Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-02-25
Investigation OF State Prison A fairs.


satisfaction to those who attend
Investigation OF State Prison fairs.
The Representatives. Hall was the centre
of attraction yesterday afternoon, tie first
meeting being held there of the special legis-
lative committee on investigation of the State
| Prison, for the examination of witnesses who
had been summoned to appear to throw light
upon the subject. The committee consists of
| Hon. Charles Shaw and Hon. Edmund Rus
| sell, of the Senate; and Hon. j. e. Talbot,
Hon. Hiram Knowlton and James Morrow,
! Esq, of the House. The examination was
conducted on the part of the committee chiefly
| by Messrs. Talbot and Knowlton.
| B. X. Kelloch of Thomaston, was the first
| witness sworn. He said he was present on
| the night of the fire at the prison; his knowl-
| edge CT the prison management was bas ed on
reports had in his possession one letter bear
| ing on the subject, which he would produce
during the investigation. Ills remarks in the
House were based on the annual reports of
| the prison, and figures obtained from official
| sources; was not to be held answerable here
| for words used in debate on the floor of the
House, but did not put that in as an objection
| to appearing and testifying. When he arriv-
ed at the Ere the roof was falling in, and it
would have been impossible to enter the shop !;
| saw two engines at work; heard the warden
| remark, at is the strangest thing to me why
| the fire wasn't put out" Didn't hear any one
say as to the origin OF the fire.
DR.. Chas. Il. Chase of Thomaston, former
| ly physician at the prison, was sworn and
testified. Was physician from 1868 to 1878,
while Mr.. Rice was Warden. Had no knowl-
| edge OF the financial affairs of the prison.
Could not tell how many professional visits he
he had made each year; in treating chronic
| cases had made a note of cell, etc., to know
when to prescribe medicines. Had kept an
| account of visits from April IA, 1873 to Au.
gust of that year. Oh account OF the question
of raising salary. Had never been consulted
| in regard to punishment of prisoners. Thought
| the system Objectionable. In 1870 VIM. Nc
Norton was taken out of dungeon, and died
| in a few days of Inflammation of the brain;
incarceration in the dungeon was the exciting
| cause. Lawrence Doyle died in the prison
| from being incarcerated in i'll ventilated cells
in Rhode Island prison; there is suffering
| from cold in these dungeons had made COM
plant to Deputy Warden; had not objected
| to discipline bearing on men at labor; did not
know of any improper conduct on the part of
prison officials; patients had everything that
| he had ordered for them; they were as well
taken care of as the nature of the prison
would allow. Had never observed any abuse
of prisoners. Had written two articles for
| the Rockland Free Press, basing them on in
| formation obtained from public documents,
| and from the archives of the State. There
| was controversy about his last years salary,
and it had not yet been paid. Did not make
| any threats in order to have salary raised.
After that question was settled he made the
! remark that lie intended to show up the cor
iCp of Hn IN Of
| warden, inspectors, chaplains, ETC., not ap-
pearng in the published reports. They did
not give true account of the expenses of the
prison. He said this to Wilson and Prince,
| the inspectors.
Ebenezer Otis of Rockland, identified fig
ures which he had received from Augusta,
| and furnished to DR.. Chase, for his newspa-
| per articles.
EVENING.
At the evening session of the Committee,
| tie examination of DR.. Chase was continued.
He identified q book in which he had kept an
| account of his professional calls at the prison.
He also identified the articles furnished the
columns of the Free Press. Said he obtained
| figures for table from office of Treasurer, with
exception of salary of chaplain; according to
| the statutes, the warden is allowed his fuel
| from the State. The salaries of chaplans
| ures for a single year rather than from any
! information.
Charles G.. Chase, overseer in boot and shoe
department of prison; (been there since
| 1861 was sworn and said that he had II
| convicts under his charge; some are quite
| well skilled; had given prices when asked by
inspectors; occupy Il house owned by the
State pay sos year, deducted from annual
pay fixed salary 81, 900 year thought there
were five tenement buildings belonging to the
State have since being in the prison, assist
ed in taking account of stock, custom work is
carried on. people coming in getting repairing
| and manufacturing done; keep books, to which
| the clerk has access; work is done somewhat
| cheaper than it is done outside on case work
| get as much as outsiders; II person orders
| pair of boots, he receives the money, and en-
| tiers it upon the book Belonged to fire de-
partment, which did all it could at the recent
| fire; machines worked adyantageously
| had some trouble with one engine; SO
far as he saw everything was done that could
| be to stay the flames; did not know as to the
origin of the fire; fire seemed to originate in
the northeast corner; had been advised by
Warden Rice in case of fire that engine
should be placed at the stable to get
the largest amount of water. Treatment
cf convicts he thought had been INFORMALLY
| good-had seen no abuse-did not know what
it was. Only fault had been found with Mr..
Rice was that he is too lenient in his manage
ment. Everything is kept orderly. Never
was instructed by Warden to cut under in
prices of work. Sewed boots bring from IS
to $40 per pair, and pegged boots from S.
to Sc.
| The examination is continued to this after
noon at 2 O'Clock.
| We have designed in the report to give only
the leading points presented by the several
witnesses.
| Kennebcc Steamboats,.
Mr.. EDITOR: Allow me, in behalf of my