Telegram-herald., 1891-01-19

nswspoDer nepogesux 6eexed - = 49,
e~ssp - - 0ness-
George y. pnsss. Ne REV warden -
TIE s1sts Prison. vss - The Morton
House lasf evsning. lie vii nos sAAs
charge Of the prison sntsi WARDEN
Hzteh, who y nos IN Kansas, rstnfaA.
he received : telegram fEom eh'si
Clerk Avsxy, saturday, asking h1m -
take ne place nsxt THURSDAY, bal hs
wired him "a answer stating That ne
could tx no definite day when nc
weuid assume his duties Referring 70
the numerous interviews appearing IN
the state papers CONCERNING bis poiley'
he ssid: III Is wonderful how the re.
portep will catch up . disconnected
sentence or chance word, and weave
story from their Imagination, utterly
false snd masleadipg. The only pspef
to whom have granted an interview
is the IELEGRAM-HERALD,a and talked
freely to ITS reporter, because De-
heved he would treat me fairy. Inc
published interview with him MAS Iaif
and honest, and did me justice. Also
gave the Democrat hrief hearing, put
aside from these two | have refused 10
speak, and this refusal has been taken
as q license by the Detroit papers 70 say
things for me that never thought OF.
When enter upon the discharge OF my
duties, shall endeayor 10 give the
press oil the legitimate information
can" Mr.. Davis is not inclined to out
line his policy in managing the prison.
but he is free to szy that he viii insist
upon discipline calculated TO impress
the conyicts that they are in PRISON.
He is close student of human nature
and unders lands the difference between
voluntary and involuntary crime. In
speaking of Navin's pardon, he re-
marked that il was little less than an
outrage. Many fellow is IN prison
who Is there rather by accident than oy
deliberate CRIME, and it is 10 them that
clemency should be extended. Navin
was deliberate criminal--a cool,
shrewd, calculating thief, and II there
is any rgor to prison discipline ne
should have felt 1t. The fact that
man kills another may DC mitlgated by
circumstances beyond his control, and
it may be expedient to extend the par
doning hand TO one suffering under q
sentence for such crime, but Navin
was an educated criminal and War
den Davis is of the opinion that he
should pay the penalty of his wrong
doipgs.
The matter Of appointment OF deputy
warden, physician and chaplain vested
by statute in the Board of Inspectors,
will receive the earliest attention. Mr..
Davis will follow the precedents estab-
tablished and submit the names OF
those he desires appointed to the board.
All three of the present incumbents
will be displaced by new men. The
present officers are deputy warden,
+. G.. Fiiield; physician. DIR. n. IL. Will
liams; chaplain, Rev. o. X. Hickox.
The removal of the latter is not fully
decided upon, but Mr.. Davis said ut is
we'll enough to pass the Office around. !
There are plenty of good democratic
preachers who would like the place."
Mr.. Hlckox Is we'll advanced in years,
and has been chaplain of the prison for
many years. He knows ever convict
by name, and has correspondent with
the relatives of all of them. He is
deeply interested in his work among the
prisoners, and enjoys the respect and
confidence of the men to a marked de-
gree. His removal will be regretted by
all regardless of political affiliations for
public opinion is in favor of retaining
him in the position he has spent so much
of his life. But the demands of the
preachers who minister to the unterri-
fed must be heard.