1904: County Jail Inmates Have A Government Of Their Own

September 3, 1904

Unique and Interesting in the Conception and Execution of its Laws – The Superstitious No. 3 at the City Court – A Firewater Subject

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The inmates at the county jail have organized a little government of their own. They have elected a governor, judge, sheriff and full complement of minor official. Whenever a prisoner expectorates upon the floor, gets boisterous, commits any breach of decorum, or is proved guilty of telling fish stories so utterly extravagant as to be bad fiction, he is fined in sums ranging from $1 to $55. In the event that he cannot pay the fine – fines are payable in tobacco, he is assigned to duty in keeping the cells clean, washing the dishes, etc. There are several prisoners who act as attorneys, and it is said that some of them have developed remarkable forensic abilities.

Some people attach a superstition to the number 3. Whether there is any foundation for it or not, there are three persons who no doubt will remember it with some apprehension. William Smith, John W. Copphed and A. Proffit were arrested yesterday on charges of vagrancy. They were fined $3 each by Judge Eylar and given twenty –four hours in which to get out of town. They will leave.

Concepcion Soto bowled up on firewater yesterday morning and declared that he could lick any two-legged critter this side of the silvery Rio Grande. He started out to prove the sincerity of his declaration, but Officers Greet and Powers came along and stopped the show. Sequel - $5 and costs.

Comments

[Pearl Rhoda Downey- Cross]

Dear Trish
This so facsinating to me I was born 1951 and my father was a police officer there he helped to
start the motorcycle force. I also have pictures
from back then. I remember the old jail as I
would have to walk past the cells and a wall to get to my father. also remember the buses would
stop right across the street.
Sincerely Pearl

[Trish Long]

Thanks for sharing Pearl. What was your dad's name? Maybe I can find something on him.

[Pearl Rhoda Downey- Cross]

Hi Trish
My fathers name was Sgt. Lewis E Downey
He was Also Commander Sgt,major at Fort Bliss.
Thanks for getting back to me.
Sincerely Pearl