Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-07-26

DIR. NJ. C. BRIGGS
Was the first witness called, and was exam
ined at length. He declared that there were
two incentives to reform, to wit, enlightened
self-interest and belief in the existence of
God and our responsibility to Him. Men
were restrained from crime by the hope OF re-
ward and fear Of punishment. or by the die
tates of conscience. The State could not af-
ford to cease it efforts to educate the con-
seriousness of the criminal classes. The high
est views of human duty were obtained from
knowledge of the relations of man to his
| Maker.
REV. J. s. M'DoNALD
Was the second witness called. For five
years he had preached once each month in
the prison to conviets found them very at
tentive auditors; illustrated the good to be
accomplished by Christian services by read.
ing a chaplain from the Scriptures.
William Nelson was present. bat asked
further time to prepare further testimony,
and was granted until next week.
THE PREMATURE DISCHARGES.
| Il6 SUululSSlu1St6 IiItu SA tiitiIGtt llGO Tie
charge of the discharge of convicts prior to
the expiration Of their term of sentence. In
one case it was discovered that by miscal-
culation of the former administration con-
Wet was discharged thirty days prior to the
close of his term of servitude. In one other
case pardon from the Governor was pro-
duced
THAT wATER-WHEEL.
Pearce, the prison carpenter, " as recalled,
and said On one occasion some LOGO feet
of lumber had been used in the manufacture
| of a water-wheel. The lumber belonged to
the State did not know where the water
wheel went to; did not know who owned it.
+ In addition to this there was some surface
lumber; could not state the amount.
Judge Ames, recalled: The water-wheel
was manufactured for grist-mill at Half
Moon Bay. Witness admitted that he owned
an interest in the grist-mill /; told his partner
that he might come to the prison to manu-
facture the wheel; the object of manufactur-
ing it there was to get particular sized lum-
Der, which could not be obtained at Half
Moon Bay; had not charged himself with
| the lumber, because there was an open &C.
count between himself and the State. lie
had sold to the State some oats. hay AID
wheat; had not charged the State on his
books with these articles intended to settle
the whole matter; some prison labor was
used thought he had the privilege of using
convict labor to that extent; there was LOCO
| feet of ore kind Of lumber and ,0o0 feet OF
another; the water-wheel was shipped in
pieces to Half Moon Bay the convict labor
used was very inconsiderable the material
for the wheel was sawed out with machinery
owned by the contractors.
THE EXPENSE QUESTION.
The Commissioners sent for vouchers for
the travelling and other expenses of the Di.
rectors, and much time was spent in their ex-
animation. The subisc. was postponed until
| tomorrow.
JUDGE FREELoN on THE STAND.
Judge Freelon, having arrived, appeared
before the Commissioners, ard consumed al
most the entire afternoon. He had presided
over the trial of two or three eonvicts whC
had committed crimes within the prison /; hat
heard large number OF convict witnesses
and had obtained clear insight into the con
dition Of the prison from the testimony
given by the convicts. He detailed a
length some of the testimony given BY
those conyicts. From that testimony he wa!
enabled to express clearly the opinion that
the prison did not restrain the crimina
elements of society from crime, nor did it re
form criminals who were brought within it,
influence. In answer to direct question, Ii
declared that from the evidence presented tC
his mind in connection with the trials, he hat
formed distinct conclusion that term o.
penal servitude in prison will scarcely fail il
every instance to return a convict to society
with his criminal tendencies energizsd, ant
that with degree of certainty that his aftel
life would be worse had sentenced man fol
life because he felt that shorter term woult
be less merciful, as the man would return Il
society only fit TO renew his old criminal prac
tices, and to become an inmate of one Of th'
eleemosynary institutions of the State. Tit
IlGu IaU SSLNtA OiS bSIn III III Aodb N[NCti1i'i
and the institution had made him worse.
Mr.. Neilson-Did You state, Judge, that {
State institution having made the man worse
you sentenced him for life
Judge Freelor-A Judge must deal will
the facts as he finds them, whatever MAJ
have been the cause. The man so sentenced
was criminal hence the sentence. In th'
course of his experience as a judicial Office
he had noticed from the evidences of Grim,
adduced before him that ex-convicts from
San Quentin committed their second ant
third offences with less compunction of con
science than their first, and manifested mt
fear Of punishment in the State Prison.
CONVICT TESTIMONY.
The convict Eppinger, formerly prison
apothecary, was next examined, but NJ
material facts were elected.
Convict Vickery next took the stand. II,
testified to sixteen months Imprisonment
by Captain McAllister for charges falsely
preferred against him by contractor fo
whom he was working. He had beer
put on a diet of bread and waite
for many months. and had received
twelve lashes by the order of McAllister. II
consequence he had threatened to kill tn
Captain. Warden Ames had offered to lib
crate him il he would promise not to carry
his threat into execution, but he preferred
incarceration, and had not obtained his free
dom until the departure of 6fcAllister. Tn,
convict manifested much bitterness Of feel
ing during the recital of his story.
1t is understood that public examination
for the present viii close with tomorrow
session. The Commissioners will make ex
aminations of the books and bank accounts
and will generally inspect the prison as vel
as examine into other evidences of alleged
official misconduct outside of oral testimonr
HAMMERS CAscARA SAsRADA BirrgRs produces
fine clear complexion, it ceanses the body Of al
impurities.
HAMMERS CAscARA SAGRApA BrrTERs cures al