The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-06-07
CHARGE OF CRUELTY.


,he life of those cOnvicts ought
TO be one of supreme satisfaction.
The evidence given by Mr.. Still Is
rushed before him in the columns OF
the News, and Mr.. Wooten is thereby
made to appear as having circulated
what was groundless. Mr.. w. now
publishes a long letter in the News,
his statement and pro-
ducing evidence to show that what he
had said was a repetition of what he
and others had heard Mr.. Still
say. He presents the case, and
as follows:
These. / think, are fair deductions
from the record Of this transaction,
and with them / submit the affair, so
far as | am personally concerned. In
taking leave of Mr.. Still L have no i'll
word or i'll will in this matter. He
has long been known as the victim OF
a political delusion; he is exceedingly
garrulo IS, and perhaps forgets what
he SAYS and to whom he says 1T. In
this particular instance his interests
and business are in conflict with his
candor and his impulses of humanity
and truth; and, like the majority OF
men. he has succumbed to the die
tates of selfish considerations. Upon
the whole, he is entitled to that to
which cheerfully commend him
the indulgence, the charity and the
clemency of generous public.
hnnn m
and unwittingly drawn into this con-
troversy, feel justified IN lnduls ing
in few reflections, which seem TO
me pertinent and suggestive. A
chance conversation OF a private cltl-
zen having been made the basis for q
so-called Investigation, and the pre-
text for a fiimsy vindication, OF the
penitentiary management, that prl-
vate citizen begs leave to say that the
opinion he casually expressed in con-
yersation he still entertains, and sees
no reason to change it on account OF
ANYTHING developed by this recent in
uuiry at Huntsville. So far as appears
from the reports and records of this
examination, it was conducted by
SUPERINTENDENT Goree and an attOr-
new. the affair having been by the
board referred to the former gentle
man, and Stills testimony is taken
and sworn to before him. His
relations, past and present, to
the penitentiary, are well known.
and have been no little dis
cussed and criticised. The sole wit
nesses examined seemed to have been
Mr.. Still and his brother and en-
ployes of the penitentiary-all work
ing in connection with the peniten.
tiary, and naturally and necessarily
more or less interested in preserving
friendly and favorable relations with
the superintendent end prison Of
ficials. The conyicts-ths public
disinterested humanity and fearless
search after truth, are nowhere
represented in the trial.
can this be called an in
vestigation OF alleged evils, and will
this sort of withdrawing process
suffice to overcome the opinions OF
the thousands of people all over this
state who have for months and years
past feared, and some of them firmly
believed, that the Wrstched and un-
fortunate inmates OF our penltentlary
were not properly cared for nor hui
namely treated? These opinions may
be wrong and unjust to the officials,
and no doubt, in measure,
they are so, but they exist,
and can not be silenced by
methods like this last so-called inves-
tigation and those which have for a
long time preceded it, with futile and
farcial repetition. The public mind
has of late been stirred upon this
question of penitentiary control and
discipline as it has rarely before been
stirred upon any subject. It was the
great gage of battle in the debates of
the last legislature and, after a long
and gallant struggle, the friends
of redemption succeeded in
winning what was considered
a conquest of humanity and justice.
But almost the first of the new and
what it was hoped would be better
and purer administration of affairs,
was the reappointment OF some of the
very men who had been identified
with the old order of things. and
distrust of whom had had much to
do with the oYerthroW and removal
of the previous system OF peniten-
tiary management. And, now, the
the accidental expression of opinions
of private, DISTINGUISHED citizens, based
upon what they have every
reason to accept as authentic infor-
nation, are seized upon and made the
excuse for an eX parte Yindicatton,
conducted and supervised by those
who are in part responsible for any
abuses that, may exist, and supported
nv the testimony of those whose di-
rect personal interests and selfish mo-
tiyes are at war with the discovery
and revelations of the truth: Am
not right In saying that these are
suggestive and pertinent reflections;
and in view of their significance,
may not every citizen interested in
seeing the results OF the great peni-
Tertiary struggle in the eighteenth
legislature carried out in their true
spirit. Justly inquire whether there is
not strong indication in these things
that the issue of that struggle may
prove but barren victory, and its
fruits turn to ashes upon the lips of
the miserable unfortlihates in whose
behalf it was fought and won9
Mr.. Wooten has acted properly in
defending himself, but he acted inn
properly in noticing the communities
ton addressed to him by the board,
asking authority for what he stated.
Why does not the board address let.
tiers to the thousands of other
citizens who state and have
stated that cruelty has been
practiced towards cQnyicts
There are plenty of people in this
state who can give direct evidence as
to cruelty, even to the taking of life
without provocatien. AS said, the
demand in this instance presents
itself in the nature of a plan for white
washing. Courtesy did not even re-
.quire that any notice should be taken
of the demand. If the board be really
in earnest about unearthing cruelty,
let investigation proceed with men
to be found who can prove such
charges. Mr.. Wootep repeated
what he had heard, as
thousands of others have done. We
venture to say that if competent
commission were organized to go to
various points in the state. to inquire
as to cruelty. the reports would give
volumes of evidence of it. If it be
the plan to whitewash. IS Mr..
Wooten says it is, competent inyesti-
cation dare not be instituted.