The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-05

in the sick ward. and some one ought TO
be employed to care for the invaIids. The
estimate for 1902 was prepared by his pre-
decessor. He said he would ask for add
tional help in this department in his esi-
mate for next year.
Gus Harding. he said. always had enough
clothing TO wear. Perhaps he sometimes
had holes in his clothes. 1 sometimes get
holes In my clothing, and | suppose ne
does, too"
Harcourt denies emphaticaIly that he had
Wrenched the arm OF one OF the female
inmates. He said he never took a pipe
away from any female inmate, but took
pipe away from a man who persisted in
smoking in the building. He said the fire
escapes TO the women's department. are
not locked because there are no fire es-
capes 10 that department. The women
side of the building is two stories high
and there is no need for them. He said
the inmates of the male department are
now kept on the first, second and third
floors 10 insure greater safety in case Of
fire.
MEN SMOKED IN BED.
Before the smoking order went into effect
Harcourt said the men smoked in bed. lie
once found a chair cushion on fire where
an old man had been sitting smoking his
pipe. He said the men frequently set fire
to their clothing, and after the anti-smok
ing order was issued he often caught in
mates violating the rule.
When asked If he had observed the con-
dition of the inmates after the order was
issued he said: Il noticed no particular
difference, and the order didn't seem to af-
three weeks there were many requests for
tobacco, but | know of no one who was in
distress for it," Asked if he had favorites.
he said: Il have not. / have talked to the
inmates several times and told them they
would all be treated alike" He said he had
never heard Dave Seymour, the engineer,
call the inmates the "offscourings of the
earth" or use other language intended to
humiliate them.
Returning to the question Of food, Attor-
ney Hugg asked Harcourt about the vege-
OF paper on which he had enumerated the
amount OF vegetables furnished since
March l. In the aggregate he said rs
bushels of vegetables had been furnished
the inmates, and there were eleven differ
ent kinds. He said nothing had ever been
sold from the poor farm except a few hogs
this summer when the weather grew warm
he said there are plenty of hogs left. and
II they live until this fall they will be
butchered and given to the inmates. Asked
about the statement of Miss Fredericks
wien she said she an old lady coming
toward the house with her apron full of
tomatoes, he said: That's it. They get
out at night and at all times and help
buildings were never locked and that the
poor farm was not conducted as a penal in
stitution.
A CHANGE DESIRED.
Taking up the charge that the County
Board of Charities and Correction never
got beyond his Office and dining room, Har-
court said it untrue He said he had
never been given an intimation of a visit
by the board, and each time came the
building was inspected from basement to
attic. He denied the accusation that the
inmates were not allowed to call for a
| second order of food at a meal, and said
they were sent into a large dining room
and ate until their appetites were salts
ned. He said the inmates often drank two
or three bowls of coffee, and that bowls
were furnished because cups were not large
enough. The reason tincups and pans were
furnished to inmates of the sick ward, he
said because they broke so many
dishes by letting them fall to the floor He
| also stated that he considered the chief
| cook competent.
In closing his testimony he said he did
not recommend TO the board that the use
/ of tobacco be discontinued. He discussed
| 1t with the board, but the action was not
| taken on his recommendation. AT the con-
| clusiOn OF his testimony Attorney Hugg in
vited any one to ask Harcourt questions,
| but none was asked. The board then took
| the matter under Amusement.
| In the afternoon the commissioners lis
tened to the stories of the inmates James
| K. Ball, a paralytic. was the principal wit
| ness. Ball said he had received good med
1 lCdl ATTENTION anu QenleQ the report thdt ne
| accused Dr. Diehl, the poor farm physician,
of neglecting him. He said the food gen.
| orally consisted of beef, potatoes, cabbage
| and turnips. and was half-cooked and not
/ fit to eat. He said the meat was frequently
| tainted. He complained of tin pans being
| used to serve them food and astonished
| the board and spectators by pulling a rusty
| pan from under his coat as an exhibit
| What the inmates want. he said is to-
| bacco, and he feared that his father. who
| is at the poor farm with him, will go in
| sane for the want of II. He said Harcourt
| did not make wine out of the grapes, but
| former Superintendent, Smith and Carter
| did. He said they had two bananas on the
| Fourth of July. two apples on Christmas
| some fruit on New Years day and turkey
| on Thanksgiving. He said they occasion
| ally got dried peaches and apples Bal
| closed his statements by insisting that the
| inmates wanted tobacco more than any
| thing else.
| With few exceptions, Wesley Jordan
| spoke the sentiments of the inmates wher
| he said, II amt got no kick coming except
| on the tobacco question. Take my meals
| every one of them-and give me back my
tobacco. That was my only joy"