The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-19
Sheriff Metzger Makes His Charges
Keep the Gloomy Building Clean
from Cellar tn Roof.
ARIsToCRATs OF THE PRISON
FEDERAL OFFENDERS ARE THE
ELITE AND HOLD THEMSELVES UP.
story OF a Day from Rising Gong to
Taps I'm the Place That Makes the
Transgressor's Way Hard.

TelSOQS passing Ine county jail Oh OOulh
Alabama street would hardly think, there
was much to interest one behind the cold.
gray walls and bars. through which. at
times. a face may be seen peering out into
he world trying to catch a faint glimmer
CT light However. a visitor needs to be In
the institution only a few minutes to find
shat IL Is very interesting place.
When a prisoner Is brought in he is first
searched to find that he has no weapons
concealed. He is then slated recorded
on the slate for that day, which contains his
age. residence. occupation. etc. A record is
then made in the Jail ledger OF the date of
Ms commitment, with other data. After
these preliminaries he is given the first hint
of the motto of the Jail. He is compelled to
take e.. bath from head to footeand in most
instances the transformation that this pro-
cess causes is astonishing. Sheriff Metzger.
viii be seen later, is insistent on
cleanliness as the most cranky spinster just
after marriage. with home of her own.
After the preliminaries the new arrival is
assigned TO CELL and if he is a. short-time
man, having been sent over from Police
Court for a brief stay. awaiting an attor-
ney or postponement. he is not put on the
force of workers who keep the building in
appIe-pie order.
LIKE Gagged WOLVES.
The life of the inmates of the Jail is in
teresting and no doubt many have wondered.
as they passed the gloomy-looking building.
how the prisoners spent their time of the
life behind the stone walls and bars that
shut out all communication with the pleas
ant outdoors. In the morning the rising bell
rings at $780, and after breakfast at O'Clock
the men clean up their cells, which are
made as clean as a bedroom in any good no.
tel. After this work is done the doors are
closed and the men are not allowed in the
cells during the day. They spend their time
IN the corridors. some reading writing let
tiers or playing cards. but the majority
walking up and down like Gagged wolves.
with the same steady tread and restless
manner. This is the way in which the "hold-
overs" or those on short time. put in the
day.
But for the longtime prisoner there is
different routine, quite in contrast with the
irksome grind OF the short-time man, soon
60 be out else In the workhouse, maybe
In prison. These, which usually number
about twenty-five. have little time to medi-
tate over the cruelty OF the world or to think
of their condition, for they are kept on the
jump from early morning until evening,
when they are glad to rest and sleep, even
though the Jail is as light as day. The
lights are kept bright in a ballroom all
night long. so the jailer may see that no at
tempt is made to break out. This might
bother many persons. but after having been
under Sheriff Metzger for day the chances
one would sleep like the proverbial kit
ten. In spite OF electric lights. At $3.50 the
gong sounds and no whispering is permitted
after that.
Every part of the entire building is kept
faultlessly clean, even To the cellar, where
the wood is stored. and If any dirt is found
in a place where the sheriff thinks it ought
not be. the prisoner whose duty 1t is to at
tend TO this is held responsible and it is a
sure thing that he will look after the mat
ter I'm the future. The entire jail is gone
over from top to bottom once a week and
scrubbed twice a week. AS a result of this
custom there is little sickness and the men
and women leave the place with a better
idea OF how to live than when they went in.
The Marion county Jail has but one
'trusty,' who Is allowed outside. Many per-
sons seem to think institution like a Jail
has a number of such men, who are allowed
outside. but there are seldom more than one
who has this privilege. Beside this, there
are what are termed corridor men," who
are allowed to go through the building. but
not 70 leave 1t. These include the cook as
eistant cook and men whose work takes
them In the corridors.
JAIL ARISTOCRATS.
Few Of the prisoners in the jail are chronic
criminals. this class being found In the
workhouse- The inmates OF the Jail are men
awaiting the action Of the grand jury or for
similar causes and in some cases are not
guilty OF any crime. The colored men are
kept separate entirely from the white pris-
oners, and tie young boys are apart from
the men. The women also have a depart
ment and are in charge of Matron Eliza
beth Whiteman The women do laundry
work and under the same rules and
regulations as the men. THE hardest GRIM
finals to control" said Sheriff Metzger. ARE
the fedGRal offenders who feel that they are
the aristocrats of the Jail. but as a general
thing the troublesome inmates are the ex-
ception and not the rule Most of the pris-
oners give US little trouble"
,rhe ~ork Of Sheriff Metzger is not con-
fin.d TO looking after the routine of the jaiI
He does much good in talking with those of
the men whom he thinks he can get TO lead
better lives. Many a happy home owes its
prosperity and pleasant conditions TO the
kind words and good advice of sheriffs
Before Mr.. Metzser took charge a cook for
the institution was hired. but it was found
that he sold whisky TO the prisoners, and a
man was taken from among the prisoners
who could not get out to get liquor
A part Of jail life that is lacking is church
service. A few years ago woman who was
preaching assisted prisoner 10 escape
While the band OF religious workers was
singing and praying the man sawed the bars
and got away. Since that time. which was
about four years ago. no religious meet
ings have been held. Sheriff Metzger hopes
10 make arrangements before long by which
some good lecturer can talk TO the inmates
on Sunday.
The jail Is run much after the fashion of
the colony in the early part OF 1900 in yir-
Ginia and like the ~ell-known Capt John
Smith. who said. those who do not work
snal not eat" Sheriff sTetzger enforces this
xuIe with as much vigilance as did the
Northy captain during the settlement of