The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-26
HOUSEKEEPING IN THE MISSOURI
PENIrENTIARY.

From the st. Louis Globe Democrat, March %
Mr.. William Ryder, frequently known as General
Billy Ryder arrived from Jefferson City Tuesday even.
ing where he has been spending fourteen months IN
the Missouri Pcnentary for assault with intent 10
Kill on Mr. John smith. Mr.. Ryder was sentenced for
two years. and from tho day OF his incarceration his
friends been unrcmtting in their efforts to OBJ
tain executive clcmency in his benalf Mr.. James J.
Mcbride, his attorney, has been particularly jealous
and persistent, and Tuesday morning his efforts
we're rewarded by Il pardon made and signed in due
form by Governor Phelps.
A reporter OF tho Globe Democrat met Ryder soon
after his arrival ST. Louis and had interesting
CONVEX sation with him concerning his experiences at
tue State capital. Billy gave n Dantcan picture OF the
Pntentiary as 1t was managed under the ADMINISTERS
ton OF Governor HARDIN rccng incidents That
smack more OF torture than punishment, as showing
that reform Is needed within the walls OF that purga-
torial institution As to himself, he sub
lee cd to great personal indgnities but this immunity
was due he alleges, to his extreme caution In con-
ducting himself in manner that wouu excite tho
bad will his keepers. HIS hair clipped when he
rat went in but was subsequently allowed to grow.
But the general discipline OF the no charac.
tcrzed IL us heartlcss and barbarous. SAID hc-Mcn
are numerically whipped, for the slightest offences,
with Whips and cowhides that into the flesh and
leave gasnos and that last for months, undoubt-
cdly affecting the health Of the victims in permanent
In part OF tho Pen!entiary there is ono
section known among the convics as the valley OF
Death" called from the tact that when person Is
confined therein he Is supposed TO remain untll re.
lievod by DEATH The keepers call 1t the pet Hall /"
There Is doubt that this place has often been used
Tor the close confinement of mon who have Tor some
reason become obnoxious 10 the Keepers, ana who
Justify themselves by asserting that the victims are OBJ
sirepei will mention one instance.
A named Sheets, harmless, laughing singing
fellow has been confined IN ono OF these cells Tor
several months to my knowledge There Is no harm
him, and yet he rs kept IN Que OIL thesc close, daipp
treatment Tor other reason than that the Keepers
have IA certain spite TO wreak on him. poor IRISH
man named Tom Quinn is another nhaDitant oil the
Thor 10
to the memory OF the deputies OF the prison. could
mention several similar cases, white and black Cases
of cruel treatment were constantly occurring ono
day IA convict named Ed. Burke, who worked In tho
furniture shop, asked Captain BradOury's son Tor
piece oil soap For his imperlinencc he was bcaten with
Two COW hides NY information Ia this
from Burke. He related the circumstance to mo IN.
mcd,ateiy after occurred and exhibited his back, tho
suriuce Of winch was horribly raw condition lie
was striped like zebra all over his back, with deep
cuts Burke has been going to tho hospital tor treat
meut ever ana claims 10 DO yet suffering tho
effects OF The whipping A convict. named
Murphy who worked IN the brick yard was charged
with being IN possession OF pair OF cltzen's pants
made out Of government blanket, and which
were alleged To have been found under his Pill
low. His partner. Hogan, blowed him. He
was taken and whipped numerically, his back
ueipg at this time ono whole The brick
kiln is built over the graves OF dead convicts The
place Is called by the prisoners "the Papaw Pach.r
The very bones ard skulls Of these dead men hnvo
been ground up with the mortar that made tho bricks
with which the Centennial Hall rs built The prisoners
who worked III tho brckyard dug up the bones, and
actually sold certain pieces OF Skeletons for mcinen.
tos. They tried TO sell some OF them me, but did
not want TO buy. saw the prisoners digging In tho
graves myself. remember Ben. Berry, n convict
| from Springfield, in particular During my coninc-
mcnt In the PcDitentlary had a constant tear that
Tor reason, might be deprived even of liic No
mans lie was safe In anticipation OF such
maze VIII giving my body, IN the event of death, to
Drs Hodle and Bauer OF ST. LOUIS, for post morem
examination ana dissection, for the purpose oil
taning II ! had been starved or poisoned Men were
constantly dying around me Ike soiicrs tho batto-
hcid--suong, vigorous men, who could have retained
their health II they had been subjected TO treat
mcnt positively brutal aud murderous The tpcidrpta
winch have related oecurr.u Under Governor Har.
| dins administration.