Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-10-24
THE MILWAUKEE HORROR.

The story of the barbarities praotioed
upon the prisoners of the Milwaukee house
OF correction may we'll cause a thrill of hor-
ror to pass over the country. The recital is
almost incredible, and were the facts not
abundantly sustained by proofs they would
scarcely be believed. The barbarities rival
those said to have been praoti3ed in the
black hole of Calcutta, and throw the Libby
prison and Andersonville horrors far into
the shade. Prisoners were and are fed upon
food unfit for the sustenance of swine-the
diseased meat of dying animals-hogs, cattle
and even horses and dogs-together with
skunk veal, rotten bread and vegetables that
had been rejected as food for animals. In
addition, the prisoners were subjected to the
most brutal treatment from the keepers,
being frequently beaten, kicked and gagged
for insufficient cause or incarcerated IN the
black hole, an air tight cell too small for co.
oupancy by human being and reeking
with filth and excrement. The tortures en-
dured in this hell can better be imagined
than described, for no language can do JUS
tice to it.
There will always be one difficulty that
will always be encountered by those who de-
sire humane principles to be carried out in
prisons. The outside public will know
nothing of the treatment of prisoners
within the stone walls except what
is given them by the prisoners them
selves after their release. But no matter how
grave the outrages perpetrated the testimony
of the prisoner is disoredited simply because
of his conviction for crime. His keeper, on
the other hand, can excuse any barbarity by
claiming that it is necessary for the proper
discipline of the prison. It is easy for them
to swear to the refractory conduct of this or
that prisoner, and to throw a faint upon any
testimony that may tend to convict them of
inhumanity before any ordinary jury.
The case in point is one that should en-
list the attention of the humanitarians of
Milwaukee. The writer knows that the
keeper of the house of correction is not a
competent man for the position he occupies
He was for time tho superintendent of the
poor house and insane asylum, and while
acting in that capacity was guilty of many
acts of brutality, especially towards the in
sane Many of these were allowed to go un-
clad during the rigors Of winter, and those
who were violent we're placed in cells revolt
ing ih their uncleanliness and kept there day
after day. He was transferred to the house
of correction two years ago, and there,
having to deal with criminals rather than
idiots and imbeciles, his brutal nature had
full swing. No man who has ever seen or
known him can doubt tbs truth of the state
ments made by the ex:prisoner detailed in
yesterdays GLOBE.
The Milwaukee outrages, We believe, are
but sample of what is daily occurring in
almost every penal institution in the coun
try, barring the fact that in many institu-
tions-indeed in large majority-the
prisoners receive wholesome food. But
there Is no question that in nearly all in
stances the prisoners receive treatment from
which humanity revolts. There are dun
geons in every prison that are occupied too
often, and there are punishments that are
employed in ordinary cases of misdemeanor
that are intended only for extraordinary
cases. But there is no excuse for filth ex-
listing in prison, whether in cells or about
the premises. The humane citizens of Mil
waukee owe it to themselves to soc to it that
this foul blot upon the name of the city be
obliterated. A full investigation of the sub
ject. and prompt punishment of the guilty
parties will alone relieve the city from the
approbrium that the recital referred to has
Occas toned.