The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-02-01

ton.
Andrew Wheeler OF Fl Branch was ex-
amined. He had seen some punishment,
whipping and hanging up by the thumbs.
The latter method incspacitated the con-
victs for work for some time He knew
nothing of overtime work, nor whether
convicts had enough time to eat, but
had heard them complain. He drew $40
month salary and thought So was held
out for board. but never inquired into
this He saw a convict receive fifty lashes
for repeatedly refusing to work; the fell
low begged and cried. Vince er denied
having helped convicts to escape. Thomas
Eagland of Vevsy, an ex-convict, de-
scribed tho sensation of being hung up
the thumbs. He said he had tainted
twice and screamed with pain While being
thus punished. He was often so pun
ished, and on one occasion was hung up
twice in succession because Warden Pat
ten thought he was ''possuminR" He
had never been whipped. but had often
been confined in the cage. He had nearly
suffocsted in il once, and had thrown off
all his clothing.
At the afternoon session the testimony
OF ex- Convict Eaglin was resumed.
Resuming what he purport ed to be
facts as 10 classification of prisoners he
said that they were men who knew right
from wrong. If man was q man he
wOu defend his own rights il he had 10 do
it. The good men in prison were
those who never had home
outside and have no learning; were gen.
orally given some industry in the prison,
such as waiting on the guards etc. The
ones who ere imposed upon are the higher
class oil convicts. There are some convicts
among the bad class who are wiling to do
hax al ~ not
susceptible TO kind treatment are the
bad class All convicts are supposed
to be treated alike. In one particular in
stance witness was placed in the dungeon;
when locked in his face would be in front
of the bars and his wrists on the outside.
At one time he was confined
for three days and nights. An
other time he was left TO stand
all night until early in the morning. Dur
ing this ordeal he experienced much pain
and his feet iroZe. Big toe on left
foot has never had any feeling since. He
was furnished corn bread, but after that
he was not given anything TO eat After
being let out he was ordered TO work with
out his breakfast. The punishment
made him weak. At one time there came
a committee to hear complaints of con-
vicls aud that convicts could make COM
plants to the committee at the office.
He made application to Guard Applegate
to see the committee but did not see them.
Witness said that lie was not only demo-
crat. but one AZ heart. At present ne was
studying aw at Nevay, Ind.
Cross-examined by Senator Griffith
He stated he was twenty-three years
of sge and was out OF
prison something over two years.
Was sent up at the age OF eighteen. Had
an am bition to be a detective before being
convicted. Got in with a crowd of boy
burg ara, but said ne was NOT con-
yictod for the Shanks burglary. lis
had hate toward Col. Vanosdol and it was
his intention TO kill him after be had
| served his term in the penitentiary. He
changed his mind. Was an intidei prior
to his conversion to Christ. While in
prison tried to conduct himself right He
denied that he did not try to obey the rules.
He admitted that be was punished
for fighting with a convict named Kenne-
DIV. he did not think he got enough pun
ishment for that oiiense. The witness at
this point showed disposition TO demon.
| strate an air of independence, whereupon
| Senator Bingham peremptorly gave him
| to understand that he must not
! attempt to die ate to the COM
mittee its manner OF investi-
CATION should be conducted He would
| be given the same courtesy and attention
| that had been accorded to other witnesses.
Witness proceeded and said that ex-
Deputy Warden Barnes administered the
| punishment. In describing the difference
between a cage and dungeon wit
ness said that cage was used
| 10 keep birds and animals
| in, and dungeon was intended for con-
| ylcts. He classified himself a mean man,
which he considered an honor in prison.
! That class OF criminals that were edu-
Gated but had been unfortunate in life
| and were confined in prison were termed
! by the.oficers bad men. He lost twenty
| eight DAYS OF his good time. Did not feel
| that he had violated any Of the rules ex-
| cept when fighting: was discharged IN
| December two years ago. Once he was
| punished for screaming in his cell. On
! his leaving prison be went to Gin
| cinnati, where he remained I'M
ill March. Thence to Phia-
| delphia and thence to Paris. France. He
also made a tour of Scotland and dropped
| over 10 London. On his return to the
! nitsd States he settled at Philadelphia
| where he was engaged as foreman in a
| cemetery. Prior to this he male a trip to
| Savannah, Ga. His business abroad
was 10 learn experience. He commenced
the study of law last March, aud when
asked who he was under said no one. At
| this juncture Senator Boord desired that
witness ne examined as to nature of scar
he alluded in previous testimony.
IL was finally determined unneces-
cary. a recess of twenty minutes
was taken, at the conclusion of which
Senator Mcdonald stated to the committee
| in the way OF q motion that it was impera-
| tive for a number of this committee TO De
| at Indianapolis tomorrow morning and
that an adjournment be taken until Tues
dav morning next at $50 o'clock, which
passed.
Senator Loveland then referred to cor
poral punishment as inflicted at the pris-
on. The record giving the nature of pun
/ ishment inflicted upon convicts for offenses
was produced. He referred to page l05,
March %. 1887, where John Alexander a
six-year man, was. punished for disobeying
| orders and given five stripes. Other names
were about TO be cited when Senator Hol-
comb objected to going through with what
he termed nonsense. Senator Loveland
replied that the people of the state of In
diana should know what punishment had
been inflicted upon prisoners confined in
the prison.
This gave Warden Patten an opportunity
with the the permission of the committed
to make statement He said in SUBJ
stance that the statutes of Indiana pro-
vide that the warden can inflct punish