The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-05-06
TEsORO OUGIE REFO II.
Guards and Gates to be Dispensed With

| MT. IL. w. HOVcy FGS lnc HIST nituts
examined. He had been formerly EN-
ployed as an officer in the penitentiary
and at the tine of the escape was living II
the Superintendent house He testified
to the facts of the escape Of Ford and Dono
van, which correeponded materially with
those given before Witness had, by order
of the superintendent, cold two barrels oi
resin oil belonging to the institution. The
oil was sold to Mr.. Lee, commission mer'
chant on Thirteenth street, and the money
turned over to Mr.. Ward we'll, who told wit
ness not to make any note OF il on the books
TIE superintendent hed seIt a half cord
Of seasoned oak wood belonging to the peni.
tentisry to Miss Hancock, lady teaching
in the city. No entry was made of this
nor was the wood returned.
Witness knew that couvicts we're fre-
quently ordered to be senttothc Superintend'
ent's place of business to unload vessels oil
ice, and to repair his wood-ahc1a, and to dc
other Tcrk about the premises. This was
O matter Of frequent occurrence. Did not
know whether any credit was given the
Commonwealth for the hire Of these prison
ers. They we're sent under guard. The
prisoners were mostly locked up, as they
came from work, soon after sunset. Last
summer, during the warm weather, from
twenty 20 forty cells we're left unlocked all
night for the comfort Of the prisoners
Sometimes meetings were held in the yard
after dark. The choir met for practice
| three or four evenings o week. The choir
| consisted of from fifteen to thirty. They
| we're allowed to practice until searching
time-about or 8 o'clock. Some Of the
prisoners had fddles in their cells, which
they would often play upon. The prayer
meetings we're held in the yard by candle
light. Nearly all the prisoners, from two
to three hundred, would assemble. They
would last from one and a half to two
hours. The colored prisoners took an active
part in praying and singing. They were
very noisy, and could be heard outside the
building. At this time the Superintendent
and two or three guards would be present
about the yard but good opportunity was
afforded one or two prisoners to cut through
the building. They could not be heard by
reason Of the noise. The Superintendent
generally presided over the meetings. lie
frequently addressed them on other occa-
sions-all the convicts who we're able or
saw fit being present. Witness heard him
say once that, could he get minister who
would be bold enough, he intended to hold
four-days' camp-meetiDg. Heard him
say also thet he hoped to reform the
prisoners 80 that he could iu time dis
pense with the guard, take the gates
eff, and leave tho institution open.
By request Of Mr.. Chandler the cross
examination OF this witness was postponed
until tomorrow, or such time as should suit
his convenience.
Examination continued: Witness knew
of tho contract made between the Superin-
tendcnt and Colonel Egbert. Colonel Egbert
was to have twenty-five conyicts in the
cooper-shop. He found in course Of time
that there were very few that were coopcrs,
and gave up the shop, refusing to pay for
them. He entered suit against the Super
intendent for $25, 600 damages. The Su-
perintcndent should have known that he
could not furnish from the institution
twenty-five coopers. The coal used by the
convicts and officers vas anthTacite--some
fine and some lump coal. That used in the
engine was bituminous. The anthracite
was furnished by Wardwell. Could not say
that he made any requisition upon the
general agent for the coal.
John McEvoy, sworn, testified that he
was guard in the penitentiary. He saw
in the office of the clerk four packages of
tobacco, containing about twenty pounds
each, upon which there were no revenue
stamps. Witness had seen potatoes and
turnips boiling in the caldron. He could
not account for their being there, but he
did not think they were cooked for persons
to eat. Witness left the penitentiary be-
cause he got better situation. He might
have been found dosing On his post, but he
was not discharged.
r. J. Throckmorton testified that he was
employed ss interior guard in the peniten-
tiary. There we're potatoes and turnips
piled il the yard, Thich were brought in for
the use Of the Superintendent. He knew
that some of them were boiled, but he
thought that they were mostly the refuse.
There were some bad turnipg, but no bad
potatoes, that he could see. The wood used
for the boiling he thought came from the
wood pile for the institution. Some of the
scraps from the shops were ALEC uaed. Wit
ness knew that iron and brass had been
carried away from the penitan.iary, but he
did not know by whom. An old pump
wheel had been broken up, but he could
not say how used. Prayer-meetipgs had
been held in the yard, mostly by the
colored convic:s. They made noise enough
to be heard outside. They were held
about orce a week, or something like
that. There were ct least q hundred
or SO convicts present. They lasted gene
rally from 7 o'clock until dark. The SD
perintendent or two guards were alWays
present. The doors of some eight or ten
cells we're left open during the night, some
times on account Of the heat. There were
about twenty cell doors without grating
over the top. Could not say why some
were left open and others not. Witness had
been employed in the institution for six
years. II had been usual for the superin-
tendents to use the refuse Of food for feed
ing cows and hogs. Witness had heard
choir sing other than sacred music. Gene
rally they sung hymns, but some of them
sometimes sang comic songs. The milk
used in the institution was furnished by
the Superintendent from his own cows.
E.. h. Clayton testified that he attended
schomaker to Tanner & Ehbets' on one oc-
casion to procure portion of the donkey
! pump. Instructions were given witness
to procure it. Witness knew Of nothing
but the waste and refuse Of the prison
being used for the prisoners. The choir
| was left in the yard three or four times o
week. Witness was only present at one
prayer-meesing. About one hundred and
fifty were present. They made noise enough
| to be heard outside. They were in tht
middle of the yard, and could not get int
the street or into the back yard.
The other portion Of this witnesses testi