The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-06-15

Following the harsh criticism of the
snerins office by the recent Frrsy,6
jury, which charged that the shertfT
anG MS deputies have been engaged n
making wholesale and unnecessary
arrests for frivolous offenses and aJs6
mat they found the mattresses at the
county Jail were unclean and the cells
generally looked dirty. Sheriff Cary FL
lis told a representative 90 The Journal
ABOUT o'clock yesterday afternoon
that he would make a statement in
beth papers this morning concerning
matters touched upon in the grand
jury report but announced later that
on account of the great expense CON.
nected with publishing such tatcmentss
as he intended TO make. he decided
not to reply in any particular to- the
grand jury presentment over his own
signature. Sheriff Ellis said that ne
had decided positively on the latte.
course.
In talking to the representative ~
The Journal, Sheriff Ellis, however.
said that he is not responsible for the
mattresses at the county jail looking
dirty as he had called the attention or
the present board Of county commits
sioners to the fact that 1t was neces-
sary that they supply slips for the
mattresses. He said that If the com
missioners had furnished the slips az
he had requested them to do. the slips
could be removed from the mattresses
when the former became dirty, burt
washed.
NOT YET SUPPLIED.
Sheriff Ellis said that the grand jury
which made its presentment 10 the cir
cult court on February H. last, recon-
nended to the county commissioners
that the mattresses slips be supplied.
but, the sheriff said. the commissioners
have not done so. Chief Deputy Sheriff
Hartsfeld. who was also present when
Sheriff Ellis made this statement, said
that he himself had called the commits
sioners attention to the fact that the
slips for the mattresses were ncCcs-
sary, but that they have not been fur
nished.
With reference to the criticism made
by the jury to the effect that when
they visited the county Jail they were
by no means favora bly, impressed with
its condtions-that the cells generally
looked dirty-Sheriff Ellis said that
last Tuesday, the day on which they
called, was very cold and for fear that
some Of the prisoners might be made
sick, the usual duty of scrubbinR the
cells had been suspended both on Mon p
day and Tuesday, rs the temperature
on both Of these days was very low.
Chief Deputy Hartsf1eld also said this
was the reason why the cells were not
scrubbed as usual.
Sheriff Ellis said that when Inspec-
tors Titcomb and Terrell, state inspec-
tors oF jails, were in Pensacola re-
Gently, they both said that the Escam-
'Aia county Jail was second 10 none in
the state from point Of cleanliness
and so far az sanitary conditions are
concerned.
SECOND TO NO JAIL.
Continuing Sheriff Ellis said
Il have been sheriff Of EBcambis
county. since January 7th, 1913, and at
the February term Of the circuit court.
" hen the grand jury visited the county
Jail, ] requested them to embody in
their final presentment a recommend
ton to the board Of county commits
sioners to purchase new mattresses fpr
the county jail, which they very kindly
did Later Mr.. J. y. Terrell. state CON
Wet and Jail inspector, visited and in
spected the Jail in Escambia county.
and ] again requested him TO cmbody
IN his report 70 the governor on his
findings a recommendation for the pur-
CONTINUED on Pans rwoN