Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-04-28
mURDERERs AT LIBERTY.

A nDH II A&1S - \ 49, A~As~~
So Testifies Ex-Keeper Mullen OF the
state Prison-The warden OnJects
to the Committee Hearing Testi-
mony About the Carpenters-cnaM-
berIaf1 scandal chamberlain
Called a Coward for Bringing
woman,s Name Into the Case-The
v1edtcal Bill-The Quo Warranto
Bills Cut Down-The Senate and
House.
HARTFORD, April 25.-[special. when
the special committee on state prison
abuses met this afternoon the hall of the
house was crowded as usual, although the
number of lady visitors decreases daily.
Warden Chamberlain occupied his usual
chair at the foot of the speakers desk,
while Keeper Martin occupied one of the
desks where he could hear every
word of the testimony.
At the opening of the hearing Chairman
Jones of the committee stated that he
wished the people would all take seats, as
the committee wei tired of having spec
tators standing over the committees
shoulders and plying them with questions
to ask the witness. Albert b. Litchfeld
was the first witness of the day. He ans
wered the questions in bright, easy man
ner. and made good witness. In reply
ing to the committees questions he said:
My name is Albert 81. Litch6eld. am
fifty three years old and have always lived
in Hartford. was employed in the state
prison from October 4, 1884, until July l.,
1889. Captain Sargent was warden when
I frat went there. Sargent died in 1885,
and Mr.. Chamberlain then became the
warden. did guard duty at first; then
did ex-keeper's duty. I was discharged by
General Chamberlain; never knew what
for. Deputy Peck was my first deputy
and Fox the last.
Inever made any sworn statement in
this matter, neither have been q witness
before anybody in matter of this kind.
While was at the prison there were
two Investigations, the Kate Cobb affair
and the Mrs. Carpenter. The one
ter-warden scrape. That investigation
carried on by the warden and the prison
directors The directors at that time were
Professor Wayland, Messrs. Hewitt, Muir
ply, Belden, Newton and Bronson, and I
think Mr.. Sanford. did not testify in
that affair. There was another investiga-
ton before the directors concerning the
escape of prisoner.
The first / heard of the Carpenter case
was when I heard the warden and Mr..
Carpenter calling each other hars. The
whole of the line Of oonviets was present
at the time, and all heard it. was in the
guard room at the time.
Chamberlain-Is it the intention of the
committee to 60 into case, which, while
although was wholly innocent, was very
Fv1% tn on1 fo,, 10
ter has been thoroughly Investigated by
proper authority and myself vindicated.
should at least be accorded tho same
privileges afforded to criminal, which are
that after being tried once and acquitted,
he should not be tried for the same offence
second time.
Senator Root-Personally, I will soy
General, that was appointed by the state,
as I understand it, to Investigate the prison
system without reference to anything else.
You, General, ara not here in the position
of criminal
1t seems to me the committee were ap-
pointed to examine into this matter as az
employer would examine into the doingf
of employees. Warden, you are the EN-.
ploye Of the state, and the state has the
right to examine into your entire doingt
while at the prison, regardless of wha,
any other board or body may have done
You are not here as criminal, and the
committee have never looked upon you al
such; but We must 60 into the investiga
ton during your time thoroughly.
Chamberlain-I do not for a momen
question but what the committee are cor
| rect. I do not ask that this Carpente,
| matter be not gone into for myself, bu
for my family. I would rather be charged
| with murder, and be here as criminal
| than have this story again gone over an6
the mass of filth connected with the cas'
| published in the newspapers.
Root am agreeable to conducting any
part of this examination in private If tn,
rest of the committee consent.
| Jones-We will go on with the hearing
to-day, hearing such parts as this Carpen
ter affair in executive session.
The witness continuing, said: I hear
the general call Mr.. Carpenter q liar.
heard Mr.. Carpenter call the general
bastard. That was all heard. Mr.. Car
penter was an instructor for Massey Broth
ers in No. 6 shop. do not know wher
he Is now.
The general discharged Mrs. Carpenter
and would not let Mr.. Carpenter. 60 int
the shop. This was shortly before I wa
discharged.
I was not asked to testify at that investi
| 6otAOA Ny oAyoAos al ways ARA AC6HSC
for Mrs. Carpenter and thought her
lady.
| never had anything to do with tn
solitaries but know that German wa
| confined there. The solitaries those day
were not the dungeons. The latter wer'
| called the coolers. The man was praoti
cslly an idiot. He was in good pbysica
condition when he came there, but he con
stantly run down. He was filthy, and
| would tear off his clothes. He was con
fined in the solitary about month OF
regular raticns, and in the dungeon abou
| two days on bread and water.
The old dungeons were miserable affairs
| the new ones only saw once. 1t is al
ways will be. This German was all owe
sores caused by himself. He wss confined
there because he was too filthy to put il
| the block.
He was found dead by Hall Keeper Johr
Pond in his cell one morning in the soil
tary.
The old hospital was very small and al
this time it was crowded. The fact wal
reported to the warden and he said the
German had been reported to the governor
as insane but no commission had come te
examine him.
Chamberlain-Mr. Litohfeld, you in
tended to say, did you not, after the death
of Sargent that Deputy Powers had charge
until came, March In
Answer-Yes, sir.
Chamberlain-Within very short time
have you not said that you always though,
me very humane wardena
| Answer-I told a man never took auy
stock in you.
Witness-The warden was very distant
with his officers. He discharged some Of
| his best officers. They did not know how
to act. whether to enforce his discipline o,
| not, as they never knew how the warden
| would take it. Powers and I were dis
| charged at the same time. I knew eithe,
that Deputy Powers or the warden must
go. think the officers were treated worse
than the prisoners. He was putting on boy
officers and discharging good men.
I understand the state fixed the salary
of these men at $35 per month, and the
warden would pay men $25 and $50; this
may be all right, but don't know.
Some prisoners were accorded special
privileges. There was Webb of Norwich
eating from the warden's table and Meach,
the poor old man, confined in his cell on
regular rations.
A murderer, one Abbott, a life man who
killed Bronson at West Haven, was al.
lowed to go just where he pleased outside
the prison and in without a guard. He
was also allowed to get drunk. The ward
ems coachman, Robarch, q seven years
man, was allowed to do as he pleasd. Alb.
bott you could not drive away from prison
with club.
Dwight Steers, another life prisoner, was