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

Idhtng Testimony.
The State prison investigating committee met al
the prison building few minutes after 10 O'Clock
There We're present Senators Wedge, Mealey, Buck
and Reaney, and Representatives Donohue, Denny
Smith, Frsbie and Lambert. The first witness
called was James Brown, prisoner, who was 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 Us well as
could be expected; plenty to eat all have alike know
nothing Of cruel treatment Of any prisoner far
l 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
Cotfey when he worked in the cell room: car
red 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; never the deputy
warden strike prisoner; never heard him swear.
W. SWORN.
have been in prison 20 months; came from Ram.
sey county; work in blacksmith shop; have also
worked in carpenter and cooper shops; warden n
treated me like gentleman; deputy warden not so
vel; he cuts me off short and won't hear COM
plaiuts was sick, asked for something better to eat
Ceputy said it good enough; asked him for wooden
pants he would not give me any till two months ago
had to wear cotton; said he would give them when
he got ready: wrote to warden about it, and deputy
got mad got them two weeks after that; have seen
him (HalO strike three men; the deputy struck
Cofey; have seen guards strike prisoners; saw the
deputy hick man out of the cooper's shop; saw him
kick COtfey and strike him with his fist; was
twenty rods away; could not hear what was said the
deputy hit when tried to escape I tried to
escape on the 23d of last May given over to the
guard, who shook me about saw deputy punch Will
son and kick him; was fifteen or twenty rods away;
think he was talking to carpenter against the rules
t6ey put ln7 hm ,,ao,. in the the dunseon saw
an oak cudgel; Mr.. Hall did not it. nor the
warden; Clark spoke to some one and McCabe told
and the guard hit him the head; Clark jumped
right around and said wont 60 step, and the guard
hit him over the head and Knocked him down. heard
him also threaten to strike Clinton; the grub is
mighty poor: the pork is what 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
sour krout, beef, bread and sometimes potatoes;
IN in the ~ evening bread and molasses; knew
Mrs. Wood; have heard she had trouble
with the deputy warden; knew Stack; was treated
bad when sick; he was sick time before he died.
Or murdered rather, for believe he was murdered;
morphine by the hospital steward; he died the
night think from what heard that he was mur-
dered think Charley Clark is to blame FOR it; they
say he was buried by the lake.
Cross-examined by Mr.. Marsh-Ths is the second
time have been here; was sentenced for horse
stealing; some times we get pork twice day; they
verse than pork used at lumber camps; never eat
pork at lumber camps; the deputy hit me when
MD under the dry kiln; he said come out yOn
-; he threw me down and choked
me; Hall took to the cell room;
he struck in the back and threatened to strike me
on the head; was not walking slowly; Hail did not
say 'hero is your man. but come out of that you
-; Wilson was above the carpenters shop when
he was struck; Wilson talking against the rules;
he was gathering up wood; can't say he was goiug
to pick up stick to strike Hall; he was picking up
wood for the fire room; the guards all carry canes;
about Stack, only know what I have heard; the
deputy warden strike Cofey; it in 1877 in the
ya am. 1tyn MO hnc kat in
the sewer, the usual place. it 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-They not allowed to talk; they have
to communicate by signs.
BY Mr.. Marsh-Is it not fact that you and others
have stated they would fx Hall when the committee
came over.
Wtness--No. We have said we would have
Hall out if justice shown; Mr.. Hall did not
do more than might have been expected to
when tried to escape; had to carry bail and
chain eight weeks; II consider this great punishment
when at work.
times; once was in two days and nights and had
nothing to eat drink: when put in the
dungeon We are not told for how long; are
kept there during the pleasure Of the deputy;
we are generally taken out on promise of good be-
havior, but have been in 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 i-treatment of prisoners
guard III cooper shop; don't know anything about
the food can't say if it is good bad; remember
Stack can't say anything about his treatment know
nothing about his death, only from hearsay.