Morning journal and courier., 1885-03-25
EVERYTHING LOVELY.

The state Prison Investigation-Re-
port of the Committee-The Abuse OF
Prisoners Justiled.
The report of the State Prison committee,
who were instructed to inquire regarding al
legged abuse of prisoners at the Wethersfeld
prison, was made yesterday. 1t is as follows:
Your committee spent several days in in
vestigating the management, discipline, gov
eminent and condition of the State prison.
A number of witnesses were summoned and
examined and your committee went to the
prison and made such examination and m
quiry were called for by the resolution I'M
der which they acted. It would seem that
the institution, on the whole, is fairly man
aged, and while your committee were of the
opinion that in some particulars the manage
ment might be improved, these particulars
were comparatively uAimportant, and when
considered in connection with the many
duties devolved upon the managers
they might reasonably be deemed insignif-
cant. The discipline and government in the
main have been good but in single instance
where prisoner was employed in the war
denis kitchen, It appears that the ordinary
watchfulness and discretion were not exer-
cised and that for time the privileges and
conduct of this individual were open to I'M
favorable comment and influence by and
upon the other inmates of the institution, and
your committee are glad to be able to report
that when the attention of the managers was
called to the case immediate action was taken
to prevent repetition of such conduct on
the part of the prisoner.
In the case of Thomas Smith, who died in
October, 1882, to which the official attention
of your committee was directed, it appears
that Smith was exceedingly unmanageable
and boisterous, and that it was necessary
that rigorous measures should be resorted to
in order to secure peace and order in the
prison, and your committee find substantial
ly in accordance with the coroner's inquest,
held at the time, which was that Smith died
from commissions and that while the treat
ment of Smith was severe, it was necessary
that stringent and exemplary action should
have been taken, if the discipline and proper
control of the institution were to be regarded
as important.
In the case of Mitchell Cherest, who be-
came violent and unsafe, your committee
find that his treatment was proper, and that
while he has been thought to be insane, it is
evident that he is refractory and ugly, and
the ground of insanity, but should be
punished in accordance with his wilful and
deliberate misconduct.
In the case of John Anderson, who was for
time kept in the iron cage, it appears that
Anderson would not allow the managers to
remove him from the cage, and he having in
some manner secured a knife and other
attempt his removal, as he threatened
to stab anyone who should ap-
proach him. Under this condition of affairs
it became necessary to subdue him, which
was attempted by turning the hose on him.
AS soon as he yielded and submitted to the
authorities the punishment was discontinued
and thereupon he swooned and became in
sensible and, according to the testimony of
the chaplain, who was present at the time,
it was some fifteen or twenty minutes before
he recovered but your committee saw moth
ing in the punishment administered on the
prisoner subsequently to censure the mana
gers for.
AS to the various rumors and reports con-
corning a certain female prisoner, your com
mittee desire to say that, after thorough
and complete investigation, they were con-
WINGED that there is not, and has not been,
the slightest foundation for the charges
made.
The condition of the prison is exceedingly
bad. 1t is overcrowded and not properly
ventilated or heated; the bathing accommo-
dations are miserable. The hospital location
is unfortunate, the accommodations for Sc
curing and keeping violent and insane pris
oners are unsafe and unsuitable; the under
officers quarters are not suited to the pur-
pose and are very poor, and the shop facili-
ties and rooms are entirely inadequate.
All of which is respectfully submitted.