Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-01-28
COUNTY JAIL IS
F me PLACE NOW
PRISONERS SLY
Alleged Check Artist, Patter-
son, in Charge of "CIean-
up Gang" Writes Letter
of Praise For Inmates.

EFFORTS oil the Snefltt ms assistant,
Fred Fornoff, and the new jailer
of the county Jail, has been writ
ten in behalf of the prisoners by
A. G. Patterson, self-styIed min
lister and guest of the county on the
charge of having passed a worth
less check. Patterson is in charge
Of the cleanup gang which is
doing the work of painting and
plastering the old carcel.
Kindly treatment, cleanliness,
and good FOOD, have evidently
made quite an impression on the
county boarders, Patterson deClar-
ing that "the Jail Will look like the
White House" When the work IS
finished. The consideration OF
those in charge of the Jail has ac-
complished his reformation, ana
that of other inmates, Patterson
says. Extracts from Patterson's
letter follow:
In looking back over the past
twenty-siX days, since the coming
of the present sheriff, Tony ORTIZ,
and his capable chief deputy, Fred
Fornoff, there has been a great
change in the county Jail. Before
their terms of office began Sheriff
Ortiz, and Chief Deputy Fornoff,
conducted an inspection of the jail
and discovered that it was in very
bad condition. They at once got
busy, TO make the old Jail clean and
home like.
Making 1t Home Like"
THE words of these two men are
still ringing fresh in our ears. 1t
is bad enough that you men are in
here, and it is worse that you must
live in place like this This OF
course showed the boys their will
ingness to make the county jail
home-like place to live. They
found confined here man who
was a painter by trade, who knows
his business, and is well aualiilea
to instruct the men working LOT
him.
"Since he has taken charge the
place looks different and he de-
serves a great deal of praise ana
credit, He has shown all the men
how to use the brush and how to
paint and clean the walls and cell
ings. Therefore, we express our
thanks to him for the way he is
conducting the work of recon
struction.
The men working on this JoD
are men who appreciate a clean
place to live in, and have given
their services to help remodel the
Jail. 80.
His honor, Judge Jack Everett
Judge of the Kangaroo court, is
helping clean and paint. There IS
also a man commonly known as
Handsome George; he is doing all
in his mower to keep the boys busy,
inasmuch as he is the man that
carries the loads. There are others
who are doing their best to BRING
about nome-like condition here
in the iail, Chief Deputy FREQ
Fornoff never misses a day, but
what he comes to the Jail and looks
over the work. 1901,
Oils smiles and words of good
cheer have made him constant
place in the hearts of the boys. lie
is always trying to do somethinS
that will help the boys ana GlllS
that have fallen in sin, and are
here to pay the penalty Tor thelr
sins. Therefore on behalf OF ths
men confined here | thank nm Tor
his kindness and his willingness 10
make life worth while for us Whll1
we are here.
Conditions Bad Formerly.
"The conditions of the jail were
very bad prior to the first OF tile
wear. The bull pen was dirty ana
pig would have refused to i've IN
such place. Not only was me
bull pen in this condition but the
entire jail. ,......a
"The sheriff and his assistants
realized the conditions that were
confronting them and they at once
got busy. 1t was the instinct on
love for their fellowmen to do TINS
10 look at tho cell rooms that are
already done you would think that
YOU were in the white house III
Washington, d. c.
~. NJ. Skinner, jailer, and his as
sistant, Tomas Smith, also do their
hest to make life worth Whlle Tor
those here. They also rea LIED mat
they were their brothers Keeper.
They found here man whose
name is H. G. Russell, who was
cook by trade and put him to work
in the kitchen. Since he has been
the cook of the jail the boys have
been satisfied with the food and
the meals that he serves.
Cooks Jewel.
Prior to the present admins
tration we were given beans to eat
and that was all. Now we have
something different at every meal.
Those that have been here Tor
some time have forgotten what
heans look like since Mr., Skinner
and Mr.. Smith have taken over the
work here at the jail. Mr. Russell,
the cook, is like pearl that man
finds of great price and it would
pay some hotel manager to get in
touch with this young man. we
insist that as the days go by the
people of. Albuquerque will visit
the Jail from time to time and see
for themselves the good work that
is going on"