Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1891-11-20
THE STATE PRISON SCANDALS.
The Official Investigation Shows That Mos,

The Official Investigation Shows That Mos,
of the charges Were Undoubtedly True.
BoIsE CITY, IDAHO Nov. IA, 1891.
EDITOR FREE PREss: two or three
months the air of south Idaho has been
redolent with an effluvium claimed to
arise from Irregularities and bad man.
agement at the State penitentiary.
There were dark rumors of brutal,
prize fights, degrading intemperance
and general insnbordnation. The pris-
on commission, composed of the Cover
nor, attorney general and secretary of
state, were franticaliy called on to probe
this diseased part of the body polite to
The bottom. They have compiled n
small volume of statements made under
oath by parties who claimed to have
some knowledge of the facts. The COM
mission has been hampered by not hay
ing any officer to serve process, and bv
want of power to compel attendance or
to punish for contempt. The statements
have been made in very many cases by
parties who are vitality interested in
covering up or toning down the matters
under consideration. Like most inves-
legations of this character, what the
material witnesses say is probably not
all the truth, nor is it all truth. but there
is always some truth in it.
1t appears that boxing gloves had been
in quite constant use at the prison for
perhaps dozen years. Some of the
guards and convicts had become quite
clever at boxing. On the July Sunday
in question there was puglistic en-
counter of more pronounced Importance
than usual. Two young convicts we're
matched against each other, the warden
and guards were present, and some
friends were invited from town. The
spectators pronounced it nice COM
Portable set-to, but one of the combat
ants was no match for the other and
after three rounds he threw up the
sponge. 1t being so unusually inter-
esting the State officers soon heard of it,
They held up their hands in holy hor-
ror and peremptorily ordered every
thing of the kind to cease.
Much has also been said in the papers
about drunkenness at the prison, bring
ing whisky from town, and sleeping
upon duty. Most ofthese charges were
undoubtedly true, but it is but lust 10
the warden to say that when these
facts came to his knowledge, with one
or Two exceptions, he promptly dis
charged the offenders. He seems to
have been unfortunate in having guards
forced upon him through ''influence"
who were greatly addicted to those vices.
Mr.. Mitchell, until lately a guard, and
formerly well known in Grangeville,
says of one of them now at the prison
know he took whisky there, CARRYING
1t in his pocket. The bottle fell out
and he put it under the cushion. L
took 1t out and showed it to the men.
aud who had possession of it," The
purlieus Of the town are attractive and
near at hand and guards delight in
Jollity and good companionship like
other men. Nevertheless, bringing
whisky to the prison is especially for
oldden by the law and the rules, and il
would seem that If there is any possible
place OF public trust where sobrietv and
Keen watehfulness, acute Judgment and
discipline should prevail, il is at a pris-
on. The warden has been criticised for
permitting some laxlty in these particu-
lars as well as for countenancing the
semblance of a prize fight within the
prison yard, but two members oft /
board have not thought the charges suf- /
neiently grave to Justify his removal. |
for the reasons stated above it has not |
oeen possible to get at the bottom facts |
OF many transactions there. and the So
called investigation must always remain |
N. B. w.