Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1875-09-25
PRISON


Governor Bradley ON the Situation.
Having made public, from the Car
son appeal, Warden Hyman's version
of the troubles at the State Prison. we
now, in justice to all sides, give place
to the following letter from Governor
Bradley, which appeared in the Enter
prise of the I'D:
ELKo, Sept. 20, 1875.
EDITOR ENTERPRISES: Your paper of
the 18th instant, containing an article
headed 'Strange Proceedings at the
State Prison. copied from the Carson
Appeal, has reached ME. There are
some things in that article that will not
be fully understood by the public with
out some explanation.
You say "Governor Bradley recon-
mended Miller to Mr.. Hyman as a
worthy and competent person for a
guard at the p ison, and on the strength
OF that recommendation Miller was
appointed"
The public would infer from this that
Mr.. Hyman had the appointment of
the prison guards, and doing me a a
or by giving a place to an applicant on
my recommendation. Now, under
the law, the Warden is the servant
the Foreman of tho Board of State
Prison Commissioners. They appoint
or discharge him and all oiher en-
plOyes at pleasure. Samuel Miller, An
active, Intelligent young man, applied
to me for employment, aud, with the
concurrence of General kittrell, he was
appointed a guard.
Some time after his appointment he
came Il my office and said he wanted
a private interview.
/ had the door closed, and called Mr..
Garrard, my seer tary, 10 hear what
Miller had to say. He told me that
since he had been guard at the State
Prison he had satisfied himself thai
Mr.. Hyman, the Warden, was stealing
from the State; that he had learned a
good deal, and could, he thought,
learn much more, and asked for in
structions IN the subject. Believing,
a. l have for a long time, that Hyinan
wa using his position to rob the State,
and having failed in many efforts to
have him removed from the Warden
ship of the State Prison, 1 directed
Miller I o gain what information he
III RhAo lORptb w liO mo CoCtts
and to my Secretary during my alb
sence.
Miller, as 1 am informed, contin-
ued to report according to my instruc-
tions until he was discharged by the
Warden.
During the last Legislature lin Feb
ruary, | believe,) a special committee
was appointed by each house, who
f..rrl sr.Ixnn. t.fD Iot.,e [sx..
mittee, to examine into the manage
ment of the State Prison affairs.
They took the testimony of a large
number OF witnesses, and the joint
Committee found up to that time ''the
management had been strictly honest
and economical"
They also reported that "the testi-
mony taken relating to other charges
investigated by the committee is too
voluminOus to admit OF being digested
in this report"
They therefore recommended to the
Senate "that the evidence taken and
herewith submitted be turned over Il
the Board Of State Prison Commits.
sioners, and that the same be by them
printed in pamphlet form for distribu.
tiOu."
The majority of the board have ig'
nored this injunction of the Senate,
and have positively refused to print
the evidence. The charges referred to
in the latter part of the report above
mentioned are two:
First-That the food furnished the
prisoners was inferior in quality and
deficient in quantity. Second-Thal
the Warden, p. q. Hyman, has taken
advantage of the helpless condition o.
the only female prisoner under his
charge; had moved her from the eel
she occupied when he took charge Of
the pri, OF to his W quarters, and
had kept her as his mistress for the
last eighteen months previous to the
investigation.
On the first proposition there was
much conflicting evidence.
On the second proposition there was
but little room for doubt.
Some of the abIest lawyers and clear
est headed juriSts OF the State, both of
and OF the Committee of Investigation,
have examined the subject, and be.
lieve the Warden guilty of the charge.
Had this testimony been laid before
the people, as desired by the Senate, q
just public indignation would have de.
manded and forced the removal Of the
Warden long ago.
As Governor of the State, the people
expect, and have a right to expect, Of
me a close watch over the intert SIS O.
the State.
Being ~powerless, as q member of the
State Prison Board, to remove ar
officer that l assisted in Apo nting
and whom / have found unfit for his du.
ties, l sought evidence by which
could take the case before another tribu,
nal. Hence, when Millor offered hi,
services, | did not hesitate to instruc
him TO proc sed and report.
As to his carrying letters to an(
from prisoners, l know nothing what
ever; but in his efforts to expose til.
dishonesty Of q State officer he hat
my full appreciation.
T.. r. BRADLEY.
xAn bAAH. .-.-- -