Daily globe., 1879-02-14
Taking TeStine0ny.


The State prison Investigating committee met at
the prison building few minutes after 10 O'Clock.
There were present Senators Wedge, Mealey, Buck
and Reaney, and Representatives Donohue, Denny,
Smith, Frisbie and Lambert. The first witness
called was James Brown, a prisoner, who exam
ined by J. Smith, Jr He said he had been there three
years and three months; came from Minneapolis
lived there since 1S49; have been treated well as
could be expected; plenty to eat; all have alike; knew
nothing of cruel treatment of any prsoner far
I know the treatment Of prisoners is
proper don't know of any complaints of
any prisoners; have not been put in the dungeon ;
know Cotfey; don't know anything of his treatment
saw Cofey when he worked in the cell room;
ried water to the cells; could not put water in the
dungeon; have seen guards carry water to the dun
geon; don't know Mrs. Wood; had nothing to do with
taking water to the dungeons; saw the deputy
warden strike prisoner; never heard him swear.
VS.. SWORN.
have been in prison 20 months; came from Ram
sey county; work in blacksmith shop; have also
worked in carpenter and cooper shops; wards n
treated me like gentleman; deputy warden not SO
vel; he cuts me off short and won't hear COM
plans was sick, asked for something better to eat
deputy said it was good enough asked him for woolen
pants he would not give any till two months ago
had to wear cotton; said he would give them wher
he got ready; wrote to warden about it, and deputy
got mad got them two weeks after that; have
him (HalD strika three men; the deputy struck
COREY; nave seen guards strike prisoners; the
deputy Kick man out of the cooper's shop; saw him
kick Cotfey and strike him wih his fist; was
twenty rods away; could not hear what said; the
deputy hit me when tried to escape; tried to
escape the 23d of last May; given over to the
guard, who shook me about; saw deputy punch Will
son and kick him. was hfteen or twenty rods away;
think he was talking to carpenter against the rules
they put him in the dungeon;
McCabe, guard, knock down Tom Clark with
all oak cudgel; Mr.. Hall did not it. the
warden: Clark spoke to and AIcCabe told
him to go to the guard roo u; he would not do 1t,
and the guard hit him the head; Clark jumped
right around and said wont 60 STEP and the guard
ait him over the head and knocked him down; heard
him also threaten to strike Clinton: the grub is
mighty poor: the pork is what 1 call spoiled pork
we have it every day in the week but two; it is all
turned green; first worked in the mess room; they
kept lots of bad pork not fit to eat; in the morning
we get apple sauce, pork and bread; for dinner,
krout, beef, bread and sometimes potatoes
in tho evening bread and molasses knew
Mrs. Wood; have heard she had trouble
with the deputy warden; knew Stack: was treated
or murdered rather, for believe he murdered;
he out of his head; was given five grains of
morphine by the hospital steward; he died the same
night; think from what heard that he was mur-
dered: think Charley Clark is to blame for it they
cay he buried by the lake.
Cross-examined by Mr.. Marsh-This is the second
time have been here; was sentenced for horse
stealing; some times we get pork twice day; they
use the same pork now; don't know if the pork is
worse than pork used at lumber camps; never ca:
pork at lumber camps; the deputy hit me when
hid under the dry kiln; he said out yon
-; he threw me down and choked
me; Hall took me to the cell room;
he struck in the back and threatened to strike
on the head; was not walking slowly; Hall did not
say "here is your man." but come out of that you
; Wilson above the carpenters shop when
he was struck; Wilson was talking against the rules;
he was gathering up wood; can't say he goiug
to pick up stick to strike Hall; he picking up
wood for the tire room ths guards all carry canes;
about Stack, only know what have heard; the
deputy warden strike Coffey; it in 1877 in the
summer; Coffey was emptying his night bucket in
the sewer, the usual place. is against the rules to
talk in the cells; the men have been talking in
the cells about their evidence; have done so; have
also talked in the shop about it,
Mr.. Hall-Thay not allowed to talk; they have
to communicate by signs.
BY Mr.. Marsh-Is it not a fact that you and others
have stated they would f. Hall when the committee
Witness-No. We have said we would have
Hall out if justice shown; Mr.. Hall did not
do more than might have been expected to me
when tried to escape; had to carry ball and
chain eight weeks consider this great punishment
when at work.
times; once was in two days and nights and had
nothing to cat drink; when put in the
dungeon we are not told for how long;
kept there during the pleasure of the deputy;
generally taken oui promise of good be-
h;vior, but have been in d day and more after
promising to keep the rules.
GEORGE DoDD SWORN.
have been connected with the prison for two
years; don't know Of any ill-treatment of prisoners
guard in cooper shop don't know anything about
the food caut say if it is good bad; remember
Stack can't say anything about his treatment; know
nothing about his death, only from hearsay.