Arizona republican., 1890-06-01
MEXICANS ABUSED. A Complaint from the Ter
 ritorial Prison. Shut Up in a Dark Cell
 Without Trial. What is the "Rattlesnake Room 2'-- COnyicts Given Poor Food and
 ClOthing-NO Tobacco.

The Spanish-American prisoners in the territorial penitentiary are very much dissatisfied with the treatment received by them in that institution at the hands of Superintendent Behan, and have made complaint to that effect to Governor Wolfey. This plaint comes in the form of letter written to Senor Carlos F. Velasco, editor of El From teriso, of Tucson, and is in substance as follows:
 YUMA, May 17, 1890.
 DEAR SIR :--"This letter is written with the purpose of informing you of the irregularities witnessed by us in the penitentiary here. We, as residents of the town of Yuma, were invited to visit the penitentiary and, when we were inside the prison, the Superintendent gave the inmates permission to com municate with their countrymen and explain the treatment that they re- ceived in the institution. The unfOr- tunate prisoners received this permission with the utmost avidity, and they at once began to tell their several stories. They complained particularly of the bad treatment received by them, stating that Mexicans particularly were made the objects of this bad treatment.
 The food was bad, they said, and was given them in short measure. Clothing is furnished them. with the utmost scantiness, and they have frequently to wait at least six months for pair of trousers, and even when they get them the garments are in bad condition. The prisoners are not even allowed to have tobacco and, when they ask for the most necessary articles are told by the officials of the prison that the Territory owes them (the officials) money and that there is not allowed them sufficient for their necessary ex- penses. They charge. also, that the prison officials will not listen to their complaints.
 Some of the prisoners have been put at making adobes, and over these are put American bosses, notwithstanding the fact that the latter are entirely igno- rant of the trade.
 One case, that of prisoner named Manuel Barelas, was particularly shameful. This prisoner had served out his time but few days be- fore that time had expired he was taken out and put to work at the Super intendent's house. While Barelas was there, the Superintendent missed watch and suspecting the prisoner, put the man in dark cell (called the rattle snake room,"D and would give him no opportunity to see or talk to any one outside the prison. Barelas therefore implored the other prisoners to draw up petition for him to the authorities for, if he was guilty of the theft of the watch he desired to be tried in the proper manner, if he was not guilty, he wanted to be released, as he had served out his time.
 Now, we have written this to you, senor, with the hope that, as a good Mexican, you will lay the matter before the Governor of the Territory in such manner as will bring about reform of these abuses.
 [Signedl JUAN l.. NoREIGA,
 EMELIo LEIvAs,
 SANTIAGO LOPEZ,
 LoRITo PIMA.
 Action will be taken looking to the reform of the abuses complained of at once, of course, but there is very little hope that anything will be done until the new prison directors get control of affairs.