Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-03-15

| tucM eseaPcus OaN CONVICT 1auN OUTSIDE the
lines with overalls and o checked shirt on.
| Don't know he ever escaped. Don't remem-
Der seeing Warden McComb examining celia
| officially he might have dons 30. Have
| known of prisoners smoking opium in cells
| 1t was smuggled in, I done know how.
| Think once tslke with the Warden about
| it, and that be remarked some must have it,
that is to the hest Of my knowledge aud be-
lief; sm not positivs about it. Have seen
Fen Fisher go on guard duty while
lame and using 8 cane. Have known
! time couldn't say how many days he was
absent at any given time think l save Di-
rector Gelwieks memorandum I had made
of time the Warden was abaent. The gate
keeper, Lynch, left the srmory open twice
and uneuarded reported the sffai. to Cham
bers. One prisoner escaped between two
guard posts don't know il the guards were
punished. Cross-exanined-Wss dissppoint-
ed in not being appointed Captain of the Y ard.
was not well treated by some of the prison
authorities; knew of prisoners being pun-
ished for smoking opium. Redirect-Ten
dollars was deducted from my salary N
April, 1888, to help defray the expense OF
Captain Towle's funeral
Philip Ward sworn-Was s guard in 1888
have known prisoners TO go outside the lines
In citizens clothes, or partly thus clad. He
was asked by the Warden TO give tive-hun-
dred-dollsr bond before appointment as guard.
Was placed on duty, and some months after.
ward notified 10 writing that as / had not
hled bond l could not be retained. He
was given strong recommendation when dis
charged. Never heard of bonds being re-
Quired Of other guards. Have known Of the
srmory being lett open. Saw guard named
Teddy Burns in oxicated on duty, and an
other guard, Poly, ssleer, Was once told by
Chambers to make no more reports to him
had Just then made complaint TO him of the
kind of duties placed on me. Did not report
having ever seen guards intoxicated on their
posts. Saw guard Fisher IN iQuOr. Dln't
know how long nor for what ressoJ the War
den sbssn'ei himself from the prison. Cross
exsmiued-SuPpOse the prisoners sen out
side the guard lines were TRUSTEES. Have
nothing to SLY sgainst General McComb's
competency Don't know he was aware Of
any guard having been intoxicated on duty.
This witness was somewhat Of the mercurisl
order, and under questions put him gave
veIy rambling account Of his experiences and
observations while employed at the prison.
On redirect examination the witness said
Chambers was sometimes rather rough with
prisoners and sometimes not.
Ira Z. Allen sworn-Was in the stoneyard
lsst month when an bffray occurred among
prisoners don't know cause of it; saw three
DFlcDueIh uAiuk hucu 10 but bIloou
had conversation wish Chambers he
thought some of the men would make work
men, others would not: Chambers wanted
witness to favor two particular convicts |
said l could not well do it and did not these
men got down on me and would not obey;
reported them to Chambers his favoritism
had bad effect, and caused jealousy among
other prisoners; one of these men was en-
gagged in the quarrel Crcss-exsmined-Was
49, =.
Redirect-Have heard Chambers call prison
ers vile names; was discharged by the War.
den for incompeLency never had any other
trouble with the prisoners.
W. l.. Curtis, sworn-Wss q guard at the
prison from February to August, 1888. Have
known TRUSTEES to be allowed on the prison
ranch, beyond the guard lines where they
worked. They generally wore overslls, but
had on prison shirts to show they were con-
victs Have seen the armory doors left open
twice when prisoners were passing out and
in. From what | have seen of Chambers
about the grounds, l don't think there is a
more competent man in the State. Once he
told witness to make nc report to him. Have
seen guard Burns in liquor in the dining
room, and go on duty in that condition. Saw
Lynch under the influence Of drink. Don't
know of fsvoritism have been shown to pris-
oners. Have seen Fisher in liquor. Have
no knowledge of any incempetency on the
part of Captain or Warden. This witness
was not cross-examined.
Benz amin Chambers, sworn-Was Captain
of the Guard in 1882; was absent twice from
duty, about one month each time the first
time had fever; went to Modesto each
time was in MERGED and Tulsre COMMITTEES in
October was not then in the employ of the
prison; was, at my own request, taken from
the payroll, and told the Wsrden that did
not know as l weuid return. The charges
allege that Captain Chambers during this
period was in the employ of the State, and
absent from duty on an elsctioneering tour.
He testified that the position of Captain Of
the Guard is very important one had
faithfully discharged his duty, or tried to; COM
plants OF misconduct, when ceming through
the proper channels, have been reported
il of personal character, and not material,
they were not considered; any alleged vio-
lation OF the ruler, properly reported, is ST.
ways investigated smoking opium by the
prisoners and intoxication by the guards ia in
violation of the rules. No examination.
DR.. w. A. Grover was called-Was until
recently Resident Prison Physician, from
July, $780, to January, 1884 hsve paid some
money for political purposes have known of
several prisoners being allowed to go outside
the lines in citizens clothes have known of
TRUSTEES being allowed to sleep outside the
prison they were persons employed outside.
on the farm aud elsewhere; it was q favor,
probably granted from the beginning for SER
vices rendered.
Here the case of prisoner Paul was again
gone over. 1t will be remembered that this
Paul was youth of good family, who had
been led into committing q crime. He es.
capped from the prison, but repented his
curse and telegrsphed Warden Pockmsn to
send for him. He came back voluntarily.
and therefore was the most trusted convict in
the prison. Paul was since pardoned by the
Governor.
Witness testified that Paul was in the habit
of going cunning and shooting game for the
prison authorities Know nothing person.
ally of bis alleged shooting of cattle. When
witness came to the prison large proportion
of the prisoners were addicted to the use of
opium, but the evil had been largely over
come. He inquired into the matter, and
concluded that the drug must have been
struggled in by free men. Did not report
his su pcions to the Warden. 1t is hard to
break up the habit of opium smoking in one
addicted to it.
This witness was exceedingly loquscious,
and was several hours on the stand, without
emitting much of relevant character. A
great deal Of his testimony was stricken out.
Tn. ,r;n h.