Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-07-23

AStA-' l. AAfANSAoSOt ouiV --d' AAO pSeIo9
Prison Investigating Commission met at San
Quentin at 10 o'clock this morning.
FIRST WITNESS.
William P. Harkey Sheriff of Sutter coun
ty, testified that he came to San Quentin to
arrest one McNeal. an ex.convict, sentenced
from Sutter county, otherwise known as
Strychnine Jack" He reached the prison
on the morning of the day upon which the
convict was to be discharged went into the
prison and shook hands with the convict, and
when the convict was going out of the prison
at the front gate, he told him he was his
prisoner. The convict was taken into the
prison by the Captain of the Yard to pay him
some moneyfor work done by him for the State
Witness waited in the Wardens Office for the
return of the prisoner. As the prisoner did
nos return he inquired. and found that his
man had escaped. Instead of going into the
prison he had disappeared around the corner,
and crossed over the hills toward San Rafael
Witness went TO San Rafael and offered
reward of S25 for the capture of the prisoner.
Then went to Oakland and received informa-
tion of the arrest of AIcNeal Came over TO
the prison, received the prisoner and paid
the reward to Constable from San Rafael.
Cross-examined by Warden Ames Was
told by the Warden to look out for
his prisoner didn't connect the War
den with the transaction in any way
supposed Captain Edgar to have colluded
with the prisoners to escape; was warned by
the Warden to make his arrest and keep the
prisoner in his possession staid all night at
the Warden's house.
Warden Ames explained that tbs convict
was arrested by a guard on the day after
Harkey left.
WARDEN PocKMAN,
OF the Folsom prison, was the next witness
Was told when he went before the Board of
Directors as a candidate for Warden that
Ames had agreed to consult the Directors on
the appointment of subordinate officers, and
made a similar agreement himself
did not understand by the agreement
that ne had surrendered his right to discharge
the men; understood the Board of Directors
~ i1as'S tiO lA5A " LcuiludtS t1Sul, Dub De
was not obliged to appoint them; was under
no special promise to resign, but had given
assurances that when he didn't suit the
Board of Directors he would hand in bis
resignation, and would not resist his removal.
The condition OF the prison at Folsom was
described as place Of forcible detention for
convicts. There were no employments in the
prison there were 324 cells and BOG prison
ers did not assign prisoner to each cell. be-
cause some of them were III an unfinished
state employed the prisoners in finishing up
the work of the prison some were employed
in making clothes, and boots and shoes for
officers, and for convicts couldn't say that
the prisoners were employed in productive
pursuits; had no industry of any kind worth
mentioning; the BOG prisoners at Folsom
were merely detained.
Very little further testimony was taken
beyond general inquiry into the prison at
Folsom. Then followed close examination
of the Warden with reference to his ideas of
the penal system.
GOVERNOR GEORGE c. PERKINS
Was the next witness. In the examination
Of Governor Perkins the name of each Di.
rector appointed was canvassed, and the
reasons for the appointment given by the
Governor. The reasons given were satisfac-
tory as 20 all the Directors except Wallace
Everson, of Oakland. The explanation of
the appointment of Mr.. Everson was not
fully understood by the Commission, and a
number of questions intimating this lack of
understanding were asked by them. A
long and critical examination Of the
manner in which the pardoning power mad
been exercised followed, which occupied
nearly two hours. The Governor did not
know when lawyer by name of Foltz ap-
preached him to secure a pardon for crimi-
nal, or that Moral Instructor Cummings
held money in his hands to be paid to an at
torney in the event a pardon was obtained.
Had he known it he would have refused to
hear the application. The Governor gave
his views of the present condition of the
prison, and the proper penal system, and
in relation to the employment of the prison
ers on behalf of the State, in clear, ready
and concise manner, occupying over an hour
in delivery.
DAVID PORTER
Sworn W. II. Sears acted as his attorney ip
the sale of the land he had paid $3.50 for his
services; denied having said to Worden
that it cost him one-half of the money he OBJ
tanned for the land to effect the sale to the
State; knew he had not made the statement
SENATOR WATSON
Sworn. His testimony was in confirmation
Of the story that the Directors of the prison
used their personal influence to pass the law
giving them 500 month for expenses.
Governor Perkins, recalled, testified that
Wallace Everson spoke tohim in support of
bill to give him 800 month also that
| Judge Schell wrote him letter defending
the constitutionality of the bill, and that he
| understood the Directors to be in its favor
did not believe the provision constitutional /;
becoming convinced of its constitntionality
he signed it, because of other provisions in
the bill, but would not have approved of the
bill to give the Directors 500 month if
presented with that single provision.
| Senators Watson and Sears were then ex-
amined relative to prison discipline and re-
form. Both gentlemen had been members Of
the Prison Committees of 1880 and 1881.
Director Chapman was granted indefinite
leave of absence.
| Director Schell was permitted to attend
the further sittings Of the Commission at his
option.
Three hundred and five papers, filled out
by convicts in the prison, were then handed
| to the Chairman of the Commission.
Captain Edgar testified that the Chairman
of the Commission had handed him $50
blanks to be filed by prisoners. He had
made no suggestion to any prisoner, but had
required the prisoners to return to him the
blanks when filed. They had been SO re.
turned, and had not been examined by him