of by those in
custody. One of the prisoners foremost in
his denunciaticn Of the Jail Off
cials. because Of alleged poor v.ctuals,
and for other reasons is Albert F. Chase
a negro, now under sentence TO serve
term of thirty months in the penitentiary
at Moundsville, w Va, for larceny. Chase
was examined closely by Warden Harris,
who is determined to get at the bottom
of the whole matter The negro boldly
asserted thas the food given him was
wretched: that the rules of the jail per-
init very little exercise for prisoners, and
that all letters sent out by those in Gus
tody are scanned by the prison officials.
Moreover. Chase was one Of those allowed
to see the mouse in the hash of his fellow
prisoner, Ray White. He says he was
shocked
Warden Harris called Guard Armstrong
before him and questioned him closely re-
specting his knowledge of the complaints.
Ii is asserted Mr.. Armstrong admitted
Ion tod fhn ffar
~. ,ia .rs .Ii i,5 1.ao. W-h;.a "a ~. i,n 80,
the man a fresh supply from the kitchen.
when seen al his home last might War
neh Seen a. 'iiS ioi-' iaSt HsH'
den Harris told reporter that ne should
have strict discipline at the District JAIL
and had already taken steps to remove
the employees who had failed to observe
his instructions. He said he had issued a
general order more than a year ago to
- every ing OF more than
aHI.lzr ra be reported TO
Bum. He had made
.......- .. ..rpouse in tho
"
who had any
5rr.. or not report
.- T.. r. .. ~ said. The
a,,I - -
t- ~ 'A
p.o ~. seer ~ means
hF and above
win tns exception OF wilmington, All
those recommended for dismissal have been
at the Jail for several years Armstrong