The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1875-10-02

THE sTATE PRISON SCANDAL.
What Nine Ex-Guards Have TO Say ON
the subject.
The Virginia Chronicle states that the
following communication was prepared
for the Carson appeal last March, but
was never published
CARSON CITY. March IS, 1875.
Editor of the Carson appeal SlR-ln your pa
per Of the 18th of March, You wrote an article
complimenting P. G. Hyman for his management
of the State Prison, and you give a OIL Vi IaLo
served to.the prisoners from the 7th to the LTD
OF this month, in which roast peer roast porh -
beefsteaks figure largely, ana an average u =.
pounds of bread were served IN each DAY.
Now. sir. most of us We're guards at the prison
for two wears. and we most olemnly declare
that in all that time, up TO the meeting OF Inc
last Legislature, We never Sd" q single pieceo-
beefsteak. roast beef or roast pork on the prison
table during Hyman's administration. nor do we
believe that one-half the bread you mention was
ever served to the prisoners during the time
above mentioned, except on Mondays
So far from the prisoners having an abundance
of food, that the food was always POOR Ia quail
ity and generally deficient in quantity.
Often the prisoners conpl ined of hunger,
and when they did SO they were put In dungeons
as a punishment.
The order was generdi w Ii 6oa.u, up,
all who complained OF munger, tnat eAey AZ
might be punished. -
1t was common for the prisoners TO- say IN
their cells at night that they were SO hungry
that they could not sleep. -
II The beef was always cooked one way for
breakfast, dinner and supper-tnat is, IL was
boiled with carrots usually, but sometimes Win
potatoes, or alone into q kind OF slush. and was
served in this style at each meal. The quantity
of food was SO deficient that many men suffered
hunger nearly all the time. We may mention
among those punished for complaining OF nun
ger, Alec. Began, Martin Reardon, Flynn, Pat;
McCue, Pruett and Hsgerty, and not adsy passed
for weeks at a time without many complaining
of hunger.
The Captain of the Guard is wholly unfit for
his place. On one occasion he got drunk, leit
six cells unlocked, with three prisoners in each
cell, went off to Carson, and did not return I'LL
next morning. The fact was reported to the
Warden, but the Captain OF the Guard was re-
tanned.
Some of us resigned because of sullen and
unfriendly conduct on the part OF the oncers,
or from disgust some were discharged from The
Guard after a long service, simply because we
told the truth when called before the Prison
Board or Legislative Committee, while other
men tRoss. McMullin and John DeaN, who had
been discharged for cause, were given our places,
because their testimony was favorable to the
y ~ ~ AAA r.
ence, complained of the mistreatment OF the
prisoners by the officers.
While most of us were examined by the Prison
Board, We were not near all examined by the
Legislative Committee, although we were ready
and willing to go before the committee and swear
to all we have stated above.
We wish to state that in all we have said, we lay
no blame to MIR. Clayton, the clerk. We recOg-
Lie him rs a worthy officer and gentleman.
AS to Hyman's long Capitalization with the
prisoner, Mollie Forshay, we refer You to the
evidence of Dan. Glassett, James ). Nichols and
Mollie Forshay, now on file with the State
Prison Board.
And let us ask right here, why has this Board
suppressed this evidence, when the Senate Inves-
fighting Committee referred it to them with a re-
quest to print and distribute in pamphlet form,
and the Senate adopted this resolution
We ask by what right this Board suppresses
this evidence, under these circumstances?
AL. McCAUsELAND, JOHN RAFFERTY,,
B F. GREEN, b. f. GossUCH,
JAS. WATSON DoDswoRTH, F.. A. FARNUM.
GEORGE GREEN, EUGENE LYLE,
WIN. G.. CLEVELAND.