The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-01-24
Alleged Cruelty Towards sPenitentiary
COnvfets.

The following Is Mr.. Carpenters letter
in full. Ii has been handed to the special
committee on the Investigation OF the peni-
tentiary (Nlr. Atkinson, chairman), and the
verdict OF that committee hereon will be
duly published. 1t is well to say that at one
time the Coroner OF Richmond inquired into
all the deaths OF all prisoners dying in the
jail and in the penitentiary. He still per-
forms this duty at the jail; but six or seven
years ago, in a lit OF economy, which saved
the State perhaps Sl00 per annum, the
State authorities so interpreted the law as
to dispense with his services at the pen-
tentiary. Whether or not this was wise
the special committee will be called on to
say rs the investigation advances
RICHMOND, va. January 21. 1891.
Hon. j. l.. Hurt, President pro TEN. Of the Sea
Sir,--I would suggest that the Joint committee
appointed to inyestigate the affairs of the peni-
teniiary under the management of the lale Super
inendent he inst rucled to include In their exami-
nation the medical department Of that institution
for the following reasons:
l. some time last summer one Bacciralupi.
French convict, hal made his dinner OF under
cooked blackeyed pens. He was found soon after.
wards In his cell violently Ill with cramp collie,
and was taken to the negro ward of the hospital.
The writings of the man were sure indications
OF his sufIerings. The doctor said be wts insane,
and ordered him to be bound TO an iron bedstead.
Between D and O'Clock that evening, upon IN
quiry being made OF the hospital st ward how
Bacclgalupi was getting along, that fuHciiOnary
said: =" The id old fool has caused me good
deal of bother this afternoon. and | have just
given him medicines that will quiet him. The
man went 10 sleep; no effort could wake him, and
he died before O'Clock the next morning. When
his clothes were removed his flesh was dreadfully
cut by the cords which bound him. and I'm some
places they were cut into the flesh their full Size
2. Norman Lewis (cOlOredl was i'll went to the
hospital DOCTORS
back for work. The foreman found him too i'll
for work and excused him. The next day he went
" the doctor. and again reported back for work
The foreman finding him too sick for work, sent
him TO the hospital with note to the doctor. lie
was taken Into the hospital; two days later was
taken 10 his grave.
3. One Ford, feeling III, went to the doctor
The doctor ordered " lifter," this being the very
medical term the doctor has for an emetic. Sent
back to work feeling no better; next day wen. to
the doctor again: the "llfler" was again given
and the man sent 10 work. On The third day
visited the doctor again, and the =" hitter" re-
peate1. The retchiny at this time was very
severe, and Ford said he felt something give way
inside. This man took to his he'd, and few days
later died.
4. fortune attended the Doctors call on the
10th OF the month (; was pported.for work, and
put 10 hauling Il cart like mule. ON the 18th he
3. One Daniels (coloredl, on the last Sunday in
october, lad eaten hearrlly of cheese and poti
Se 'ne qnner iSa for ihat Day Had
the hospital steward, Perrigo. The man died an
hour or two later.
q. The doctor does not insist upon his steward
attending TO bis business "a steward. lie has per-
mitted him 10 convert the hospital into wood
engraving and Photographic establishment. and
he spends most OF his time with these occupations
He Is supplied with negro servant To black his
shoes makes his bed. cooks his meals and really H.
his bOdy-scrvant, and 20 this negro servant Is en-
trusted the giving of all the medicine.
If more reasons are necessary, let any compe-
tent physician visit the shops and notice the con-
ditien of many of the men who are forced 10 work
and perform the task of well men because they
have been reported by the doctor as well and able
10 work, and the visitor would come TO the cOnclu
sion at once That the penitentiary doctor WAS
either deplorably ignorant or criminally negli-
gent.
If the poorest and most abandoned pauper that
walks your streets had died under circumstances
far less criminally suspicious than either of the
aforementioned cases AN inquest would have been
ordered and a searching inquiry instituted.
Can nothing he done 10 remedy this great evil
COnyicis are the wards of the StIIe, and such
are entitled 10 reasonable protection, and par
tlcularly when disabled by sickness and diseass.
might mention many more eases of like char
acter 90 the above, but think these are enough 10
induce your committee to make some inyostiga-
tiOn and TO apply the remedy
Very respectfully. &c, j. III. CARPENTER.