The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-08-24
Political Prisoners Confined in Cells Filled
with yermin and Where Liquid Sewage
TriCkleS Through the Foundation Walls.
The Great Strike of Dock LabOrers in
London Takes a Very Critical Turn.
Thousands Of Other Workingmen Joining
Hands with Them-Mrs. Maybrick Seri-
ouSly Ill-HOrrible Deed of q Lunatic.
IRISH PRISONS.
Their Disgraceiul Sanitary Condition Ex-

Their Disgraceiul Sanitary Condition Ex-
posed i'm the House of Commons.
LONDON, Aug. 23.-In the House of Com
mons, this evening, in the debate on the
prisons vote, an attack was made upon the
treatment of the Irish political prisoners.
The case of Mr.. COnybeare having been re-
ferred to, Mr.. Balfour announced that Mr..
COnybeare was now cured, and the only
question remaining was to the origin of his
disease. McFadden, he said, was the pre-
viOus occupant of the cell. A thorough ex-
animation revealed no trace of disease in
the prison or among the prisoners At the
conclusion of the examination he con-
sented to the transfer of Mr.. Conybeare to
another Jail.
Mr.. Blame followed with an account of
his experience in Londonderry Jail. He de-
clared that the sick prisoners were never
sent to the hospital until they We're nearly
dying. He had seen prisoners arrive suffer
ing from lice. The closets were in filthy
condition. He and other prisoners had
friends of the officials. He had never COM
planned cf his treatment, because he knew
1T was useless to do so.
Mr.. Sexton violently attacked Mr.. Bal
four's allusion to McFadden.
H..
ed no insinuation.
MIR: Sexton, continuing, described the
Londonderry Jail as n pest-house, where
prisoners contracted fever and were thrust
out to die. He detailed one case of fever.
amid groans from the Parnelites, who,
crying Another MURDER" There's the as
sassin, invited Mr. Balfour to smile.
blr. Balfour said that long familiarity
with such attacks induced contempt. After
adduclng statistics to show that there was
g <.lf Tv.c In.
English prisons, he said that the humani-
tarianism of the Parnelltes was only
awakened when their friends were lmpris-
Oned.
Mr.. Sexton, complaining of personal at
tack, drew an indirect rebuke from the
chair ON both himself and Mr.. Balfour.
L. w. Russell (Unionistl, member for Iy-
rome, urged that, in order to satisfy the
public, a sanitary engineer be appointed to
inspect the prisons.
Mr.. Parnell, in the course of his speech,
contended that oakum-picking was ill-paid
work, and that an endeayor was made to
compensate even for this outlay by reduc-
ing the food supply. The result
was the permanent enfeeblement of
were half starved. They ought TO be pro-
yided ,sith plenty OF roJsuneratiyo' wvrk,
and should be better fed. All the older
prisons are in bad sanitary condition. He
udu uluiStll sttl, III Tue OiutE pdTJ Ol Nil
mainham Jail, the liquid sewage leaking
through the foundation of the walls, and
bursting into the very yard. He was con-
vinced that Derry prison required TO be en-
tTely rebuilt. Otherwise. its Objectionable
condition is irremediable. The medical Of
ticers tried to hide the fact of the existence
of fever, under the medical name of tuber-
culosis. Mr.. Balfour had been guilty of cul-
pable neglect. He was glad that Mr. Coney-
beare had been removed, but he urged the
House not to forget that the humber vic
Tins of Balfour were liable TO be stricken
at any moment, while Mr.. Balfour dis
ported himself with characteristic non
cahalance. He hoped Mr.. Balfour would
give some assurance that an engineer
would be appointed to lay the truth before
the country. Mr. Balfour would find that
his procedure would only strengthen Irish
men in their determination not to yield.
Mr.. Balfour did not compel his pet Belfast
fOrgers to clean the prison cesspOols as he
did FitzgibbOn. The Parnellites would
force this question until justice was OBJ
tanned.
The prisons vote was adOpted-1l3 to 60,
and all the other votes were agreed to.