Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-04-02
SHERIFF KNEW
OF JAIL GRAFT
CONTINUED From Page One.)

Tor meals.
Members of the board of county COM
missioners attended the court session
today, but arrived after evidence point
ing to the county ring was presented.
Lewis George, president of the board
of commissioners; Carlin Shank, Joseph
G. Hayes and County Attorney Harry
Hendrickson explained that the commits
sioners had no contract with the gov
eminent for the keeping Of prisoners.
HOLD CONFERENCE
WITH JUDGE ANDERSON.
They were called into the private
chamber of Judge Anderson to cofvcr
on matters pertaining to the Jail When
the court session ended.
1t was explained that a wire had been
sent to the attorney general for infor-
nation concerning the contract and the
investigation was continued until an
answer has been received.
In the meantime it was indicated that
the federal grand jury, which meets
Tuesday. will investigate the Jail scan
dal fully.
In addition to his sensational testi-
mony concerning higher ups" Wilson
the former iailer said that the sheriff
had purchased a barrel of burned sugar
which he fed to the prisoners.
Wholesale houses would not handle
this sugar, but it was good for the jail
because it was thick and could be d.
luted more than other brands, he SAID
The state board of charities again
came in for rap from Judge Anderson
today.
Frederick VanNuys, district attorney,
submitted reports from the board show
ing that an Inspector Brown had made
two visits to the Jail and had reported
conditions and food favorable, although
admitting that a little more variety
might be added to the menu.
READS APPEAL TO
GOV. GOODRICH.
A letter written by Murray Davis, to
Gov. Goodrich telling of the deplorable
Jail conditions was also read
81 will ask you for the sake of human
beings to visit the Marion county jail
at a. m. 1 p. m, or p. m, to see
the condition Of food here" it read In
part.
"It is a shame before the Maker the
way Sheriff Miller Is feeding prisoners"
There was no record of any action hav-
ing ever been taken by the governor con-
corning the letter.
Mr.. YanNuys also introduced a list of
daily reports OF food compiled at the jail
for The state board Of charities which
showed a continuous rotation OF liver,
frankfurters and hearts with no vege
tables or fruits.
Mr.. Browns report OF Jail conditions
included a statement to the effect that the
better class OF prisoners report favor
able treatment from the keepers.
What does he mean better clasp"
commented the court
Have some Of our high class people
managed 70 get IN jall7
Perhaps he refers to the jail guards"
JUDGE QUOTES
STATE LAW
Judge Anderson read extracts from the
Indiana statutes concerning the duties OF
the state board Of charities and It was
brought out that they have failed TO
comply with the law.
According 10 the statutes II is the duty
Of the board to make inspections. formu
late ana prescribe rules and regulations
separating young prisoners from old and
hardened criminals, and to make reports
to the circuit court of various counties
wherein discrepancies are found.
The statutes also provide that the
county commissioners shall inspect the
jail a. least every three months and that
the Judge of the circuit court shall send
orders to the sheriff.
Mr.. Miller said he had received no such
ORDERS ana also huiulttu tuAL ne lau kept
no report showing the number Of days
men had been confined and the cost OF
feeding them as required by law.
Il don't understand what this state
board Of charities is for" said Judge
Anderson.
Their report shows that the food
served in jail was unfit for humans to
eat. even II 1t were properly cooked"
Il do not see, In view of this report and
the complaints made. why the state board
did not know Of these conditions months
ago." said Mr.. VanNuys
ASKS ABOUT ABSENCE
OF BOARD MEMBERS.
When the court asked why representa-
tives from the board bad not appeared
I'm court to defend themselves. Attorney
Wiltsle representing Sheriff Miller.
said they had not been sent for.
at Is not up to the government to
bring these people in II they have any
defense to present" said Mr.. VanNuys.
I'VE have challenged these people for
the past three days In open court with
malfeasance and incompetency and
they ought to be here voluntarily"
They ought to break In" said the
court
At the close Of the morning session
Sheriff Miller was asked II he had any
defense to present, and Attorney Wiltsie
said that he did not care to do so, ms his
opinion the the matter would come be
fore the grand jury.
Judge Anderson then offered n few
suggestions" and demanded that Ed Nor
row, jailer, he fired Immediately.
"I do not believe that Jail should
he made a place OF luxury" said the
court "but I do believe that men
sent there should be treated decenuy
and given food that they can eat.
Neither do I believe that the sheriff
has any right to charge the government
for feeding men and then make them
work, although | feel that men confined
in jail should do some work and would
be better off If they did.
o. X. TO SEARCH, But
NOT ROB PACKAGES.
II don't mean for those prisoners TO
get the idea that they are anything but
prisoners and they shall be governed by
certain rules at the jail"
Attorney Wiltsle called attention to the
practice of searching packages and said
he did not believe they should he per
mitted to enter the Jail without being
looked into
81 do not believe that boxes should be
permitted to go into Jail without being
searched, but packages should not he
opened and robbed" the Judge retorted.
The condition of food served at the
Jail was greatly improced today, ac-
cording to the testimony Of prisoners
and also of G. NJ. NIkesell. deputy United
States marshal, who was called to the
stand.
John Nicholni, cook, said that addi-
tlonal supplies had been purchased to-
day, including sldeof beef, sugar cot
e.