1919 Riot

     In 1919 at Eastern State, in an effort to improve the food, 200 convicts made demands to a grand jury investigation for more food and better food (image at bottom left). In addition to the inmates making the attempt to meet expectations and reality, the convicts also charged that the officials at Eastern State were warned beforehand and prepared an extra-fine meal to cover up the deficiencies. In response to the demands of the convicts, Governor William Cameron Sproul (image left) promised an inquiry into the conditions at Eastern State. Before leaving the penitentiary, the grand jury made a trip to the courtyard (image center) where some convicts and Warden McKenty (image right, person on the far right) congregated. In response to the grand jury arrival, McKenty said "There is the grand jury, make your complaint."

     

     After the investigation was completed, Eastern State was found to be in generally good condition. The food was described as generally good with a few instances of poor quality meat and coffee. In the 1919 riot at Eastern State, the riot was focused on the environmental conditions that the prisoners found themselves in and, as a result, rising expectations for better and more food. As a result of these rising expectations, tensions arose between the inmates and administration, leaving the problems to the grand jury. Although the penitentiary was found to be in generally good condition, there were still problems that needed solving. The problems at Eastern State would continue to persist in the 1920s, which is where the next page will pick up, in 1924.