Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-09-27

Is quite the opposite Any man or
woman who is so unfortunate as to
get in the tolls of the law is turned
over to Jailer Mrs. Charles Jack,
and through her assistant, Charles
Jack, is placed in the lookup, where
in a he'll upon earth. They are plac-
ina hell upon earth. They are plac-
ed in the dirtiest, filthiest place that
| have ever seen to be called Jail,
and put on fiesh-reducing diet of
what is called two square meals
per day
The eats are not so bad if they
were prepared so that one could eat
them; but most of the time, the oat-
meal, rice, potatoes, beans, or what
ever is used as feed, is usually only
half cooked, and about twO-thirds
of it finds its way down the sewer
because it is impossible to eat it.
Well, one could stand all this, but
the filth is something terrible. All
prisoners, regardless of whether
they are CONSERVATIVES. SYPH-
ILETICS or whatnot, are compelled
to mingle together. While the writ
er was in this place, there were
two consumptiVes and one synthetic.
In due course of time these men
were released, and others came in
and were compelled to use the same
blankets, bedding and other stuff be-
longing to the former bOarders,
which had never been washed or
even aired. |, myself, happened to
be unfortunate in this matter as |
had to use the blankets formerly
used by a man who had had a ven
ereal disease.
During my stay of thirty days,
only eight or ten blankets were
washed, and previous to this none
had been washed since the I'd Of
July, as was stated by prisoners
who were in there at that time. It
is true that a small quantity Of dis
infectant was used about once a
week to overcome the dirty. foul,
hlthy 0dor, which was all that it
did do Bedbugs and lice were not
affected by it but very little, so we
always had a good supply of these
pests.
Another menace to the health of
all prisoners is the way pans and
cups, out of which the prisoners
eat, were taken care Of. These ar
ticles were used day after day with
only a rinsing with cold water.
Some Of them were completely COW
cred with rust, and all of them hive
old grease from previous meals in
them Any one knows that such
conditions are a menace to health
Bat the woman and man who head
this institution do not seem to care
for any one but themselves. / really
feel sorry n these people, for they
have a hard time, for they have the
ill-wi1 of the men under their con
troll. If they would PLAY square md
treat the men like human beings,
things would 20 a great deal bet
ter
During my stay in iaii some prs
oners attempted to es ape but were
unsuccessful. This attempt was not
due to the guilt Of these men or to
their being scared; but was due
entirely to the treatment they were
receiving.
At present there are four men
confined in one small cell who have
been there since the 18th of July,
constantly, except for one day in two
weeks, when they We're let out to
take bath. These men We're coma
PEELED to wash themselves in the
toilet in theic cell.
About two weeks ago one Of the
prisoners wrote letter TO the State
Board of Health, explaining condi-
tons, and in a few days the local
health department officers, together
with the prosecuting attorney, made
tour of inspection; but previous to
This rip, the jailer was tipped off
4 some way; and he and Mr.. Lord
came in and made a very thorough
(0 cleanup before the inspecting
Ulcers should make their rounds.
Of course conditions were pronounc-
cd good; but since then nothing
has been done ct might help mat
ters some if the inspecting officers
i !