St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-05-06
The PRISON SOLITARY
Is the Minnesota Dungeon Be-
ing Used With Too Great
Frequency?
A Committee Now Making a
Careful Inquiry Into the
Matter.
Warden Garvin Explains His
Method Of Furnishing Re-
calcitpantS.
General Belief That Prison
Officials Will Not Be Gen.
Suped.
Special to the Globe.

Special to the Globe
SALTWATER, Mimi, May 5.-The
appointed by Gov. Merriam
to investigate into charges of alleged
brutal treatment of conyicts on the part
of prison officials, and particularly
Deputy Warden H.Lemon, arrived in
the city this morning and proceeded to
the prison, where, without unnecessary
delay. they entered upon their duties.
The investigation was thorough and i'm
partial. and will no doubt result In the
complete vindication of DeputyWarden
Lemon. The commission occupied the
governors room On the second
floor, and. after short execu-
tive session, the doors were thrown
open and the taking of testimony began.
Warden Albert Garvin was the first
witness called. and was questioned
thoroughly in relation to the mode of
infilcting punishment at the prison.
Mr.. Garvin stated that, in his opinion,
no unnecessary brutality had been re-
sorted to, and nothing of brutal and
cruel character had ever been inflicted
on the convicts. Men who were
Stubborn and DisobedIent
were punished more severely than
others. Sometimes they were kept in
the solitary four or five days at stretch,
but the men always decide for them
selves the length of their term of pun
ishment. If man is incarcerated in
the solitary in the morning and, after
few hours. decides to behave, he is in
variably let down. that is if dependence
can be placed in his word. The warden
did not believe that there was prison
in the United States where discipline
could be enforced without some means
of punishment. He never allowed his
subordinate officers to treat the prison
ers in harsh or violent manner, and if
DIT any time any of the guards
Inflicted some punishment, he
would look into the matter.
The deputy warden is given full charge
OF the cell room. and it devolves upon
him 10 see that cOnvicts are properly
treated. When convict is placed in
the solitary he is chained to the door so
that his hands are extended through
the bars, the height of his chin. He
did not believe that Mr.. Lemon resOrted
to any improper treatment of convictS
when the recent attempt at escape was
made. A convict in solitary confine-
ment is given three ounces OF bread
dav, in addition to all the water he de-
Sres. This he considered sufficient for
a healthy convict. DR.. b. j. Merrill,
Prison Physician,
was next called to the stand and testi-
fed that during the time he had been
connected with the institution no COM
plants had been made to him by con-
victs in regard 10 tho punishment in
fiicted, and as far as he knew no sick
ness or ailment had ever resulted from
a convict being chained to the cell door
for any length of time. 1t will naturally
tire a convict so suspended, but in his
opinion would not cause mental or
physical injury. He visits the solitary
daily and examines all who are
incarcerated there. If he thinks
that man cannot stand the
punishment which he receives he
orders him taken down. He considered
solitary confinement very light mode
Of punishment. James Raney was or
dered taken down by him on Feb. Is.
Raney's confinement had produced ali
of his nervous system, and
he seemed to be delirious. This was the
only case to his knowledge where any,
thing had occurred of this character.
The cell room is kept at temperature
OF IS degrees. and convicts confined in
solitary have no beds, but are obliged
10 lie down on the cement floor with
their clothes on. He had never noticed
any i'll effects from sleeping on the floor.
Men who
Complain of Sickness
are allowed to see the doctor. No men
are obliged to work when i'll. George
Tressler, one of the sO-called "crankS,''
was frequently punished by being
placed in solitary confinement. His
punishment apparently had no effect
morally, mentally or physically. He
did not consider him insane, but a
triie unbalanced. The blow inflicted
OH Douglass head by Deputy Warden
Lemon did not require medical attend
ance. Prisoners were always al
lowed to stand with their feet
square on the floor. DR.. w. II.
Pratt, who had been prison physician
under Wardens Reed, Stordock and
Randall, testified that virtually the same
manner of Furnishing conviccts was in
vogue while he was connected with the
prison. The prisoners in solitary con-
fnement were given all the bread and
water they desired. He did not think
three ounces of bread a day was suffi-
cient for convicts while enduring pun
lollEHtllb. IlO OcllONCu IlldG clidlIllllg
convict to the cell door so that his hands
were suspended would result in per-
manent bodily injury. DR.. T. G. Clark,
hospital steward from 1877 to 1879, testi-
fed that he was cOnyersant with the
mode Of punishment at the prison. He
did not believe that permanent injury
would result from being
Chained to the Door.
He stated that although three ounces
of bread day was not very much it was
sufficient for healthy mar. Edwin
Dunn, president of the board of man.
ayers, testified that no rules had been
made by the board governing punish
ment of convicts. He believed in treat
ing them humanely, and it was the de-
sire of the board to see that no i'll treat
ment occurred. He said that the board
realized, however, that the warden
must maintain discipline. even if
he did have to resort to punish
ment. He stated that he was thor
oughly conversant with the present
warden's administration of affairs at the
prison, and believed that he was doing
very we'll, and that the discipline was
John Z. Norrish was called,
and testified substantially the same as
Mr.. Dunn. Cell Guard L. w. Alexander
was next called. and stated that he had
charge of the cell room. He made sew
eral visits to the solitary during the day,
and if any of the convicts wish to be let
down to obey the calls of nature their
requests were invariably granted. They
were given one slice of bread at noon,
O nd thio was all thcv roooiuod duriuo