The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-09-03
PETER BREEh'S PRISON,
Gov. Wiley Sends Gov. Toole Capt
Balances Report on the
Subject
Says He IL Accorded tho Same
Treatment as the Other
Prisonera
All proper and Usual Facilities Win be
Accorded Him to Prepare for
Trial.

Accorded Him to Prepare for
Gov. Toole has received . letter from
Gov. Norman b. Wiley, Of Idaho, unds
date OF AUG. 50, enclosing she following
Communication with reference TO the Inn
prisonmsnt Of Peter Breen At Wallace:
In reply to your letter of Aug. g, snclos
ing copy Of letter from his exoellsney, tn
governor of Montana, dated the 10th inst.
concerning the treatment accorded Hon
Peter Brssn, a citizen Of Montana in cor.
tinement at this place, l have the honor u
state, a. directed by Col. J. +. Curtis, Wit
10 nov absent from the city. in regard to tn
statement:
l, "He is in solitary confinement in
dungeon that il filthy and without vsntila-
tion." That he ia confined in . wooden
cell, il is not in any sense of the word
dungeon, IL il perfectly clean and is prop
erly ventilated. j.
9 mo man is permitted to see him.
Proper faeilitiss have been furnished hin
to see his attorneys, and others having
legal right to see him. Threats having
been made to rescue him. \ high board
fence was placed around the building used
as a Jail, and proper measures taken to pre-
vent unauthorized persons from having &C
cess to him md other prisoners, ~ = neoes'
sary PROBATION.
3. '.The officers refuse to return the
writs Of his arrest to the proper officers
- AA.A .As@- ~nn ko v~offtnkAH tn Olvn
him q hearing" Mr.. Breen's At
torneys have been furnished with all
proper facilities fox. communicating
with him and have done 80. No proper At
tempt was made by his attorneys to obtain
a hearing for him until last Monday. it not
being considered BY them as desirable to do
10. The matter 10 fully set forth in she en-
closed newspaper clipping taken from the
Anaconda Standard Of August -. 1897.
being . copy of a letter from the district
attorney. First judicial district, Idaho.
1. 1.-The treatment Of the prisoner is bru-
tai and inhuman." The treatment awarded
Mr.. Breen has not At any time been brutal
or inhuman. He 10 accorded the same treat
ment as accorded other prisoners under
charge of the sheriff. which is proper IN
1--WE are ready of offer bail in ample
amount for the appearance OF Bresn when
wanted" To be ready Of offer bail, to offer
efficient bail, and to give bail, are very
BILE talk has been INDUCED in concerning
the furnishing Of bail, but no proper offer
to give bail was made until yesterday.
Twenty thousand dollars was the
amount of bail fixed by the
district judge, but up to the present writ
ing his friends have been unable to procure
it. Previous proceedings on tbs subject are
set forth in the Newspaper clipping hereto
fore mentioned. Before the receipt OF your
letter, measures had been taken to have the
matter Investigated by . board of impartial
army officers, and ! enclose herewith Z copy
of that report.
The matter was also investigated by Mr..
C~rossthwaite, an agent OF the attorney
generals Office OF the United States, whs
Informed me that there was net in hi
opinion, any truth in the report of ill
treatment OF any of ths prisoners.
The county seat of this county ia at Muir
ray, the Jail there ia a very ascurs place.
but Murray 10 inaccessible and the county
prisoners are temporarily retained here ir
a frame building which was originally in
tended 80 . town oalaboose. The woodeI
cell whore Mr.. Bresn is confined is IN
doubleday more pleasant and better ven
the county jail at Murray.
All proper and usual facilities are ana
will DO accorded to him TO prepare for trial
] am, sir, very respectfully. your obedien'
servant, JOHN GREEN BALANCE,
Captain 22nd Infantry,
Asst. Judge Advocate General.
This correspondence is the result of Gov
Toole's letter to Gov. Wiley of Aug. Is. ii
which be said:
l have the honor to inform you that l an
Just in receipt of the following telegram:
"BUrTE City. Mont, Aug. IA. 1892.
"To Gov. J. K. Ioole. Az the executive
of Montana We appeal to you to sea tina
justice will be lone a Montana citizen in.
generated at Wallace. Ida.. Hon. Pete,
Breen. He 10 in solitary confinement in q
dungeon that is filthy and without ventila'
Justice will be accorded. No man is per
mitted to see him, the officers refuse to re.
turn the writs of his arrest to the prope;
officers 80 that action can be instituted Il
give him a hearing. TIL treatment Of tn,
prisoner is brutal and inhuman. We ar,
ready to offer bail in ample amount for tn
appearance of Bresn when wanted. W
appeal to your humanity as a man and t,
your duty to protect the rights belonging
to a citizen of Montana"
%{SiRned) "W. z. Deeney, president S1lye
Bow Ii AIDES and Labor assembly; G. N
Coleman, secretary Silver Bow Trades an,
Labor assembly; John Brooks, N. ". X. o
L., 1880; Frank l.. Rebsr. NJ. w. Clerk
assembly; I. Langston, president Carpau
ters' union, 112; j. j. knowlton. prssiden
WorkinRmen's union; Z. Meaney. seerstar
Workingmen'a union; w. Fl. Eddy, f. sec
rotary Miners union; Joseph Thomas
president Butte Miners union; T. Mslouil
secretary Butte Miners union; Edvar
Francis. president ~Bricklayers' and Masons
international union: John Gaeble, Il. s. d
A. SO, K. of L.; N. ONeill. M. W, 1913, X
of L.; Della Moore, M. W. L., Women
Protective union"
l have no other information on the sub
jeot, but the charges being specific / fee
Obliged TO ask you to investigate them an,
If found true to take the necessary steps t
correct the abuses complained of. How
ever grave the charges may be against tn
prisoner it is needless to inform you, Ink
ali others, the resumption of innoeenc
attends him until proven guilty. Belisvln
that you would not suffer or permit sue
conduct Rs alleged in the f regoiue teIt
gram to 20 unrsbuked il brought to you
attention. l have the honor to rsnsw Ii
request for a speedy Investigation OF til
same. and to further request that all ptopt
and usual facilities be accorded him TO Or.
pare for trial. | have the honor to be-, YOU
obedient servant, Jos. X. TooLE.
Governor of Montana.
Look at those handsome sapphires at the He
ena Jewelry Co.
Corsets, corsets. DR.. Warmers corsets in blas
and colOrs, 30 cents and upwards, 1T butcher