100 Years Ago This Week: May 10-17

From The Indianapolis Sun, Friday, May 16, 1913: Good feeding; two shaves a week; humane treatment; liberal tobacco supply; family Sunday dinners; and mid-week bread pudding festival are just a few of the policies that Sheriff Theodore Portteus has implemented at the jail in an effort to do the right thing by Marion County prisoners.  Also, the Sheriff does not want to hear of any cursing or abusing of the inmates. This system in which kindness predominates is in direct contrast to what has been the jail regime under other management. And it appears to be working well. “Every man has some good in him and it can be developed,” says Sheriff Portteus.  “All you have to do is to treat those jail-inmates, men and women alike, as humans.”