Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-04-07
PRISONERS LOSE HEART
AS COUNTY PROBE DRAGS

The federal prisoners at the Marion
county, iail have lost heart" since county
officials have assumed charge OF the probe
Of conditions at the Jail according 10
Leslie Sanders, a federal prisoner, who
is waiting action Of the federal grand
The men in jail have faith in Judge
Anderson, but they are afraid that since
he county officials have assumed charge
" the probe that the investigation there
viii have no beneficial results" Sanders
aid today while waiting to appear be-
,ore the Marion county grand jury as a
witness
Sanders said Sheriff Robert F. Miller
I'D have knowledge Of conditions at the
Jail, because prior to the time Of the fed
sral inquiry he wrote a twO-page letter
protesting against conditions there.
HIS SUGGESTIONS
WE'RE TURNED DOWN.
"On several occasions suggested to
officers at the Jail that be allowed TO
have friends of mine at the Volunteers
OF America to bring in games and the
ike, with which the prisoners could
spend their time instead Of playins
poker. and I was promptly told TO mind
my own business said Sanders.
Sanders testified In the federal court
Of the existence Of poker games az the
iaiI and Of the poor condition Of the
food.
In addition TO Sanders. Jack Hampton
md Carl thinner, all federal prisoners.
appeared before the grand jury this
morning.
Others who have testified since the in
vestigztion began before the Marion
county grand jury are John Nicbolini,
Glenn Foresman, Albert Moore, Charles
Burnstein, Clifton o'NesI, Otto Mckay
md George Roth
c. E. Wicker. deputy United States
marshal, is in charge Of the federal prts-
oners when they are taken from the jail
TO the courthouse.
DENIES LAWYERS HAVE
BEEN IN JURY ROOM.
Lawyers have been seen in the vicinity
Of the grand jury room since the probe
began.
( Claris Adams, prosecutor, today de
MED that a lawyer had been allowed In
'&she grand jury room with jail pris-
oner during the probe.
Adams still has under advisement' the
requests Of Adrian VanCleave and Frank
Kemp, former guards at the jail, to ap-
pear before the grand jury to tell their
sides of the story
vauCIeave was In the sberiff's office to-
day and said that be was still waiting
to appear before the grand jury.
Adims admitted that he would allow
the grand jury to decide whether the Jail
guards should be permitted to testify.
The grand jury has within its power
to investigate not only food and sanitary
conditions, treatment Of prisoners, the
payment Of money for special privileges,
but also the condition of the women
prisoners as well
The federal inquiry did not touch any
phase Of the treatment OF women pris-
oners.at the jail.
ThS county grand Jury has an oppor-
tunity to learn of forty-nve men being
kept in the 20. S. row. and with not
enough benches 70 accommodate all the
prisoners.
Prior TO the investigation prisoners
Skaim that they we're not allowed to take
exercise in the run around adjoining
the az. S. row"
According to remarks made by the
prisoners before they appeared before
the Marion county grand jury. prior to
the probe they ate their meals in this
crowded 20. s. row. and did not have
tables.
7 hAys sssn prsscnsra sit on the door
and ct" said Saa6eEs.