Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-03-24
A HORRIBLE RECORD.
Shocking State Of Affairs in the mdi-
ana Southern Penitentiary.


The revelations of the horrible
crimes and wholesale debauehery per-
petrated in the Indiana Southern
Penitentiary, make up one of the
most shameful and disgusting records
furnished in the annals of prison life.
Hearafter, when we desire to excite
the loathing of a liberal minded
| public, instead of referring to Della
ware, we will point them to Indiana.
An investigation of the management
of the State prison, located at Jeffer-
sOnville, in that State, since the
contract system was inaugurated, four
years ago, developed among other
astonishing circumstances, the fact
that the offices were farmed out by
set of INSCRIPTIONS and beastial pO-
liticians. The successful candidate
for Warden paid S, 900 for the posi-
ton, the salary being but 81 500 per
annum. All save one Of the directors
are implicated in the corrupt practices
which have rendered the manage
ment infamous. According to the
evidence of a number of witnesses
the directors were to receive stated
sum per annum, in return for which
they were to keep the warden in his
expenditures, he was to be allowed
certain privileges, one Of which was,
that the guards of the prison aud the
contractors foremen might board at
his house. and the prison should fur
snish provisions, servants, fuel, &c,
making the entire board bill clear
profit-no small item in itself. A tax
IN proportion to their pay was levied
IL.
on; presents were demanded and re-
ceived from contractors, and blank re-
eeipts were taken to be filled up at
convenience.
The women were debauehed and all
sorts of exeesses were committed
Drunkenness and lust held high car
nival. Their favorites among the
women were allowed privileges, came
and went at will, spending the day
outside the prison walls and returning
at night to riot or sleep, while those
who refused to submit, or threatened
TO tell tales, were stripped and whip
ped on the bare back with the "cat
70 nine tails" One mode of amusing
themselves on Sunday, was TO strip
the women and have them run races,
while those drunken reprobates laugh
ed at the fun. Sometimes drunken
headache made them cross then woe
to any poor devil of convict who
might get into the way. He would
be whipped for amusement. One
poor old man named Campbell-60
years of d9e-on such an occasion got
what the witness called an Outrage
Gus whipping" No one can tell how
many stripes that gray haired old man
received. The next day he was car
ried to the hospital and on the next
day he died.
Some of the stories were so horrible
that the Legislature was compelled to
institute a mock investigation. A
committee was appointed. Theywere
wined, dined, smoked, saw nothing
wrong and returned with flattering
report. The killing of an Irishman,
and the sworn statement of the Stew
ard, who was discharged for exposing
the debaucheries, gambling, cruelty,
bribery and misappropriatiOn of funds
the House to appoint a sec
Ond committee. The last committee
has Just completed its disgusting task.
They worked day and night. No re-
porter was permitted to be present.
Witnesses were examined separately.
When they completed their labors the
prison officers were discharged, new
)nes appointed in their places, and
,hus the matter ends for the present.
Doubtless the people Of Indiana will
1evote more attention hereafter to the
;ubject of prison reform.