The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-02-13
THE STATE PNITENTIARY.
The following card appears IN Il

The following card appears In the
Uaionist of the Sd inst
Mr.. EDITOR We, the undersigned,
having been until recently, emdloyed as
guards at the State Peniteutiary, serving
in that capcity for terms severally extend
ing over periods of from seven months to
alss0St two aud half years, desire through
your columns to make statement to the
people of Oregon as to the manner in
which this important institution is con.
Quoted.
The officers of the Penitentiary, are a
Superintendent, first Warden, appoint.
ed by the Governor, and between whom,
aud the Superintendent there is known
to exist no mutual good will, as the War
den has to endure the insults of that of,
fcer aud his subordinates There is a
second Warden who discharges his du-
ties faithfully, and is consequently re-
spected by both employees and prisoners,
being the only Warden that is SO respect.
cd. The next officer is styled the "assist.
ant Warden" and is, to use his own
words, favored one who can pull the
wool over the eyes of Major Berry" and
as he makes frequent boasts, have any
man discharged he wants to which
boasts are substantiated by the fact that
the superintendent gives him his conf.
deuce, so that Ned Barrg virtually runs
the Penitentiary, aud his word is Law
there, so much so that he bestows the
vilest insults upon the first Warden aud
the guards, aud in his general course and
conduct toward the convicts, violates all
regulations of the State Prison.
It is unfortunate for the State and the
State prisoners that this man, possessing
this influence, has low, gross aud wicked
instincts, so that very few of the convict:
are morally as degraded as he, We charge
that he has intimate relations with con
victs, and sharing his confidence with
them, making pets of some of the very
worst among them, and being guilty o
unjust and tyrannical conduct, and some
times Of great personal violence toward
Others. He is a man who violates every
principle of decency, is so obscene and
profane as to be an unfit associate even for
criminals. He has such influence auc
control as to be able to follow his evi
passions with impunity, and the result i:
a state of denomination with officers al
variance, and convicts who are intimate
with favored subordinate, who dances
while they make music, and who " hold:
the stakes" of tobacco rations, while
they run foot-races for his amusement
on the SABBATH.
Mr.. Barry is frequently engaged in the
manufacture of sensational stories of es-
cape" planned by the prisoners, which
are tod to the Superintendent, aud cor.
roborated By the words of his faYorites
among the convicts. We assert that his
conduct with the prisoners is obscene aud
indecent, and We believe this influence
thWarts the desired object of reformation
of the criminals, making them worse than
before. During the present long contin-
.ued illness of the Superintendent, these
evils have been greatly aggravated, and
Barry has neglected his duties aud spent
much time in Salem, where be has at least
once been seen in a state of gross intoxi
cation.
During the last two years 81 employees
have left the State Prison, most of them
having done so because this man, Barry
made their lives miserable, or found then
in his way and procured their discharge
Last Sabbath morning, Jan. Oath, M
rose from the breakfast table, with tho
remark that four or fTe of the guards
would baTe to leave shat week or he would
not remain. As consequence, We find
ourselves discharged without any com
plant being made, that during a servic,
OF, IN some cases, several years, have OTel
neglected any duty assigned US.
Should the above statement be contra
dicted, we can furnish some further par
-ticulars of the practical workings of tn,
PeniteDtiary, and Of the abuse and mis-
use OF the public property.
We assert, in conclusion, that this AM
much more will be sbstantiated, by tn
word of every reliable man who has beel
or now is connected with the institution
If they will give their testimony. w
prefer to make this statement ia an orga
of the party to which we belong. Tn
Injustice towards ourselves is not tht
-only reason We do tEIs. We believe tina
the people of Oregon should know tha
the State Prison is so conducted that D
good moral influence is exercised owe
-eonvicts, but on the contrary, the mos
degraded passions are pandered to an
cultivated.
(Signed), C. W HiDckley, J. F. Brown
L. j. Stone, W. Fl. Rollins, w. o. MOI
gan.