The Fremont County record., 1881-02-12

discharged his duties failkfpily. con-
scientiousiy, huinaneiy and skiIifUl.y.
The low mortality CT the prison
population snd the excellent heath
of the convicts refGte the charge of
neglect on the part ct the physician
in charge. 1t is not unusual for con-
victs to feign sickness for the pur-
pose of avoiding labor, and in such
cases it may become the physician's
duty to deny the applicants claim to
a place on the sick list.
d. H DoUGAS, n. d.
DENVER, February 3, 1881.
DR.. d. II. DouyGn, Jedd0ilLe, Colo
In paper CT This city I read few
days ago letter eff yours on the san
itary condition of the penitentiary ct
Canon City. which SO fully approve
that l must write TO you on the SUBJ
icct. --s.-l.
l was at CaDon City and visited
this institution about the first of Oc-
tober last. DR.. Dawson, the sargeon
in charge, was away, absent At the
time, and another physician in
charge. l was, by this physician aud
the officers ia charge, conducted to
almost every part OF tns prison.
Like yol, On your visits thee, |
found the sanitary condition OF TIE
place most excellent. I visited the
hospital or d;spenssry where tie ir-
Wallis are examined and prescribed
for. then the part W here the boot
and shoes are manufactured, The o.
fee aud drug store, the kitchen anl
eating room, and aI the OTHER parts
that are Important, except tAe aa- Is.
visited. | behave every other pGJt
OF the premises and ii giTes LIE
pleasure 10 say .aat t:u.iy gree with
you in gour statement as D TIC Sani-
tarv condition Of tn5 Institution. Z
was inclined - give - tas Surgeon,
to the -af,ie.i Az i3 III "a er
officer IA charge. tho ~, g.a.-a.
The part of The rTIsoi &. -h.1a tiIa
prisoners for life ;.-s cent I'D was IL
admirable condition.
Like you, | cauEct uulsrstaud or
appreciate ;he report winch the late
commi;saa made 10 tho legislature,
which is to the eject that the sanitary
condition CT tke prison is bad in gen
eral. aad tie condition of the vaults
is bad in particular, aud cannot help
doubling that evea this part of !.
was at the time of their visit in the
very bad condition they describe.
! suspect that the committee was
composed of men who do not know
as much of sanitary arinci,'.Ss as you,
the manager OF the prison o. myself.
| was plecseG 10 see your letter for
believed that It did cut simple JUS
lice to the competent and efficient
officers uf that institution Your
friend. u. Il. NEWMAN, A.. D.
Of the honorable committeeman Ie-
marked. eve have had Pryce for
breakfast, Pryce for dinrer. Prycc
for supper and Pryce re-hashcd." 1t
is an acknowledged fact that Pryce
was severely punished mar months
ago for disobedience of the - les and
revolt against the regulati1-s Ee
repeatedly refused TO work. or = %
anything but just as he pleased. HIS
punishment was the hose, the dark
cell and bread and water. lie was
afflicted witt, these q coed many
weeks, but without result. lie WAS
fral,y rut upon the sick list, where
he s;ill remains. We give, herewith,
the sections of the general laws OF
.his state regarding the punishment
of convicts in The penitentiary, and
the opinions of Governor Pitkin,
ex-Attorney-Genera Wright, Judge
Y. L. Wells and the order of the pen
iteatiary commissioners in Pryce's
case, the originals of which are on
fle in the warden's Office. These
should forever set ut rest the Ques-
ticr of the right of the officers of that
imstitGtion 10 enforce obedience:
SAc,.cn ssSS General Laws OF colorado. All
male persons convioted Of crime and confined
In ri-N sN1rfYeD finrT. under the laws of this
state eNcect Snch are precl1ded by the
ssr5ns OF the Judgment OF conviction, shall
lions as have been. or may be, prescribed by
the board of commissioners
Section asso General LAWS of Colorado. If
a convict sentenced to the penitentiary resist
the authority OF any officer. or refuse to obey
his lawful commands. II Is the duty OF such
officer !n!mediateiy 10 erio-re obedience by
the use OF such weapons or other aid may
= s9ai saS 81 Z IA so so r is e fTnS,st a sns
orsiccr OF his assistants, they srs Justified and
shall be he,G soutless: hut 81 na officer shall
not be excasaS!e for using greater force than
thc emergency OF tre case demands.
pre-BsS F<RRu.RF 18th, lSsn.
ATTORNEY Gss saAL's oSFicK.J
6cS. NJ. = MseRus. WARDEN OF THE
81 ,rS PEslTEST1AES, CAscS CIR. s'DtG,
DEAR SIa:-Ycrr h,vor OF the llth inst. was
rccciyed during nv absence at IesdSille. ON
my resa-ia hasten 10 answer u
by examination Of Sec MT OF the General
Laws you VIII Ind &c SrCVittes, .Au persons
imprisoned or confined IN the said peniten-
tionS thereof Therefore whatsoever may be
your rules AID regulations IN regard to these
prisoners they E.ust oeey the same or be
mace TO
on examination OF sec. SOS will show you
that All male persons convicted of any crime
and confined In the penttentiary by reason
therci ''shsli rcrfcrrn labor crder such rules
and regulations as have been or rnsy be pre-
serthed by the bcaru OF commissioners"
This rule Is absolute aud there car he but one
exception ec IT, aDu tiss.t is, where they arc ex-
cepted froni sach labor "oy the terms OF the
iDxiculeQy of COM NlCtlcE.'
The mittiTuus you epclose ior Tly eSarstra-
tion does rot except Theocoro Pryce fronl ls-
Dor during his confinement, ard therefore 1t
Is your duty to see srat tie performs the
same. I beg 10 retUrn mitAltn;s.
Very respectfully yCuts,
c W. WRIGHT, Atsorneg General.
Sovessoes OsrIcE.l
DENVER COLO. APRIL ". iS9,
NoS. NJ. \. MEoRuE-My Dear Sir: re-
tGru ne rev .tl the I1ittinaCs anu opiniou OF
Attorney General Wright which relate to tho
case oi T. rryce-
/ am no, roSnpe.eut to advise to the
best course to pursue With him. You are Ia
ual;iNr with srcse matters aud know BEST how
to maintain the discipline OF the prison. IL
would seem 20 set n bad prseetent u any one
prisoner could Ue.y the officers. II Pryce Is
insane he sncuid oe treated as an insane man.
II not do not Know way he should be treat
ed Al fferentfs from ether prisoners- II you
think It best 60 rocesd ierthcr to make him
obey the rules OF the II anaEers and yourself,
thinS DIR. Dawson should be consulted to