Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-07-14

/ ~-N~ASs So nASWASNNC VI tAauoaS-
tion. He had received from England check
for Sheldon, which Farrell had cashed in his
presence, deducting therefrom the amount
due him, but the witness did not know how
the deb. had been incurred.
THE PROSECUTION RESTS.
The prosecution here rested its case. and
Mr.. Owen asked for an expression on the
! part of the Commissioners justifying him in
the publications made in the San Jose
Mercury concerning tie State Prison.
| After consultation the Board announced that
! it deemed it inexpedisnt to make such an ex-
preston of opinion at this stage of the pro-
ceedings. Commissioners Watt and Gibbs,
as individual members Of the Board, stated
that they deemed Mr.. Owens course perfectly
justifaLle. Mr. Mills said it was seldom
that journals were as careful as Mr.. Owens
had been, or were in possession Of ss much
information upon which to base charges
against public institutions.
SENATOR SEARS TEsTIFIEs.
Vim. II. Sears, State Senator, was called
by the Commission and questioned in refer
ence to his knowledge of law passed by the
last Legislature Allowing the Prison Directors
500 per month for expenses. Witness said
the object Of the law was to define and
specify the obligations Of the State, it being
more desirable that the people of the State
should know what they had to pay, rather
than that it be left undetermiuate. He be.
lieved he was the author of the bill. No in
huence had been brought to bear on him by
the Warden or Directors in the matter had
conversed with them on the subject, but did
not think it was until after the bill had been
introduced. Was of the opinion that the
measure was constitutional Witness was
interrogated in reference TO the pur-
chase of lands from David Porter by
the Prison Directors for brick yards. The
land had been bought for $500 an acre /; he
had advocated an appropriation for that pur-
pose, in the LesislatuIe was attorney for
Porter in the trausa ction, aud was bis legal
adviser in other matters. He thought the
land had been purchased for reasonable
price. The testimony of Mr.. Sears was in
terrupted by that of
j. d. FARRELL,
A saloon keeper, who had sold liquor to Shell
don, as before related above. He did not
think that Mr.. Ellis knew that Sheldon owed
him fov liquor. Had commenced writing q
receipt for Sheldon after being paid the in.
debtedness, but refused, on account of the
impudence of Sheldon. Had sold liquors to
cOnyiefs MO inFnr,,,a1 bryf
authorities that such tales were contrary to
law, but once, and that was by the Captain
of the Guard of former administration.
William II. Sears. recalled-Was the au-
thor of the bill making an appropriation to the
State Prison for the establishment of jute
manufactory took an interest in prison mat
ters; had studied but little on reforma-
tory prisons, and was not prepared to state
by what system reformation could be best
effected. Had known Warden Ames for
fifteen years; had never seen him intoxica-
ted had drank with him on two occasions
once the Warden drank congress water and
once cider.
DONALD SWITZERLAND,
Foreman in The prison shops for j. C. John
son & Co, was called by tie Commission
Had worked in the priaon for seventeen years.
Formerly had been in the employ of Stone &
Hayden as general manager. He had be-
tween fifty and sixty convicts under his
charge, whom he paid Fifty cents day after
they had been certain length OF time at the
business. lie was of the opinion that prison
discipline was as good now as under past ad-
mini5trations. Pending the further ex.
animation of Southerland,
WILLIAM IRVINE
Was sworn for the defense and testified that
he had known Warden Ames for several
years, and for the last three years intimately;
had seen him under variety of circumstances,
in the political canvass, in Court proceedings,
at eating and drinking places, and at bis own
house, and had never seen him under the in
fiuence of liquor. He Rad known him to
drink wine and other intoxicants, but had
never seen him drink twica on the same occa-
sion. Mr.. Southerland was then recalled.
He testified that
PRISON LABOR
Was only half as valuable as free labor when
compulsory when compensated in any de.
gree for their labor, however, they did more
work, and he knew some convicts equal in
capacity to free men. 1t was the habit of
contractors to give convicts premium on
good work. Under some previous administra-
tons Compensation in money had not
been permitted, but the prisoners had always
received tobEcco for their services Even
this had a tendency to increase the value of
their labor. Witness had not much conf
dsnce in the efficacy of moral instruction
upon coavicts; they were inclined to scout
at religion if separated from each other,
this might not be the case. The infu-
ence of labor he considered benei-
cial. Religious teachings alone, with
out work, would, in the majority
of cases make prisoners worse when they left
the penitentiary than when they entered it.
Moral instruction, combined with labor,
might exert some beneficial effect. Witness
had known of convicts who pretended to have
been converted, but the majority of such
prisoners had returned to prison after their
discharge, and he doubted that their regener-
alton was real. Most criminals did not ex-
hibit any conception of religious principles.
As class they were
NOT IILITERATE.
Nearly all could read, and were fond of read
ing. He thought prison libraries exerted a
good influence. Men who entered prison
when under 25 years of age were rarely re-
formed, and generally were convicted of a
second offense. Had known cases of older
men who seemed to have undergone gen.
uine reformation /; he also remembered cases
of convicts who had led honest lives for three
or four years after their discharge, and then
reoffended. They attribute their fall
in most cases to the influence Of
other criminals. Many prisoners have
been discharged whom he had never seen
again, but it was probable that they had left
the State and had been incarcerated in other
penal institutions. He thought it likely that
other States also contributed their quota to
the criminal population of this State. Men
who have been convicted of burglary, and
then discharged, were generally reincarcer.
ated for burglary.