Nevada Appeal at 150: Feb. 10, 1922: First prisoners for new jail

Feb. 10, 1922

First prisoners for new jail

Although the officers of Ormsby County are not at this time transacting the county’s business in the new building, use of the jail already has been made.

Friday morning Sheriff Joe Harfris arrived from Elko with two men sentenced to terms in state prison. Owing to the storm of the preceding night the road from the prison to Carson was at the time impassable.

Accordingly, Sheriff Harris prevailed upon Sheriff Stern to place the prisoners under lock and key in the Ormsby jail until the prison authorities could come after them, which was done later in the day. The prison men made the trip to and from town in a two-seated cutter, however, instead of automobile.

The men first to be held in the Ormsby jail were George H. Miller, sentenced to serve 1-15 years for burglary, and F.W. Smith, sent up for 1-14 years on a forgery charge.

The cells that have been installed in the new county building are the old death cells used at the Nevada State Prison many years. The splicing is visible on the two bars sawed at the time Skinner made his escape.

This continues the Appeal’s review of news stories and headlines during its Sesquicentennial year.