§14-6-105. Deputies, watchmen, etc., for jails, etc.

Prisoners shall not be confined in any jail or prison in this state when such jail or prison is not provided with a deputy, watchman or attendant, whose duty it shall be to watch the jail or prison at night for the prevention of escapes and fire and to aid in case of sickness among the prisoners, and who shall have access to the jail or prison and to the prisoners. If the Board of Corrections is satisfied, after inspection, that the construction and management of a jail is such as to render a night watchman unnecessary, it may by written order to the sheriff suspend the appointment of said watchman, such order to be subject to revocation at the discretion of the board. The sheriff, in case of a county jail, or the proper governing authority, in case of a municipal jail, shall appoint, direct and control said deputy, watchman or guard, and the county commission or the proper municipal governing authority, as the case may be, shall fix a reasonable salary and the same shall be paid out of the funds of the county or of the municipality if it is a town or city jail in which the jail is located.

(Acts 1911, No. 303, p. 356; Code 1923, §4879; Code 1940, T. 45, §185.)