The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-06-24
THE STATE PRISON SOUTH.
The Status of the Institution.
THE LATE MIsMANAGEMENr.

$500 ~ ch OF THE
TON AND LIST OF. LEssEEs AND wARDENs
SINCE lS22-CRIMEs, TERMS OF SENTENCE.
NATIVITY, FORMER OCCUPATION AND GRADE
FORMER HABITS AND SOCIAL RELATIONS OF
CONvICTs.
The State Prison South, its late misman-
agement and present condition is thus
sketehed by the New Albany Ledger Stand
ard of Wednesday evening: A change in
the wardenship ofthe Southern Prison took
place yesterday, Capt. A. j. Howard, warden
elect, taking the place of Col. L. s. Shuier,
resigned. Our reporter visited that institu-
ton for the purpose of gaining such facts
concerning II that might be OF interest to
the readers OF the Ledger-Standard. There
are 449 convicts, many of whom are idle
and an absolute expense to the state. The
prison seems TO be in a filthy con
dltion, and out of repair, Notwithstanding
large sums OF money have been expended
1or additions and repairs, If the late war
denis report can be relied on. 1t is said the
institution is in debt to the amount of some
thing near $40, 900, and unless great change
taxes place soon an enormous debt will be
created for the taxpayers OF the state to set
tie by still more burdensome taxation
than at present exists. The immense sums
of money that have been expended, without
scarcely any warrant or legality, have been
the result OF but little good to the unfortu-
nate convi'ts, no credit to the state, and the
ofncers who so wantonly squandered the
peoples money. We have every reason to
believe that change for the better will en-
sue under the new management that has
just peen iEaugursted, and if not, those who
now have control will be held to
a strict accountability, and will not
be allowed to escape by i'll health, res
lgnation, or other convenient modes.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH.
a law Uas naGaad nv tho 1ao;o1at,ra -, = N
year 1872 for the erection of San institution
for the punishment and reformation of con-
victed criminals" and the site of the present
prison was the place selected, on account of
its contiguity to Louisville, and as the best
market for convict labor. At first one acre
OF ground was donsted. One-balf of which
was enclosed by a brick wall fifteen feet
high. A cell house about 100 feet long, two
stories high, one or'two work shops, and a
guard house were erected. 1t is said few
cells were prepared for penitential visitors
They were rudely and strongly made of
beech logs. Ira WestOver, David Stark
wether and George Spencer were the first
lessees, and commenced with seven convicis.
They paid the state bonus of $500 for the
labor of the convicts for the first year.
In the year 1923. james Keigwin leased the
prison and paid the state an annual rental OF
$500, having 50 convicts when he took pos
session. By economy and management he
amassed a considerable amount of money
and gave considerable satisfaction. The
number of cells was increased, the building
provisions, clothing, medicine and
a physician were furnished and promptly
paid for. Samuel Fl. Patterson succeeded
Keigwin in 1886. and continued the lease for
many years. In 1916 William Lee wss
elected warden and served until June, 1919
when Lemuel Ford was elected and served
until 1851, VIXEN A. Ruter filled his place.
d. w. Miller was elected in 1912, and June
Is, 1856, the contract of s. II. Patterson, les
see, having expired, and the prison passed
into the hands of the state. Mr.. Miller con-
tinued in office, if we are not mistaken,
about fourteen years, when Samuel Donald
son took his place. He resigned after a
short service, and Gov. Morton appointed a
man named Wright to the position. James
b. Merriwether served as warden about
two years, and resigned December %, 1868.
Lawrence s. SEuler has been war
den ever since, and he resigned,
as did Merriwether, June 10, 1875.
THE PRISON REGISTER.
The first name entered on the register is that
Of "Jsmes Mills, laborer, 35 years old, five
feet nine inches high. light complexion, blue
eyes. brown hair, and born in North Caro-
lima, convicted in Crawford county for pas
sing base coin, confined November ], 1872,
for eighteen months. Broke prison and es-
capped August Is. 1923, apprehended August
10. 1928, and discharged January 16, 1925.
having lost timo by his escape" During
the year 1923 there was received only con-
victs, and in 1924 there was "a. Up to June
10, 1925, 20 were sentenced, mostly for
short terms, the longest 7years. NEGRO
jerry" OF Clark county, was sentenced to
Is years. June, 1926, for murder. and par
ioned January "a, 1884. This is the first
case. "Pardoned by Gov. Wallace
Is a frequent entry in the remarks
column on the register. Michael
Brennan and Hariin Crothy, SEN
fenced October, 1887, from Jennings
county, for life, for murder, were the first
Lifetime men" sentenced in the state.
They were aged % and "a. born in Ireland,
and were ultimately pardoned. Thomas
Giles was sentenced from Floyd county tor
i've years, on a charge of larceny, March IL,
1889. lie soon made his escape, and was
shortly afterward captured. On the Both OF
March, 1S4l. while at work outside the walls,
put under the eye of the guard, he deliber |
,tely sat down and pulled off his shoes, |
md, taking them in his hand, started for the |
woods. He was retakeD in about one
month afterward. On the 10Th of June, the |
same year, he jumped the wall and was |
rome nearly year before being retaken. |
de lost 423 days, owing TO his numerous es- |
apes, and served until October 2S, 1874. 81. |
Vas OuO NoW IOih ssobo plloOu
"John Wilson," Clark county, nine years. |
orgery, escaped July 10, 1872. and found /
lead in Silver creek, July IL, supposed 10
lave been
SHOT AT THE TIME OF HIS ESCAPE.
B. Mckinney was sentenced from
county, June 4. 1857, for lite,
harged with murder. He is the oldest con
Tict in the prison, was 81 at the time of his
entence and is now 80, having served Is
ears. He has lived 20 see all that were in
ide of the walls at the time he was impris-
med go out, and see all that were received
n that space of time. Eighteen years within
hese walls to those outside would seem to
70 several life-times He is known by the
lsme of Buck Mckinney; will fight at the
rop OF 81 bat and drop it himself, out is not
cry difficult to manage by the officers of the
rison. He is engaged Ia the dollhouse, cleans
p, makes beds, and is said to be useful man.
henry Harding was sentenced from War
lex county for ten years, April n, 1861. He
vas the ccnvict who murdered Peter Yes