Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-06-03
ANSWER TO cAmpBE1rs STATEMENT.

EDS. RECORD UNION It is but just to the
Chief of Police to reply to the accusations of
one C. Campbell. made in Superior Court on
| Tuesday-at the time Of his plea of guilty of
I,felony-which statement prompted an edi-
torial at your hands. When Campbell was
first placed in the city prison, he was given
new cell within three or four feet of the office
desk, and during the day time and often in
the night, the door of the cell wss left open,
when the prisoner could have free converse
with the jailer or any other person who might
| be in the office. The prisoners wife was
permitted free access to the cell, and remained
with him great portion of the time during
the day and night This particular prisoner
was granted even more privileges than others
confined. He was only taken to the cell
down stairs when it became known that the
| prisoner was able to remove his shackles at
will, and on account of the very insecure
cordition of the upstairs portion of the
prison. And knowing from his own confess
| sion and his past acts, that he was danger
Gus and desperate man, who would not stop
at any crime, even after he was removed
to the lower cell his wife was permitted to
remain with him at her pleasure, and he was
always granted anything he desired fer his
convenience. He had regularly three good
only two days when he made the attempt
to commit suicide by cutting his wrist The
officers in charge of the prison furnished the
| prisoner tobacco, cigars, writing material
and candles, and he was permitted to write
such communications as he might desire
without any restriction, and the writers of
| this have often mailed letters written by both
the prisoner and his wife without investigating
the contents. The writers would have SO in
| a l-lk - e. e.
that the prisoner at all times admitted his
guilt, and it was deemed unnecessary to in.
! spect the letters. The prisoner never asked
! for an attorney. We have often heard the
City Attorney speak with the prisoner when
the cell door was open, and he always said
he was in no hurry for an examination. The
prisoners wife was granted free privilege in
and about the prison, and was not in fact at
any time under any other than mere
formal restraint, and that on account OF
her own wishes and desires to be
with her husband Each and every state
ment made by Campbell with regard to his
| treatment in the prison is absolutely false.
| He was until the last two weeks of his con-
| hnement kept in lew and perfectly clean
| cell, and when he was placed in the lower
cell he was at all times given as much water
and soap as lie desired for the purpose of
washing himself OF course the old cells are
not the cleanest nor the best, but were kept
in as good condition as the circumstances
would permit.
| 1t is perfectly well known to all that the
accommodations of the city prison are not
such as you would find in 6rst-elass hotel,
| but anything that could be done for the con.
venience, c)nformable to the security of
| Campbell, was done. The writer's Of this
were the officers in charge of the city prison,
and always acted under the instructions of
the Chief Of Police, who told us to give the
prisoner the best of care and attention. We
were instructed to do this for the reason that
the prisoner confessed his guilt of the offense
charged, and that there would be no necessity
for trial, and that there could be no danger
of defeating the course of justice by permit
ting free converse with any person. BY Civ
ing this place in your paper you will be do.
ing an act of justice not only to the Chief of
Police but to ourselves.
J. J. CARROLL,
w. b. FERRAL,
| .Tailara