The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-25
Dr. ROsser Says the Prison Is Clean and Food
 Wholesome
SHERIFF IS FORGED
 TO SERVE WARRANTS
Allowed No Discretion as to Women Prisoners But to Lock Them Up. Costs g Cents Day to Feed
 County Prisoners, He Says
To the Editor of The Age-Herald:

1 To the Editor of The Age-Herald: An article by Allen ]. Krebs. Jr,, ap- bearing in The Age-Herald of September is so palpably misleading and unfair to the present administration that I consider an answer to the article is due to the citizens of this county.
 l feel that I could not better set out the facts in the case than by oompar- ing the statements of the reporter with those of Dr. H. N. Rosser, the county health officer. who is charged with the duty not only of looking after the sani. tery conditions of the jail, but the aual- ity and sufficiency of the food furnished the prisoners as well.
 After reading the article referred to this morning. Dr. Rosser called on me and voluntarily stated that it did the sherff's office a grave injustice. and fur thermore. that certain statements con tained in the article had no founda ton in fact.
 ROsser Inspected Jail Dr. Rosser informed me that on the day on which MT. Krebs. and his friend from Chicago. visited the jail and found such horrible conditions that he, him self, made thorough investigation of every part of the Jail: that he made an inspection of the food furnished at the midday meal and that the same consist ed of an ample supply of new white peas sound, well-cooked cabbage. an ample portion of the best grade boiled meat, and piece Of wholesome. well-cooked bread, four or five inches square by one inch thick. and that the same was prepared fit to go on the table of himself, or any one else.
 fined in the pen" so vividly described by MT. Krebs, Dr. Rosser states that the white women's department of the jail Is large spacious room. on the ground floor of the old jail building. which Is well supplied with light and air, and which is kept scrupulously clean as can be done with soap and water; that 1t is by all means the best possible loca- tion in the present jail building,
 The woman referred to by Mir Krebs was arrested on a warrant. issued by the court, and given to the sheriff for serv- ice. and 1t is just possible that Mir. Krebs is we'll enough informed to know that the sheriff is charged by law, with the duty of arresting all parties for whom he holds warrants, and holding them un- til bond is furnished or they are released by the courts and l will say in this connection that there is not more hu- mane or sympathetic man in Jefferson county than the present sheriff of Jef- ferson county, MT. Allen J. Krebs, Jr.. not excepted. and that during his incum- bency of the sheriff's office, he has on numerous occasions exerted every eff fort to have white women recognized by the courts and released from jail.
 Pays 23 Cents for Food
 In reference to the statement regard ing cost of feeding prisoners. I will say that I have recently had occas sion to compile the figures showing the cost of feeding prisoners since January IS. and that they show q net cost per day of a fraction more than 23 cents not includ- ing great many items of expense which do not show the books. and which cannot be correctly estimated such as sheriffs time in looking after supplies sheriffs liabilities In the conduct of the jail. etc.
 These figures could have been had for the asking by MT. Krebs and his friend from Chicago, who were shown every courtesy by the officers. had they been disposed to give the facts in connection with the Jefferson county Jail. instead of distorting the facts with the evident pur- pose of prejudicing the public mind. Re- spectfully E. B. KNIGHT.
 Birmingham September 23. 1915.