The Fremont County record. [volume] (Canon City, Colo.) 1877-18??, 1881-02-05
THE PEMITENTlARY.
An Interview with Ex-Warden NJ. N.
Mesrue.
Giving His Side Of she story and
Presenting Some Additional
Facts.

Republican, taken together with the
report of the joint committee on the
penitentiary, the Times believed that
statement from Ex-Warden Meprue
would be of considerable public in
terest, an act of justice to him, and
would throw some light upon the
subject of this important state iusti-
tuition. With this view, reporter
was last evening detailed to seek Mr..
Megrue, and obtain an interview
from that gentleman
Said the reporter: "Mr. Megrue,
you have read, 1 suppose, the article
on the penitentiary in this mornings
Republican, and the report of the
legislative committee in this even
ing's Times ?'
"Oh yes," was the ready reply,
"and l must say 1 was considerably
surprised at the newspaper attack,
although it is less direct than by in
sinuation."
sit is with the intention of getting
your views on the subject that L have
called this evening, and, if you please
we will take the article right through
in the order of its charges or insinua-
tions," said the reporter.
"Oh, certainly" was the reply, sI
will be very glad TO give you any in
formation which 1 may possess, or
you desire. In the first place, then,
am very glad that an investigation of
the penitentiary is likely to be order
ed, and hope the Investigation viii
be deep and thorough, as have every
reason to believe that it will be from
What hear of the composition of
the committee. have no fear what
ever of an examination into matters
and things while was in charge.
'Of the sanitary condition of the
prison as observed by the committee
aud spoken of by the Republican,
can hardly consider that that refers
TO me. 1 am not keeping house now,
you know, nor was l then. AS to
the kind opinion of my successor,
think l can fully sustain it when the
Investigation shall lake place-in fact,
l have no doubts on that head at all.
The Republicans comments ou Judge
Felton's expression in regard to me,
are, l think, to say the least, rather
forestalling things so to speak, and
considerably uncalled for.
"You ask about that letter of Mr..
Dueber's to the Republican. Well,
sir, think it was very injudicious on
MS PAL y aud Especially HIS reference
TO the News, which has always been
very fair and kind toward the peni-
tentiary. l can only account for the
letter by believing that it was u per-
sonal note to Mr.. Clark of the Repub-
lican, and was couched in the jocular,
joking expressions permissible be-
tween friends or intimate acquaint-
ances. don't believe the letter was
sent to the paper, but was a private
communication.
Reference is made to the commit
tee and correspondent more than the
officials intended. Thai is rather
rough. You will remember when
you were there on a tour of news
paper investigation and observation,
that 1 gave you the full run of the
buildings and grounds, and further
more your guide was q convict aud
not an official or anyone interested
in the management of the institution.
Did you find anything wrong, or do
you think had L had anything 1 wish
ed to hide, that l would have given
you that libertys The truth of the
matter is that when visitors came to
the prison. l rarely, if ever, went
through the place with them, but al
ways turned them over to the care of
a deputy or prisoner.
"Now that case of Pryce is grossly
Pryce's mittimus did not
read unlike quite q number of others
recorded there. 1t does not state
that he must be subjected to solitary
confinement or hard labor, nor does
II state that he shall not be so treated.
When l first took charge of the peni-
tentiary, Pryce was not working, nor
was he allowed TO go out, but l had
hardly been installed, when he asked
mo to permit him to go to work. l
was green then and was not familiar
with the laws, and so before acting
sent his mittimus to Attorney Gener-
al Sampson, then in office, and asked
his opinion. His reply was to the
effect that where it was not ex pressly
against hard labor or soli-
tary confinement, the rules of the
prison must be complied with, and
that there was nothing in the initti-
mus to exempt Pryce from hard labor.
Acting on this, l set Pryce to work
and for over two years l never had
the slightest trouble with him, or
any occasion to threaten punishment.
Then he suddenly made up his mind
that he would work no more, and
that his sentence did not re-
quire ii. As NJ that time we had all
other attorney general-Wright, you
know-I submitted the question to
him, and received reply in substance
the same as the one 1 got from Nj.
Sampson. But even then refrained
from enforcing the rules of the
prison until after the meeting
of the board of commissioners, which
was held shortly afterward. At that
meeting laid the matter before them
in the presence of Pryce himself, and
they told him that he was in error,
and instructed me to enfore the rules
whicl, | did, but not, as charged in the
article. until tho pris-
oner was SO weak as to be almost
dead. We were severe on occasion
but never inhuman."
Touching this shocking punish
mont b1siness, that 10 . charge that
was made before ever came 70 Colo
RADIO, or before the arrival Of the Re-
publican's correspondent, 20 that 1
really know nothing about Il, and am
unable 10 state whether IL IL true or
false."