St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1914-02-14
POLICE JURY not
GUARDIAN OF JAIL
Sheriff Has Charge of Jail
Whilst Jurors Attend to
Courthouse and
Square.

Tuesday, unanimously adopted q
resolution offered by DR.. F. @.
Pavy, resenting the headlines OF
an article appearing in the Clar-
ion a few weeks ago. signed by
Sheriff Swords, which through
some error was headed wrongly.
Whilst the jurors admit that they
are responsible for the condition
of the courthouse and square
they place the responsibility Of
the insanitary condition Of the
jail, at the time of DR.. DoWling's
visit to opelousas on the should
ers of the sheriff and his janitor.
The board Of health did not
find the courthouse and square
in an insanitary condition, and
reported favorably on the condi-
ton of the Jail. stating that DR..
Dowling's report had greatly ex-
aggerated the sanitary state of
the st. Landry parish Jail. Both
the report of the parish board of
health and the resolution of the
police jury, which on account of
the lack of space were unable to
be printed, are reproduced below:
Whereas, this body has re-
ceived a report from the Honor
able DR.. Oscar Bowling, Presi-
dent Of the State Board Of Health;
in which he severely criticises
the insanitary condition OF the
jail in the Town of Opelousas.
and also remarks in said report
that there were violations of the
sanitary code found in the Court
house relative to the use of drink
ing cups and also mentions the
fact that the Court House square
is not kept in proper condition,
and,
Whereas, this body has invited
the Sheriff of this Parish, Hon.
Marion L. Swords, to appear be-
fore the same with a view of
having him explain why he is
not responsible for the conditions
as found in the Parish jail, and
the sid Sheriff having appeaie ed
before said body and having pub
iicly sta ed that he assumes the
|entire responsibility for the in
sanitary conditions as found in
the jail, and
Whereas, this body wishes in
this resolution to go on record
that it assumes the entire re-
sponsibility for the condition as
found in the Court House and on
the Court House square, there
fore.
Be it resolved by the Police
Jury Of the Parish of st. Landry
in regular session convened, That
in order to better conditions, the
President of the Parish Board of
Health and the Board of Health
be and they are hereby request
ed to visit the Parish jail at least
once every so days, and also to
make an inspection Of the Court
House and Court House square at
least once every go days and to
report back to this body their
findings.
Be it further resolved, That
this body, after Investigation.
has ascertained that it is the Gus
todian of the Court House and
the Courthouse square, and as
such proposes to continue the ap-
pointment Of its own employees
to keep up same.
Be it further resolved, That a
copy Of this resolution. with a
copy of the report Of the Parish
Board of Health be sent to DR..
Oscar Bowling, President of the
State Board Of Health, The New
Orleans Item, The New Orleans
Picayune and The st. Landry
Clarion.
Opelousas, La, Feb. 8, 1914.
TO the President and Members Of the
Police Jury, Parish of St. Landry.
Gentlemen: Pursuant to your re-
quest, we the undersigned members of
the Parish Board OF Health, made a
thorough inspection of the Court House
and Jail, and beg to submit the follow
ing for your consideration:
We find the jail in good sanitary on
dition and therefore feel that the iailer
has been doing his duty towards keep
ing it as cleanly as possible under the
circumstances. In order, however, to
comply with the regulations of the San
itary Code of this State, we eardestly
recommend that the interior of the Jail
be again thoroughly cleaned, after hav-
ing its plastering scraped Of, and paint
ed white. This will conform to the re-
quirement Of the Sanitary Code and be-
sides presenting q neatappearance, will
be conducive to the health and comfort
of the prisoners. We find several leaks
in the building, due to defective sew
age pipes, and also leaks in the roof,
and recommend that the leaks receive
immediate attention.
The Ftnrk nj Cn1rfss Officn We afSa