, 1874-01-25
LOGAN, BEVER1DGE, AND THE PEN1TEN-
TIARY BATH.

L month or more ago. convlctln the 1llln o1s
State Penitentiary WAS subjected to punishment.
He had claimed that he vas too i'll to work, and
the attending physician insisted that he Was
shamming, and ordered him to be put in bath,
out Of which he was taken corpse. Strange to
saw this death Of the convict Williams has
become the initial point IN what promises
to be one Of the most animated political
struggles that haye ever taken place In Illinois.
This State is represented in the Senate By Gen.
Logan and Gov. Oglesby. Gen. Logan WIS
elected in 1871, after q sharp struggle with
0rlest,y. whose frionde obtained promise that
he should have the next vacancy. In 1878, Gov.
Oelesby WAS elected, tho friends Of 31r.
Logan Joining to accomplish that result
Oelesby, who was thon Governor, resigned
that Office, and Lieut.~Goy. Beveridse took charge
of the Executive guilotine. One OF the first
uses he made of it vas to decapitate the old
Penitentiary Commissioners and Warden The
new Warden appointed WAS Maj. J. ". Whnn,
a well-known personal and political friend Of
Gen. Logan. The three Commissioners, select
ed from different pats Of the State, were cup
posed to bo friends and supporters OF Gov.
Beyeridge for the seat in tho Senate now occu-
pied By Gen. Logan; and which will become
vacant in 1877.
It will bo difficult for an ordinary mortal to
understand what connection there can be be-
tween the death Of the convict Williams and the
election of Senator Of the United States, but
the main question now pending concerning that
death ia whether Logan or Beyeridge shall be
elected Senator in 1877. No man Lns more de-
voted personal friends than Gen. Logan, aud it
is already strongly suspected that Williams, out
Of pure devotion to the General, gave himself
up to crimina! habits, and eventually stole a
horse and got into the Penitentiary, and there
died. purposely to give to the statement that
be vas murdered through the ignorance and b1u-
tality of the officers appointed by Gov Bereridse!
The Coroner's jury (charged to have been
Beyeridee men) complirnented the Commission
ers for thoiz careful but thorough going dis
cipline OF Williams. Upon d meeting of the
LEGISLATURE, the Senate appointed committee
to investigate. and, thus committee being in the
interest of Beveridge, acquitted the Prison
Commissioners and their subordinatcs Of all
blame. Mai. Whain, however, is not disposed
to let this thing rest. It is said tha: lie
has appealed 10 those in the Legisla-
ture who are not Beveridge men for bet
ter and more thorough investigation, charging
that the previous examinations we're partisan,
and that the truth was suppressed. Tho friends
of Gen. Logan h1ve proposed another inves-
ticatiop, which is resisted by the old investigar
tors The Commissioners have all had offic!a]
business ut Springfield ever since, and have been
assiduous in their labo1s in the lobby. Thus
the matter stands at present. The Republican
party Of Illinois is divided On the question
whether Williams WAS murdered or not. Logar
and Beyeridge represent, respectively, the affirm
ative and negative Of the issue and upon itf
decision rests the election Of the Senator in 1877
So fur the controversy is confined to the Legis
lature, but must soon extend to the counties
The Federal Office holders, Of course, will ho1t
TINT Williams was murdered. The State official:
and their friends will insist that the Commits
sioners are as innocent Oh lambs, and maintain
TINT Williams death was put-up job. Mean
while, tho farmers may make it q matter O.
small consequence whether Logan OF Beyeridgt
carries the Republican primaries, by routing
them both. In that case VIC shall hear no mor'
Of williams or the Penitentiary bath