St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-07

MINNEAPOLIS
WHERE Do We LIVE?
In the Nineteenth Century or the Dark
Ages?
NEW TALES OF JAIL CRUELTY.
Prisoners Tell of Inhuman Treatment
and a Generally Bad State
Of Affairs.
NEW TALES OF JAIL CRUELTY

According to the story told by one of the
prisoners confined in the county Jail as to
the way things have been conducted in that
institution by Turkeys Kelley and johnson,
it seems as though an investigation by the
grand jury would not be amiss. A young
Jew named Charles Smith, who is serving
out six months sentence for larceny, is the
story-teller; and. although his tale appeared
to be rather fshy when first told,it appears to
be very nearly true after it has been 1nyestl
gated. Smith says that two weeks ago last
Saturday, while he and another prisoner were
assisting the turkeys to clean up the jail, he
was sent outside of the building alone to
empty box. After getting outside OF the
Jail he came to the conclusion there was
nothing to prevent his making his escape,
and SO he started down the street. Before
getting any distance from the Jail he was
overtaken by johnson and brought back. He
saws that the turkeys kicked him and abused
him shamefully after his recapture, and then
locked him up i'll the dungeon Tor
hours curing good W me dr5n ne
He says he suffered SO much during his stay
in the dungeon from violent pain IN his
abdomen where he had been kicked by the
turnkeys, that he attempted to end his
troubles by hanging himself with handker-
chief. He was discovered, however, and cut
down before he had effected his purpose.
His hards were then fastened together with
handouts and tied 10 the grated door. At
first his hands were fastened so that his toes
Just touched the floor, but after being in this
position until the pain nearly drove him crazy,
his hands were lowered untIl he could
sit down and in this position he passed the
second night after his recapture On the fol-
lowing morning he was turned loose In the
large room where prisoners serving short
sentences are kept, and where he is at present
confined.
THE TURNKEYs' STORY.
The turkeys admit the truth OF that part
OF Smiths story in regard to his conhnemenI
in the dungeon aud his being fastened to the
grated door, but deny that he was kicked by
them. or that he suffered for either food or
drink. They also say that if he had not at
tempted to hang himself they would not nave
only did so to prevent his trying it again.
Mark Levi a friend of Smiths, who keeps q
pawnbroker establishment at l03 First ave-
nue. south, was the first person to Whom
Smith told his story, and ne says that Smlth
has the marks on his body yet Of the Kicks
which he received from the turkeys, ana
that he is under the care of the county ply
sician Turnkey Kelley, however, says that
Smith has been ailing ever since
he was sent to the county jan; . anu
ing him for several months. In appearance
Smith is boy of about sixteen or seventeen
years of age He is quite small ana slender,
and looks as though he might be slckly. he
was indicted for snatchlng gold Watcn ana
chain from man in a crowd and PLEADED
guilty when ar1aigned in court. Owing,
however, to his youthful appearance ana MS
plea that he was in poor health ana WltnouC
either friends or money, the court gave MN
the lightest sentence possible under the cir
cumstances.
FURTHER REVELATIONS
In addition to the above story Smith told
of number of things which had happened
around the Jail since his Incarceration, when
aota CTR oJ10n nt AFFAIRS
said that the turkeys were i'll the haDlt OF
taking their favorites out and around town,
and that they would often return to the JAIL
intoxicated. He also said that it was a com
mon thing tor the prisoners TO procure ilqu od
from the outside. Another prisoner named
Ole Samuelson corroborated Smith III regard
to these matters, and said that week ago
last Wednesday he ran away, went nome aha
was captured next day ON N1collet avenue
About three or four weeks ago prisoner
called ''Dutchy'' ran away and week later
was sent back from the municipal court LOT
stealing an overcoat. When he was brought
back no punishment was given HIM and he
said that it was because they were aIralu he
WOULD EXPOSE THEM.
Dutchy is a cabinetmaker, and Smith and
Samuelson declare that he spent four or flVe
days polishing jim Sheridan's bar while ne
should have been confined i'll jail. Sheridan
was formerly a deputy sheriff, and now runs
a saloon. Young Smith said that after he
was put in the cell where he now is. one OF
the prisoners came to him one day and
asked him if he had any money:
They were going TO club together and get
something to drink He put in % cents. the
money was given to johnson, and that night
johnson slid bottle of whisky into the
prisoners cell. Johnson was. also IN the
habit of playing cards and drinking with
the prisoners in the large room upstairs One
night Frank Burnham, Aldrich.s driver.
went out to q dance at Swedish Brothers
hall. and when he came back he was drunk
and had a bottle of whisky with him.
Both johnson and Kelley deny these
statements, and say that they are nothing
hut q mack of lies.