Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-14
NO PEN HORROR
IsDiscOVered in the Senatorial
Committees Visit.
THEINQUIRYOFP
Conducted More as a Feeler Than
as a Finality, Yields Little.
CHATS WITH SENATORS ABOUT 1T
Milton Weston Writes a Short Letter to
Chairman Reyburn,
THEINQUIRYO OFPRISONERS
CHATS WITH SENATORS ABOUT 1T
OFFERING TO TESTIFY OF GOOD ORDER

The State Senate Appropriation Commit
tee finished the work of investigation at the
the Western Penitentiary yesterday morn
ing. and in the afternoon left for Erie in
their special car. At o'clock the commit
tee lett the Anderson Hotel and drove to
Riverside.
They assembled in the parlor, with Geo.
A Kelly, j. r. Reed and the reporters as
visitors Senator Geo. Handy Smith, who
is suffering from rheumatism, remained be-
hind, but he arrived later on, as full of jokes
as ever.
1t was the intention of the committee to
probe the charges against the prison further,
but Senator McAleer thought it wasn't
necessary for the entire committee to devote
itself to this work. He moved that SEN
ators Goblin. Reyburn and Watres examine
the prisoners who had complaints to make,
and if, in their Judgment, there was sufi-
cient evidence to show mismanagement in
any particular, the prisoners should be
brought before the committee and ques-
toned in detail. This motion was passed
without dissenting vote.
Senators Goblin and McAleer objected to
the presence of reporters at the examination,
and spirited discussion arose between the
members and the newsgatherers. The latter
claimed that the public was entitled to re-
port of the proceedings through the press.
MERELY TO TAKE SoUNDNGs.
Senator Goblin held that the object of the
present investigation was to sound the
prisoners and see if they could present
case against the management; that it was
useless to print immaterial facts that only
kept up the agitation and impaired the dis
cipIine of the prison by leading the inmates
to think that the people and the newspapers
were on their side, and they
could do about as they pleased.
Senator Gobin's opinion was indorsed
by the committee, but after some discussion
it was agr led to admit THE DISPATCH
man, on the condition that nothing should
be published bat what the subcommittee
sanctioned. With this understanding the
subcommittee retired to one of the small
buildings in the yard, and none of the Of
fcials of the prison were admitted. The
latter were kept out so that the prisoners
would feel free to testify without fear.
The balance of the committee visited the
new building. After examining the
structure, Senator McAleer thought it was
entirely too large and the funds of the State
could have been put to better use. The
others admitted that the observation was a
good one at present, but the State is grow
ing, though they hoped crime was not in
creasing. and some day the wisdom of the
undertaking would be demonstrated.
Meanwhile Senators Goblin, Rey burn and
Watres were busy questioning the prison.
ers. Hobnail Riley, McPhillany and Henry
Mayhem, of the Southside, who is serving a
term of IL years for felonlous shooting, were
examined.
he HAD TO BE PROTECTED.
Riley wouldn't testify at first, unless he
was assured that the committee would pro-
tect HIM, and his testimony would not be
published. George Handy Smith, who
came in about this time, told Riley the COM
mittee would protect him, and he had moth
ing to fear on that score.
Mayhem is somewhat of a character. He
was very nervous, and his hands trembled,
but his voice was steady enough.
Senator Reyburn spoke kindly to him,
and asked him to tell his story in his own
way. Mayhem pulled out from his inside
pocket a batch of gilt-edged paper, on
which he said he had kept a record
since his incarceration in 1882 of all the oc-
currences that he thought would show mis-
management. He then read his charges and
commented on them.
McPhillamy came in smiling, and he
bowed gracefully to the committee. George
Handy Smith, not to be outdone in polite
ness, returned the compliment, and General
Goblin gave him the military salute.
MePhillamy said he hadn't anything
further to add to the evidence against
Msharneke which he submitted to the in-
spectors at the last investigation. He had
no complaints to make against the manage
ment and said he had not been punished on
account of the investigation. He has sgrown
stout within the past few months and is
looking well. He laughed and joked with
Handy Smith, and the committee was
pleased with his appearance and demeanor.
HIS POSITIVE CONVICTION.
"I am thoroughly convinced, said Cen
eral Goblin afterward, ''that Maharneke ac-
cepted money from McPhilIamy," and Sem
ator Watres added that he looks like a man
who had told a straight story.
Riley complained that the bread was sour
and the food wes not properly cooked. He
admitted thar the quantity was sufficient,
but the quality was not up to his tastes.
The meat was too tough, but always fresh
and never tainted. McPhillamy said that
the cooking was not always what he would
like it to be, but there was enough to eat,
and be was satisfied. Mayhem claimed that
the -four was bad, and the cooks in the past
made beer out of the yeast and
this was why the bread was sour. He
couldn't say whether the cooks used the
yeast for that purpose or not. He also tes-
titled that the beds were not changed often
enough, and that once they had been used
for 20 months successively. As soon as the
warden heard of ii he had 200 thrown out,
and new ones put in.
Mayhem complained ofbeing put in the
dungeon, but in every instance he had done
something. Once be tried to escape a pistol
was found in his pocket; at another time a
razor. The pistol was given him by dis
charged teamster.
Other charges of a more or less serious ma
ture were made by Riley and MAYHEM, but
the committee couldn't see that thev were
substantiated.
Senator Reyburn developed the fact that
most of the evils complained of occurred
under the contract system, when a number
of men, practically beyond the control OF
the warden, passed in and out of the prison.
Since that time few faults with the manage
ment could be found. One charge was made
against subordinate officer that may be in
vestigated in the future.
NO NEED TO GO FARTHER
1t was the opinion of the committee that
the allegations of mismanagement were not
sustained, and the investigation had col
lansed