Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1912-05-17
committee asks to be discharged.
By the subcommittee.

John G. Kelley.
To the Grand Jury of Sierra County
for the May term 1912.
Sirs: l have the honor, both as
public officer and private citizen, to
call your attention to the unheathful
condition of our county Jail in th3 town
of Hillsboro, which is inadequate in
sunlight, ventilation, and sanitary con-
veniences, and even such abodes are
never purposely made unhealtiai, but
it is place of detet ton for men
awaiting trial, whom the law suppOses
innocent It'll proven guilty, and it is
both inhuman and indecent to oblge
any man to reside in such build
ding which is in such condi zion that
he may leave it in worse physical
condition than when he entered.
For purpose of making security all
the windows. save one, have been
bricked up to within foot OF the top,
which prevents sufficient sunshine and
daylight from entering, and thereby
has deleterious effect upon the eye
sight of the pr soners. Likewise it is
DETRIMENTAL t o proper ventilation.
Either these windows should be opened
up again. or proper and adequate sky
lights should be installed.
Regarding the sanitary conditions:
If sufficient funds are at the disposal
of the county, properly constituted
water closets should be intalled In each
cell, as is done in all we'll regulated
jais. but, appropriations not allowing
of this, water tight containers should
be procured for use in each respective
cell, to contain the facial water and
urine vsrded during the night. With
these boxes of dry earth should be
provided to be thrown over the COR
tents of the pail as soon as used to
confine the same. This should likewise
be thoroughly cleaned daily, and should
be retained by the same individual
tbrouubo,,t oonGcaroact a,I ,,1o,, r.
ing given to anothe should be thorough
ly cleansedwith an adequate gournicide.
The walls, floors, ETC., should be prop
erly desinfected at regular tivals, and
everything in reason done to insure the
health of the inmates. Under present
conditions it is possible for an innocent
man to be bound over to the grand jury
soon after the close of the term of the
district court, and unable to obtain
bail, be confined in this sunless, ill-ven-
tilated. and unhealthful jail, which
would possibly impair his health per-
manently. Such a man would have
recourse. if discharged as innocent to
a suit of damages, and the county might
be obliged to pay in such damages a
larger amount of money that is neces-
sary to change the present condition to
those of health and decency.
Respectfully submitted,
FL. GIVEN, M. D.,
County Health officer.
Grand Jury Room. May 10, 1912.
Report of Subcommittee of the grand
jury.
Your subcommittee beg to respect
fully report that we have examined the
various county Offices of Sierra county
and that we have found the records
and papers of the county keptin very
satisfactory manner. We have exam
ined the treasurer's records and find
them. to correspond with the county
clerks regarding the finances of the
county, ard we append hereto as a
part hereof general itemized state
ment of the condition of the county
funds and finances.
We find the several county oIiciaIs
are competent and efficient in the tran-
saction of their several duties. and ac<