Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-02-19

of cruelty and mismanagement against the
State prison officials held brief session yes
terday, meeting at II NJ.
The first witness called was Victor G. Sew
ard, a resident of Saltwater, where he is en-
gagged in the publishing business. Formerly,
Mr. Seward was good terms with the officers
and prison contractors, when he had free access
to the prison grounds. For the past two years
his ingoings had been less frequent. One oc-
casion recently, when admitted on a pass of the
warden, he was met by Mr.. Seymour. one of
the contractors, who took him by the collar
and ierked him out Of the shop. Told Seymour
had pass of the warden, when he said he
didn't care if had pass from Jesus Christ, I
had got to go out; 1 have criticised the manage
ment of the prison. but knew nothing of cruel
treatment. nor have any of the convicts COM
planned to me of such treatment or poor food.
At this point Mr.. Seward was asked as to a
certain property purchase when Mr.. Marsh,
counsel for the prison management, objected
that when that point was gone into Mr. Sabin
desired to be in attendance.
After consultation, the committee decided to
close up the cruelty part of the investigation
before taking up the question of management,
and Mr.. Seward was excused.
Messrs Nelson Hughes, Robert Dale and
G. Horst, residents of Saltwater, and who had
been employed about the prison at different
times, were called in the order named, but
neither of them knew of any acts of cruelty,
or anything rejecting upon the prison manage
ment.
CRIPPLED HAND.
Thomas W. Heathcote, of st. Paul, was then
called. He was employed as foreman in the
wood shop from about April l, 1877, to Deem
Der last. The only occurrence coming to his
knowledge during that time that be could
designate cruelty, was in the of convict
named Mills who had his wrist mangled by a
saw. After he had been in his cell two months
at his request got him put into my room to
tend a saw. At that time his hand was con-
tracted very badly, and he complained to me
the surgeon would not give him medicine.
told Hall of the plant, and he authorized
me to get the medicine for him. and under the
application the hand commenced to improve
but don't know if it entirely cured. a
number of convicts complained to me of the
food, and to satisfy myself [ asked and got per-
mission from Hall to make personal examin-
alton OF the meals as served, and found the
food as a rule abundant and well cooked.
COMPLAINTS OF PRISONERS.
Mr. P. Odegard, of St. Paul, who accompa-
MED the committee on its recent visit to Still
water, called, and was testifying that one of
the convicts complained to him that when
he reported to the guard he was sick and wanted
sponded with filthy suggestion which he, the
guard, said was all the medicine needed.
MIR. Marsh objected to the evidence being re-
ceived, on the ground that it simply hear
sy, unless the committee would give the
defense opportunity to present rebutting testi-
mony by sending a subcommittee to the
prison.
Discussion ensued, when Mr.. Reaney, of the
committee, moved the evidence be not received
unless the witness could give the name of the
NJ o,,l fbocr
and the witness not being able to furnish the
names, he excused.
Mr.. II. r. Denny, of the committee was
sworn, and testified that at the time Of the
committee visit the other day he found two
convicts, Maynard and Hoffman, who told him
they had a complaint to make, but they were
afraid to testify for fear of the vengeance of
the officers after the committee were gonc
He assured them they should be fully protect
ed, whereupon they promised to go on the
stand. When called, they testified they felt
perfectly free to testify, and in fact b ad no
complaints to make, thus not sustaining what
they had told him privately.
MIR. Daniel Buck, also of the committee. and
who was with Mr.. Denny at the time of his
interview, with Hoffman and Maynard,
confirmed that gentlemans statement
with the addition that one Wellin com planned
to him bitterly of the food, but when brought
upon the stand, while protesting to feel per-
fectly free in giving his evidence, made no
complaint of the food against the officers.
HALL EXPLAINS.
At this point Deputy Warden Hall was called
and explained that Hoffman, Maynard and two
other convincts had agreed among themselves
to complain of the food especially as to rotten
pork being served, but when Hoffman came to
testify, he did not stand up to the agreement
10 the Others got word and wouldn't testify as
had been agreed upon. The whole plot had
been confessed by Maynard.
THE LAWYERS PLEA FOR HIS CLIENT
This closed the taking of testimony so far as
the charge of cruelty was concerned, and the
committee deciding not to open the other
branch of the investigation until after further
consultation, Mr. Marsh was granted permis-
sion to say few words in behalf of Mr.. Hall.
Mr.. Marsh said the evidence presented did not
sustain the charge of insufficient or poor food
and as to the charge of cruelty, Mr. Halls own
explanation was the only evidence of weight
on that point, and in that case the conduct OF
Hall was actual kindness. He had to deal
with men convicted Of almost every crime
known in the calendar. Of the convicts in
his charge about 70 per cent. were for murder
Another 20 per cent were in for second offenses
These men were thoroughly hardened and
nothing but the seyerest discipline would do
in their management. When Hall entered
upon his duty as deputy warden, discipline
was lax and rebellion was rampant. By that
one punishment told by him he had given the
prisoners to understand they had master, anc
fer that reason the punishment had been ar
actual kindness. He therefore thought thu
committee should report that the charges
against Hall had not been sustained
but the contrary, that he hac
but done his duty, and should be sustained b.
the committee and the State. He did not make
this plea for Hall alone, but for the people o
Saltwater, whose lives and property would b.
imperilled by weak and vacillating control o
the cOnvicts. By the parsimony of the Stat
the citizens of Saltwater had little protection
against outbreak of those hardened Grim
lnais. The prison walls were weak and inse
cure and in any organized revolt the fey
guards would oppose no obstacle to an escape
So startling was the danger from this that citi
zens had organized and armed themselves fo
their own defense for such an offense. Under NJ,
Hall hrm and watchful administration tn
people of saltwater breathed easier, and it wa
more for them than Mr.. Hall personally, tina
he plead to have his course sustained by tn
committee. The State had not done its dut
in providing safe prison for the confinemer
of its criminals, and if the committee shoul
supplement this negligence by Furnishing NJ
Hall for his efforts to remedy the error. Still
water would be at the mercy Of the convict
The people of Saltwater We're not responsib
for the prison being located among them. The
did not want it there, and if they could vo
upon the question to day, nine out of eve
ten would vote for its removal. Having be,
located there, the State owed it to the citizs
that they should be thoroughly protected a,
one way to do that to sustain Mr.. Ha
and be hoped the committee would do 30
Mr.. Marsh having closed, Mr. james Smit
Jr., moved that it be declared the sense of t
committee that the investigation be declar
closed, so far as relates to the charges