The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-10-17
PENITENTARY FOR THE DISTRICT COLUMBIA,
Washington, October 10, lS4s

Washington, October 10, 1913.
To the Editor Of the Union:
SIR: My attention was called few days since to an
editorial published in the National Intelgeneer of the Sd
of October headed "Strange Dongs, the closing part OF
which refers to myself personally and charges me, as
Warden of the United States Penentiary, with having
employed the prisoners confined therein preparing and
painting ansparences to be used for electoneerng pur
poses, Sc Ii the circulation of this base fabrication Of
faehood confined within the circle of my acquaint
should deem it entirely unnecessary thus to con-
descend to notice it, or trouble you with this communica
on feeling well assured that my character and standing
well and avoraby known for such dIthy and libellous
publications las the one referred toy to find credence or
meet with favor from any respectable portion OF my
have called upon the editors and demanded of them
proof to sustain the charges they have thus boldly
and qnbushngy made; but | prefer offering the proof
only not true, but that not the least sadoo Of foundation
has euer erised upon which such charges could be ed
Gated or sdd And here will re- mar hai
gencer should have far forgotten what was due to
honorable high minded men, and decent respect for
whiting at the time this publication appeared. under the
most dspensatons of Providence by the decease
within few months, of beloved wife and daughter
which affection has prevented the preparation of this
defence sooner
propose now to lay before the public first the arti-
Gle referred to in the ntegencer and follow the same
with certificate oath of eight OF the officers OF the
institution, who are well known to this community to
be of high responsibility and stern integrity, and then
ask the candid of all parties lovers of truth, to decide
whether or not statements coming from the National
nellgencer that dirty Sheet the Battery, from which
quotation is made by them, ought to be relied on, or
received as truth:
But we are well assured that crying abuses
than this practsed in public institutions in this city i'm
medatey under the control and direction of the admins
ation. We learn, for example, that the co'us the pen
ntary actually employed in preparing and painting
democratic for tor eectioneerng pur-
poses only in this city, but in other quarters Whether
This proper employment for these convcts, readers
quite competent Judge as we are We find further
paper called The Battery, printed in this city the
following statement, which assured is literally true
Sand next have in the electoneering field the UNI
STATES PENTENTIARY The superintendent OF that
executive committee of Cass and Butler club, but abso
utey makes huge Cass and Butler docmenroon, of the
UNITED STATES PENTENTIARY! Cart loads Of documents
there TO be directed whether the convcts taken
and Butler documents not is moro than has as yet trans
pred. Somebody there directs them, at all events"
PENITENTIARY FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Washin gton city, Oct. S, 1s4s.
We the undersigned, officers employed at the penten-
tary for the District of Columbia, do hereby certify that
the present warden Mr. c. p Sengstack, has not at any
time employed the convicts of this prison. either in
king painting democratic any other transparencies to
be used for electoneerng purposes in this city, any
other quarter Neither has he employed them at any time
in folding directing documents, or for any other polt
cal purposes.
CRAVEN ASHFORD,
JOHN A. YOUNG,
JAMES PARSONS,
VIM. H. CLARK
BENJAMIN STEES,
RICHARD PIERCE,
MICHAEL NASH,
CHARLES FRAELAR.