The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-10
SMITH RESENTS
ACCUSATION OF
j. s. MARSHAL
Sheriff Declares That Prison.
ers in County Jail Have
Fattened on the Food
Given to Them.
COUNTY ATTORNEY
DISCUSSES MATTER
Expresses View That the
Sheriff Is Entitled to ALI
Legitimate Profit That
He May Derive.

"1t is an actual fact and can be
shown by the records Of the JAIL that
more than 80 per cent of tho prisoners
who have been in the institution
weighed moro when they are dis
| charged or are sent somewhere else
than when they were brought in. This
| additional weight ranges from five
pounds to sometimes as high as forty
| pounds"
The foregoing statement was made
last night by Sheriff Andrew Smith,
while commenting upon the activity of
Marshal James A. Anderson in testify
ing before the county commissioners
that federal prisoners at the county
Jail were not fed enough, and were
not given sufficient time to eat their
meals.
County Attorney Talks.
County Attorney I. E. Wiley was
very reluctant to make any comment
In reference to the case last night. He
said:
My understa nding is that the coun-
~ commissioners allow the sheriff 10
cents per meal per prisoner. This
money is allowed so that the sheriff
may furnish clean. wholesome and
nutritious food 10 the prisoners in
ample quantity. The fulfilling Of that
part OF the contract is left to the
better Judgment of the sheriff. II the
sheriff is able to do his part, and do
1t completely. for less than is cents
per meal per prisoner. would say
that the difference belongs to the
sheriff and the the county could not
recover II 1t would,
To the charge OF the marshal that the
prisoners get but little food and little
variety, the sheriff replied that in addi-
ton to the regulation meals. on many
occasions the prisoners were given sliced
and stewed toma toes and other vegeta
bles, rice tomato soup, prunes. plums,
apples. pears and peaches in the season
OF the fruits. One time during the past
summer corn on the cob was served. eac.a
man being given three ears,
Fishrnan Makes Report.
1t also transpired yesterday that In
spector Joseph Fishman OF the govern
ment service, who came to Salt Lake to
inv estigate the charges that the marshal
had made, had eaten fourteen meals at
the prison, partaking Of the regular
food given the prisoners and coming
at such times as he was not expected by
the sheriff Two of the county commits
sioners also have partaken OF the meals
at the jail, Mr.. F1shman completed his
report on the Jail several days ago and II
has been forwarded to the department OF
justice ut Washington.
While commencing the Jail in It's sani
tary and other respects. Mr.. F1shman
said that owing to the fact that he was
sent here specifically to investigate the
quality OF the meals, he could not give
out any Information In advance OF his
superiors In Washington
'Guess the meals cannot be SO awfully
bad, or Mr Fishman would not have cat
ell fourteen of them to convince him
self" said the sheriff, ,s In In, met: II hey theyy
to eat a single one.
Statement of Anderson.
The marshal called on the commission
ers yesterday at their request tho COM
tigntion OF the jail following reports In
the newspapers to tae effect that the jail
did not meet government requirements.
Sherifr Andrew Smith, Jr,. asked for the
himself.
Marshal Anderson declared that he. had
no complaint to make regarding the sani-
tary conditions at the jail. but he WAS
convinced. he said, that federal prisoners,
at least had not had proper nutrition
while confined In the jail and had been
taken from the Jail In .lalf- starved con-
aition In several cases. He cited the case
Of young Cummings. the blaCknlailer, re-
Gently taken TO Leavenworth prison. who.
he declared. WAS taken from the county
jall In a haIf-stR Ved condition.
w. w. Ray, United States district at
torney, who had also been asked 10 ap-
pear before the commission. telephoned
that body that he had no evidence TO pre-
sent and did not care TO take part In the
oscar w Carlson. chairman OF tho
board OF commissioners explained that
W. 81, McGrea, assistant United States
district attorney. had made charges
against the jail. Tho marshal said that
Mr.. McCrea probably went further than
he should have done,
Talked to the Sheriff.
Marshal Anderson continued;
sheriff and told him I was not satis-
fed with the treatment accorded fed
ersl prisoners In the county jail I
told him the prisoners We're not al
lowed time enough In which to eat
their moalS and that often they did