New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-25
OUR STATE PENITENTIARY
A CHAPTER OF HORRORS
CRIMINAL 0UrRAGES ON CRIMINALS
Brutality to the Helpless and yoiceless
Work for a Legislative Investigating
Committee.

| Senator Wharton has introduced a resc-
| lution in the Senate looking to a more CON-
plete investigation than has yet been had
| in the prison affairs OF tho State. We hone
it will be had.
We propose to present, first, a statement
from the nDst interested party, who.
| though suffering most, is consulted least.
! the silence he endures in his cell generally
| lasting his lifetime; second, some remark 9
| on the reports Of the board of control;
| third. some suggestions to the investigating
committee.
OF course the eonvicts esory is not the
| single narrative Of one prisoner, for no
I single man confined there could obtain all
| the information. All that the majority
| could tell would be detail Of the routine,
punishment and silence. And the tale DO.
low can only contain a small portion of the
events of years for that reason. But the
manner that it is stated challenges proof OF
the negative.
With these remarks We call attention to
CoNrICTs STORY.
1t is of no consequence to detail the
charge that was made against me or the
trial l had. 1t is enough that Jury found
me guilty and the judge sentenced me 90 A
long term OF confinement in the P.piten
tiary at Baton Rouge.
1t would be useless, too, for me TO saw
whether was innocent or guilty. A con-
vict's word is valueless aud the laws forbid
the administration OF an oath. l thought
this when l was permitted for the last time
to tell what l thought was the truth about
the crime committed bv making a state
ment before the recorder. 1t seemed to
make no impression on him, and doubtless
would make as little on any one who should
hear il now.
During the trial that followed the feeling
of helpessness, OF being shut out from nv
fellow beings and forced to be silent while
others told the tale that most affected me.
grew stronger and stroD ger. could not
testify, but my accusers conld. PerbaDs |
might have again told my story to unbe-
lieViug ears if the law permitted me. but
did not think so then. When the Judge
asked what had to say before his sentenc,
the feeling that had been ostracised had
grown ON me so that answered nothing.
| thought it would wear off when I had
been condemned and knew, as l supposed.
the worst. But ii did not, and for a good
reason. The pain of the siiencs that had
been imposed on me during the trial had
been some what alleviated by the voice of
my counsel. But ! was now to suffer five
years OF silence, with no appeal, 10 one
to speak for mo. and q sure punishmen. for
each violation.
WAS transported on a steamer. with a
batch OF other unfortunates up the river.
The landing is about q mile from the prison !
and we We're marched, ironed and sbackled |
from the levee to the prison. The day was !
bitter cold. We were taken to the ward. |
our irons removed, were shaved, stripped |
and ba.hed in cold water. prison clothes |
were given us, and we were sent to our
cells. Next morniag all marks OF the per
son were taken and we were set to work.
Some We're sent to the weaving room.
where each man was forced TO run fou,.
looms and work sixteen hours If the wor.,
was not done he was punished. The same !
rule governed in all other departmeDts-in
the taiIor's shop or the brick yard If
man was weak and i'll, but able to sit up.
he was made to work. large proportion
of the men were sent ont to work on plan-
tations owned by Mr.. James, the lessee. and
others. Some who were sentenced tor the
greater Otttnses worked with shackles on
Some were sent to work on the levees. No |
was made by the doctor to see
f the man was able to work. Ii be could
stand up hh had to GO. The doctor some
lines examined man and said he was ur,-
ut. but AZ soon as he went away the man
was pot to work. Ifhe did not do the work,
II said he WAS unable, he WAS punished,
The routine was as fellows: The bell rings
It ! X. NJ. and the pria0ner5 form a line in
he yard and answer to their numbers |
They then march to the dining room and
ret about twenty minutes Tor breakfast
they then march TO the shops or other
work and work until dark, with an inter
MISSION OF twenty minutes or half an hour
or dinner.
Silence must he preserved at all times.
nd violation OF it is instantly punished.
here San be no appeal for delay or mifiga- I
ion. a word spoken only iBsugins increased |
eyar!ty. ,
Work waa generally carried on Sunday
S well as other days. Few preachels came.
ut when :hey did they were sometimes re-.
Used. lest they should learn shat work was |
eng done. We received little teaching in ! ,
lcrd!itV. Snt some IN rasc.i.y. NSr in ,
tancr. in the tailny's shop men were forced
. steal cloth for the Otficrrs;' in the shoe
hop. 10 make shoes for them. The states !
rom the guof of one building were taken ! .
,r the houses of the officers. One night |
ght hundred bolts were taken away. The
tle OF the bricks from the the yard is ex.
gger2ted. Twice the number OF !uen are | .
harsed that are employed. /,
The punishmenta are bread ard water.
ark cell aud the strap. The latter IS the
iost fr Yuent. and is inflicted on the slight. g
st violation OF the rules. The captain ! |
lpeTvlses and no one has authority to pun
/, but himself. But many u time, when he
as not present, the lieutenant or one of g
10 guards even. has inflicted punishment. i
he fnan Is taken TO the Ginn. room. ! a
rrtch.d ON ladder on the floor. his arms |
ulled ln front and bound at the wrists. his =
ss tied anI a rope bound around his body. a
he dUee not scream hs is nut gagged. !
is !ersoG Is generally barred and the officer !,
keS a strap three inches wide, Of tin. chick !
e sole leather, very Il -xibIe and eoake,. in | Z
negar aud salt. attached to = hickory !
sndle. NV" tee, long. and lays on tht. blows. ,
his !nstrumen. weighs abou. five r.unds. :
hs number OF blows vary. In. ieas.
lmbev given while vas there was r.p. I
c largest 100 8. one time. Tna. man r.. o
Ved 9Oo III AZ. When wulnrn ait. pun ! |.
heG ihtiT persons are Gypose., anG .hey :.
e whipped with cats. ) ,Inei IN. men
3. tied a, by the ID ,nbs ! .a :. on. n.v d
It on :. t,ur bi,rG"!, :is .hI:9 o. iirt. - "
e rai'li. and :.l'. barrel kicked tyou IA. |,
II hun.
The cp!ored prisoners ara punished more S
""reIv titan the white for 'hs r.in- Of v
nees. saw joan McCort knock-.! DOWN ii
: the captain with a stick and gwen lily | q
ows. l saw AitZ. Ntu.an cut with the
rap till the blood spirited from his body. J
ID his ply na,u ,ure overcotne.
John Alien, for giving a sick prisoneV in ! 4
e hospital extra food, was strapped.
sa" Jacob Morningstsr, for talking, d
aten tll. his flesh was mere pulp. After s.
az he WAS taken to his cs-ii and again a
aten. The Captain said h- would break -.
splrlto DE Was kept in the dark cell on -
cad and water two months. He was then | d
lowed one week in the hospital. aud | o
reed to work. He could not cJmplete his :,
SIX, and was again punished. =
Adam Navarro, now dead, was strapped ''
severely that ne could not sit down Tor a r