Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-11-29

cause was too sick to go to work one morn.
ing, and could not lift the large, heavy
planks. So was thrown into the ssgrave'
on bread and water.
will swear to God that I actually drop
ped to the ground twice in one morning
from exhaustion and weakness, while I was
at work, with nothing in my stomach but
four slices of bread and little water, called
| sstea.''
| Oh, would that my heart could speak, fol
l cannot express my ideas and thoughts as
should like to; but cannot find words to
express them. But there surely must be one
! above who sees this infamy, and, if there is
hell, Minnesota can boast of one. I will
not suppress my name. simply give you
| the truth, and you can do what you please
with it. Yours sincerely,
CHAs. J. HEleIa.
Patr;clc Cofey--Ihe State Prison Con-
tractors, Etc.
To the Editor of the Globe.
1t is really refreshing to observe that there
is one newspaper in the State that dares TO
take sides with the representatives to "tell
| the truth, no matter who is hit.''
I have read Patrick Coffey's statement in
your issue of the 25th inst, and comparing
his experience with my own in that same
den of torture, credit what he has said.
! Besides, his statement carries with it an
air of truth-a consistency in the relation,
which commends it to the unbiased Judge
| ment Of honest men.
Warden Reeds reply or denial rather, in
to-day's issue is the reverse of this. The
warden says: "Coffey would not work un-
less compelled, and in order to effect his
purpose tempered with his eyes by using
ashes!' Who believes that? The eyes are
the most sensitive organs of the human body,
and to throw ashes into them (and ] suppose
that is what he means) would be at least
equal to any species of torture to which he
was subjected by his keepers. Even the
croton oil treatment could not have been
worse.
It sometimes happens that the excutionsr
is worse than the criminal. Lynch law pre-
walls most in lawIess communities. He who
most deserves hanging is most anxiou US to see
some one hung. The pure and good revolt
at lawlessness in all its forms. Judged by
the light of truth, poured into their own vile
hearts, the adulterous Jews shrank abashed
from the presence of Jesus.
Why was Warden Jackman removed? WHY
was j. S. Proctor removed? I know not
why, but 1 can guess. Certain it is that both
OF these were humane. Such outrages as
these in Coffey's case could not have been
tolerate d while either of these held the re-
sponsibile position of prison warden.
What is the object of punishment? 1t
should be to make men better. And there
was never yet man so lost to all the good
impulses of human nature but would quickly
respond to acts of kindness. Love, good
ness, truth, are always reformatory in their
results. Bulldozing, hate and oppression
generate the same qualities in those who suf-
fer by them.
But the State is in great degree
responsible for making her criminals worse
instead of better. She has enacted that the
convict shall have his hair cut short er on
one side than the other; that his beard shall
be shaved off entire; that he shall be clothed
10 garments with the ':prison stripe.''
What is all this for but to degrade, to de-
stroy what little Of manhood and self-respect
the criminal may still possess?
know that strong, vigorous man, in
that prison, who is disposed to work for the
interest of the contractors, and do all he
consistently can, will be we'll used.
de will have privileges which
are denied to less fortunate convicts-he will
be furnished with tobacco, and other little
items, gratis; and this by the contractors in
person. Or, at least, it was SO in my time
But if poor devil is out Of health, as
seems to have been the case with Cuffey,
there is no mercy shown him. Even the
prison physician has been known to collide
with the officers Of tho prison, and admins
ter medicines which had no mora relation to
the disease than Satan has to righteousness.
The creosote business is but
one of many like tricks which
have been practiced upon convicts.
Many poor fellow could give instances of
maltreatment, but lie 0ure not. No, not
even to the Legislative committee He
fears he will be discovered, OF not believed.
and then the officers will make it hot indeed
for him. He is absolutely -powerless to de-
fend himself. He knows he is liable at any
moment to be provoked into INSTRUMENTATION
and shot down like dog, in which case the
mockery Of coroner's jury is had, the case
inquired into. and a verdict returned as fol-
lows: ''Shot and killed by
en- tie discharge Of his Duty" The latter
CiSaES buS 1nutueTer, ana even permits
him to retain his position!
But this contract system aoroags the c5ti-
zen as well as the criminal. Talking with an
intelligent master builder in st. Paul. some
months ago, on this subject, he said
"a gentleman came to me from Hudson.
Wis, and got the terms on which would
furnish sash, doors and blinds for new
house he was building. I put my price
down to the lowest living rate, for I wanted
the job. but Seymour, Sabin & Co. got the
contract. They underbd me 40 per cent
and then made more money out of the job
than could have done. [ pay my men
from $1.50 to So Gay, while they pay but
40 cents. l have rent and storage to pay,
while the State furnishes them with both!''
So the State degrads labor and alnder-J5ds
her oaDn citizens. l have no axe to grind. [
love to see fair play, even towards the out
| casts of society. A convict is not necessari-
ly guilty; and to have oppression follow up
on the heels OF an unjust conviction, is
monstrouS beyond conception. But even
the guilty may be won over to virtue by
Kindness; never by brutality. The man VINO
commits crime and escapes indictment is
more likely to reform than he would be
| if convicted, and imprisoned. ( recall a
case in point: Deacon -, in Minneapolis,
in 1862, or thereabouts, stole steer and
slaughtered it, and hid the hide in his hay
NOW. Now. it SO happened that this beast
belonged to an lrishman, and he was cute
enough to discover the trail, and follow it up
| until he found the hide, as above. The
deacon settled. with him,and thus escaped in
dictment, and two years in the penitentiary.
But don't believe he ever repeated the of
! fence; though, come to think of it, (and this
| fact proves the truth of point argued before)
| he did circulate remonstrance in Hennepin
county against the Governors pardoning out
I a moor devil who WAS naver half so or;Ity DC