The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-03-02
OUR PRISONS.
CITY INSTITUTION.

CHARGE OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. RxAm-
INED - FOOD AND LABOR - CONCLUSIONS
REACHED-COMMITTEB's REPoRT-RETEN-
TIoN OF THE PRESENT OFFICERS RECON-
MENDED.
From Special Correspondent of the SentIneIJ
MICHIGAN Cry. Feb. 27.-Not feeling an
ardent desire TO bs written down an artist in
whitewssh / may be permitted TO aliude to a
telegraphic report of this investigation
which appeared simultaneously Saturday
morning in the Chicago Tribune and the
indianapolis Journal. That report, amid a
mass of insinuations, contained two distinct
accusations against the management of the
northern prison. One was that the garbage
was perquisite Of the warden and the
other that the prisoners received only so
cents for overwork" while the state Sc
cured 60 cents for contract work. The truth
is that while all his predecessors in Office
obtained the garbage gratuitously, Warden
Mayne pays the state $500 year for the
same. The other accusation is equally
groundless, as the convicts receive the regu-
lar contract rate for "overwork" The
mistake, il it was a mistake, grew out of the
fact that the contract price for cigar making
is but 90 cents day, while SIN and 90 cents
are paid for barrel making. To pro-
ceed with the investigation, the COM
mlttee arrived at the bastile early this
morning and recommended its labors. The
books were again overbauled with a result
similar TO that of yesterday, the records of
the contractors being closely compared with
the time account kept by the guards. At
the close of this examination the members
OF the committe expressed themselves sat
isfled. Then the charge of cruelty was
taken up and large number of prisoners
were sworn and interrogated in the pres
ence of only the committee, the warden,
deputy warden and physician being also
examined afterwards. The only
PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT
is administered with cat. rather mild
looking instrument, provided with four
thongs. The latter are of cord, and not of
rawhide, and their ends are wound instead
of being knotted. Three blows of this cat
are the ordinary measure of correction
Whatever has been said to the contrary. an
examination of the backs of some OF the
convicts showed that it is impossible for the
cat to lay open the skin, or to leave more
than a red stripe. Il was stated by
the authorities, that not more than six per
cent. of the inmates OF the institution ever
need or receive the moral suasion OF the
cat. The case of one individual, which has
been much bruited abroad, was examined
particularly. 1t was claimed for him by
some of the state papers, that be
ing unable to work on account of sickness,
he was severely punished. The
impression which he produced on tie COM
mittee, was that be was spoiled boy who
never had been made to work before he
came into the clutches of the law, and who
had a strong natural disposition TO lay down
bis tools and lean against something and
think. brother convict testified that the
party in question told him
that be did not come to Michigan
City to work and he did not propose to
change his views on the subject. Finally
the vic;lm of circumstances at the request OF
the committee made q mental computation
of the number OF times which he lad beeu
called up and admonished before making
the acquaintance of the cat and gave about
twenty as the result. One inmate told
A RAw-BoNED STORY
of the castigation received by another. He
knew about 1t, he said, by hearing his
screams. The party of the first part was
called ana testified that on that particular
occasion he was not fogged but only re-
ceived a reprimand. 1t Is but fair to
sta'e that the prisoners, almost
Warden Mayne anu OF DR.. Hamrick, ss
kind hearted and capable men. But the low
rate OF mortality during the last two yee RS
is the latter's last recommendation. 1t may
be stated that generally those convicts who
were eXpiating some crime committed in
the heat of passion or under the influence OF
intoxicatiOn had few complaints to make,
while those who thought themselves abused
were generally to be ionnd among the
sneak thieves and that sort OF cattle
One prisoner even expressed the opinion
that there was not flOgging enough, and init
mated that if he were the warden the men
would not get of so e&sily. Another the
other day, told the warden, who was urging
him To mend his wsys, that he had better
give him the cat, "chin music, -
well adapted to a man of bis
kidney. OF course these last two cases are
not specimens Of the general sentiment, the
greater mass of the convicts entertaining,
naturally, dislike for the cat. Those who
were bitter In their complaints, displayed a
decided tendency for expressing themselves
GLrTrrERING GENERALITIEs
and a disincIinaion to being tied down to spe-
cific instances. The only question In regard
to the use of the cat is whether 1t should be
done away with altogether. and a substitute
found in the genial black cell or the exhil-
Grating bull ring, which are employed at
Joliet, or the inyigorsting pump, which
finds it's votsries at Jackson. Gentlemen
of an extended experience in these matters.
acquired In various parts OF the Union ex-
pressed themselves to-day to the committee
in favor OF the cat as cheice OF evils.
A list is kept of ALI eases of punishment,
and this was verified by an examination OF
the prisoners. Sorae idea Of the weight of
the complaiDts may be obtained from the
fact that the hardship most prominently
brought forward was the deprivation of the
political papers. The prison has e
library, unfortunately small one,
and the conyicts are allowed to read
such psriodicsls as are sent to them and
pass the scrutiny of The authorities. There
was. CT course, some fault found with the
foo d, and this subject was also thoroughly
10 oked into. The statement was made by
everal convicts that il had greatly improved
during the past week, but when asked in
, what respect the improvement had appearefl,
about the only information vouchsaied Was
that white bread had been substituted for
black. The