The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-07-22
PRISONERS COMPLAIN
They Say One OF Their Number was
Allowed to Die Without Proper
Treatment-They Make Nu-
merous Other Objections.



BUTTE, July 2i.-A few days Y a man
by the name Of Archie Kennon was ar
rested at the Blue Bird mill and taken to
the county Jail. He had exhibited signs
of insanity, but IL was thought that his
insanity was due only to excessive drink
ing. After he had been I'm the jail "a
hours il was thought that there was some
improvement in his condition. But soon
he grew worse and n physician was called
in. He prescribed some medicine and
complete quiet.
On Saturday morning Kenno was
brought before the district court and was
pronounced insane. Had the commit
ments been made out, kennon would
have beer taken to Warm Springs that
evening.
As il was he was left in the Jail over
Sunday. This morning about 2 O'Clock
Kennon began to make sounds OF distress.
About 2 go Deputy Sheriff Grifiiths was
told that there was trouble up stairs and
went up. As soon as he found out what
was the matter he opened the cells OF
two prisoners named Gilbert and Simp-
son and told them to take are of the
prisoner. They had water and what was
necessary at hand. About two hours aud
q half later the man died.
This afternoon about 2 o'clock, a let
ter was handed in at the STANDARD Office
alleging that the dead mar had not been
properly treated. This letter is published
here without any alterations or correc-
tons.
COUNTY JAIL, BUTTE. Mont, July 81, 1880.
To The Editor ~ The Standard:
DEAR sIR-we have already explained to you
the food and the treatment ~ sick prisoners, hut
there has since been n display Of cruelty and
heartlessness almost beyond belief.
There was "A man by the name Of Archie Ken
non, who was placed In this jail for being intoNi-
Gated, who died this morning between 4 and G
o'clock In a condition that would PUT the Arabs
TO shame. lie had been here for some time, and
day by day grew worse. lie was u blacksmith
by trade, and for a number Of years had resided
In Suite, and was a hard-working, honest, indus
The facts OF his death are these:
He occupied a cell all alone. This morning
about . O'Clock the prisoners heard him
s,rngsing ana groaning, as though m
for the TAILOR which was kept up for nearly an
hour; but, without Syail, they hammered upon
zane in there were curses and blaspheme on
the air horrible 10 hear, demanding. what was
wanted and why such a racket should be raised
az that time 81 hight; When they were told that
Kennon was dying they yelled back that they
guessed he would live, and that II We did not
stop that noise they would turn the hose on the
They did not go near him or try to relieve his
agonies by even as much AS "A drink Of cold
water.
lie died alone. uncared for, unlocked after.
Such "a death may be a fitted one for one who is
SO unfortunate a, Ia become an inmate Of this
place: hut We do not think so, and we do not
God deliver us from such a death.
Eis or THE COUNTY JAIL.
This letter was accompanied with an
other written In a different hand and evil
IDENTIFY prepared before the other. Here
IL is:
COUNTY JAIL, BUTTE CITY, July "a. 1850.
To the Editor ~ the standard:
The reason we appeal 10 you for assistance In
this matter Is ~ that the community nj large be
enlightened rs To the treatment OF the prisoners
Of the county iail. As We have repeatedly APP
peiled to the sheriff, but Of not avail. Now what
We complain ~ Is the food that Is served and the
treatment Of sick inmates. The first point Is this:
For the last four months there are prisoners that
have seen nothing hut mush for breakfast and
would not even change from oatmeal Ia some
kinds OF mush by request of prisoners, but the
answer that came IL we were not careful we
would not get anything but bread and water.
And we are not complaining that there is not
enough food. hut the men are disguised with il
and cannot eat IL, and 50 IL is sent back I'M
touched as fast as they bring II Ia US. Now we
only get two meals "A day and the sheriff gets one
dollar a day for our board, and | think we
should he granted The favor Of u change in the
morning. The food IL not sufficient To Keep up
u mans strength. Now In regards 10 "a sick per-
son, IL Is not a particle OF difference from the
balance, he gets the same AS IL he was not sick,
and could die before they wonld bring such food
as is becoming a sick person. Now we don't ask
up her or send any good citizen at ! o'clock a. m.
and ne can see what we say Is the truth. Hoping
you VIII oblige us with an Insertion Ia your Naln-
Sincerely Yours,
on CoUNTy JAIL.
The prisoners were evidently bent on
making their rumpus doubly sure of being
heard for besides the two letters the fol-
lowing was referred to the board Of county
commissioners. The handwriting in this
letter was either the same as or very SIM
liar to that in which the complaint regard
ing Kennon's death IL written.
The following is a faithful copy of the
petition to the county commissioners:
BUTTE CITY, Mont, july II, issD.
To John fdpIicc, Esp:
DEARS SIR We write you this letter trusting yoll
will present II Ia the board Of county commits
sioners calling their attention 10 the treatment
Of boundoyer prisoners. We have appealed Ia
sheriff lloyd, but in vain. There are d number
Of us who have been here for 90 three months
and owing to the treatment and food are weak
and sick. Cannot something be done To relieve
us?
morning, with "a cup of black cofice-no change
from this. That has been the food each morning
for 81 three months, A2oclock we are given q
pan OF soup and a piece o1 bread and a little beef
Just enough To keep us from star, alton.
Hoping You will investigate this matter and
come to our relief soon; we are
Yours respectfully
or mn COUNTY JAIL.
A reporter Of the STANDARD called upon
Deputy Sheriff Jerry Griiiiths this evening
and obtained from him the following ex-
PLANTATION Of complaints. Griiiitbs
is now doing night duty at the courthouse,
and was on last night at the time Kcnnon
became worse. To the reporter he said
~ did not at first heal the disturbance
by the prisoners, but was told by the man
who sleeps under the Jail that something
was wrong up stairs. | went up. and as
soon as | could find out what was the mat
ter | unlocked Kennon's cell door. and
also the cells of Gilbert and Simpson, and
told them to take care Of him. They had
plenty Of water there. ! did not go into
the corridor, aud would not dare 10 do so
at that time of night"
Later on the deputy sheriff said: "Why.
H. bad thought il would have done any