The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-05
An End to the investigation That
Was Conducted by the County
commissioners.
MATTER UNDER AMUSEMENT
SUPERINTENDENT HARCOURT'S
STRAIGHTFORWARD STORY.
Charge that Inmates Were Not Prop
erIy Fed Falls to the Ground
Scope of Questioning.

OF the report Of the special committee Of
Central Labor Union concerning conditions
at the poor farm was finished at 8 o'clock
yesterday evening. Many of the inmates
were heard and their complaint seemed
10 be unanimous against the action of
the commissioners in resembling smok-
ing privileges but that was all. Some testi-
fed that food was not properly cooked at
times. being half done, but the complaint
centered about the tobacco question. AL
most to a the inmates. said they would
gladly give up one or even two meals a day
for the privilege of smoking.
John De Wolf, seventy-three years old,
told the commissioners in the afternoon
that he was not allowed TO see his wife,
who is also at the poor farm, and that
Superintendent Harcourt had denied him a
pass. Gus Harding told the commissioners
that his trousers had holes in them and
that he was not sufficiently clad. These
were about all the complaints made by
any of the inmates outside of those who
wanted the anti-smoking order revoked and
said some of the food was not properly
cooked.
After the inmates had testified, George
Hermann, W. l. Hobbs and NJ. Johnson.
members of the grand jury, were put on
the stand Mr.. Johnson and Mr.. Hermann
said when the grand jury visited the poor
farm they found everything in first-class
condition. Mr.. Hobbs said that after the
grand jury went through the buildings he
slipped away and made an investigation
alone. He said several women approached
MIN and begged him for tobacco. He said
he made a close observation Of the food
and thought it was good and wholesome
and that conditions generally were good.
Miss Lillian Fredericks. treasurer of
Central Labor Union, who visited the
women's department of the poor farm on
behalf of the central body. testified that
one woman charged Superintendent Har-
court with wrenching her arm in taking
pipe away from her. She also said the de-
partment was not what IL should be and
that the fire escapes were locked She also
told of one woman who was drinking hot
water.
Dr. Marie Haslep, the physician for the
female department, said she ordered that
the woman drink hot water and that 1t
was necessary for her complaint. She
testified that the women had been given
the best of medical attention.
SUPERINTENDENT HEARD.
Superintendent Harcourt was the last
witness put on the stand, and County At
torney Hugg propounded questions cover
ing the entire testimony. Harcourt said
the inmates sometimes had one or more
vegetables at noon, with meat. He said
most of the meat used was beef, but the
inmates were given pork once week in
summer and twice a week in winter. Last
fall, he said, thirty hogs were slaughtered
at the poor farm, and the meat was given
to the inmates. He said the eggs from the
farm were served for breakfast and the
bread is baked there. There are nine in
mates assigned to the kitchen and dining
room, he said, and added that work was
| classified and given to men able 10 do it.
| He said the county physician was some
times consulted about giving inmates work
Since Sept l; when he took charge OF the
| poor farm, he said, the highest number
/ there had been PIG, last winter. and the
| lowest number, 167, the present enrolment.
| OF these Us are men and thirty-nine
/ women.
Concerning the statement that tainted
meat was sent TO the poor farm Harcourt
said there had been times when meat was
/ not good and IL was returned to the butch
er. In regard to the charge of not giving
| butter to the inmates, he said the supply
| was governed by the condition of the COWS,
| and for the last few weeks there has been
/ a shortage of butter. The superintendent
| then gave some figures showing the amount
| of milk and butter used at the poor farm.
| Since he became superintendent. he said,
there had been 6,632 gallons of milk used.
/ 100 gallons going to employees and 5.342
gallons 10 the inmates; 1920 pounds of but
ter, $50 pounds going to employees and l,S7O
/ to inmates. His figures on eggs since
March L were lbs dozen, 300 dozen going to
! employees and S3S dozen to inmates. He
said there are fifteen employees.
| He said he had never known of pie being
| thrown out, as charged and stated that he
| ate the same kind of meat, the same kind
| of vegetables, drank the same kind of cof-
| fee, tea and milk and ate the same kind
| of butter that is furnished the inmates.
| I'VE all draw from the same chest" said
| he. He said he never knew of any tainted
1 49,
| posed at times the meat did not suit all
| tastes. when there are $50 or 200 different
| tastes to suit" said he, lit is but natural
| that the food will not be cooked as all want
| it" While he has been superintendent. he
| said, the inmates have had the fruit raised
| on the farm. Last year the grape crop
| of the institution, but the inmates got their
| share of what was left He said there are
prospects for fine grape and early apple
crop this year. Il would like for the board
| to understand one thing about this fruit
| question" he said. For Illustration, we
| had tree full of pears. 1 talked to the
inmates and instructed them TO let the
pears alone until they ripened and then all
| would get a share of them. Instead of do
| ing this the inmates sneaked out after
night and knocked every one of them off
| so that only a few got any. Last Sunday
l gave them talk about the grapes. musk
| melons and apples, telling them to wait
until they were ripe so that all could get a
| share. Now / hear that some OF the in
| grapes. muskmelons and apples. We can't
| prevent this, for they will get up at all
hours Of the night and go and help them
| selves.
CHICKENS KEPT FOR THE EGGS.
1t was charged that there are 700 or so
chickens at the poor farm, and the inmates
never get any. Harcourt said there are
about 300 old chickens at the farm now
and 400 or 500 young ones. not big enough
to eat. He said there had been but one
mess Of chicken since he became superin.
tendent. and that was when thirty ole
chickens were killed. He said 1t would
take about forty-five of the young chicken:
10 make one meal. The reason for keepins
such a large supply OF chickens, he said
was not 10 eat, but 10 supply eggs for th'
inmates.
Concerning De VOLTS charge that n,
was not allowed to see his wife and wa.
denied a pass, Harcourt said: 1--WE hav,
regular visiting hours for men whose wives
are at the poor farm. When De Wolfi
wife was sick he was allowed TO STAY will
her until midnight and then an old lad,
was left 10 take care OF her and De VOL
was sent 10 his apartment. He wanted [,
stay sometimes, but we told him his wifi
would be better of and well cared for an,
she was. i did refuse De Wolf a pass. l
was at a very busy time when we wer
working in the truck patches. I also de
/ Iaf