Morning journal and courier., 1893-04-19
KEEPER MARTIN TEsTIFIEs

Before the special Committee On
States Prison Observation-Disclosures
Oath He Tells About Inhuman
Treatment OF Sick Prisoners-War-
den Chamberlain Present to Con-
duct His Own Case-He Admits the
Striking of Andrews, the Tsvisters
and the Cold Water - The System
Evidently at Fault - Ex-Governor
Waller an Interested Llstener-The
Senate and House.
HARTFORD, April 1s.-The interest at
the capitol to day was oentered in the first
public hearing of the special committee on
states prison investigation, which was be-
gun at o'clock in the house, and even the
electric road bill had to take back seat
for the time being.
About 200 people, among them nearly
fifty women, were present in the house at
the hour set down for the meeting. High
Sheriff Preston of Hartford, with force
of deputies, was present to preserve order.
Promptly at 2 o'clock Warden Chamber
lain came into the room and took his seat
at the foot of the speakers desk, and
moment later the members of the commit
tee filed in and took their seats. Chairman
Jones, of the committee, Immediately arose
and said: The plan of the committee In
this investigation, is not to employ coun-
sci, neither does the warden intend to.
The committee will conduct the examina-
ton and the warden may have the privi-
lege of CROSS examining the witnesses. AL
questions to be asked the witnesses by
49, = vr,vfffaYN nd
to the committee After this little speech
Elk Hall Keeper Frank J. Martin was called
to the stand, and after taking the oath, sat
down and glared at Warden Chamberlain.
Martin is rather elm young man, with
black eyes and hair, and set stern ex-
preston, and made an excellent witness.
In reply to the committees questions he
testified practically as follows: :
am twenty six years of age; have lived
in Wethersfeld since my infancy. On
August 5, 1887, first went to the state
prison as Waterman, Chamberlain appoint
ing me. I did not know the warden until
the morning was employed by him, when
I went to present my application for po-
lit. I was first appointed Waterman and
performed any duties was asked to.
January 1, 1891, I was promoted to be
hail keeper, where remained until was
suspended in March, 1898. (Martin at this
point produced letter from the warden
which informed him of his discharge)
Continuing he said: I know of nothing
that led to this except on the Monday after
the Saturday received my pay Chamber
lain called me in his Office and asked me if
intended to be disrespectful last week
when received my pay. My suspension
was for one month, and since that time
have not spoken to the warden and know
no reason why was suspended. suspect
some, though.
knew James Smith, prisoner, who
came there in April, 1892, under sen.
tence for one year. I considered him ar
cell was always dirty and I made up my
mind from his actions that he was an idiot
For some time he was confined in one Of
the light dungeons at the west end. While
there he had chronic bowel complaint
He was only washed when I was ordered tt
take him out and wash him. The doctor
visited him sometimes, but never at night
One day when We took him out to wasl
him noticed when we washed his fee
that the water was bloody, and then no
tieed a rotten sore in his foot. His eel
was in filthy condition, except whe1
cleaned, which was about once a month
He went in the dungeon In June, 1884,, ant
came out in October, when he was carrie'
out dying by two men and take'
to the hospital. When taken on
than seventy five pounds, and he die,
four or five days afterwards. There wa
only a straw tick on planks, two re,
| quilts and bucket in his dungeon. 81
had no light at night, either in his cell o
the corridor, and we never went dow
there at night. He would beg me and tn
deputy to let him out. I generally foun,
him standing up in some place in his cell
sometimes in the came place where ha,
left him. Officers Strong. Parker an
Mahon, and Keeper Horton were dow
there with me- No one ever took an
care of him but me-. told the warde
once, Smith ought to go to Middletowr
He said, we have no provision to send hiI
| there, only insane men, not idiots can h
sent.
1 When he left the cell and went to til
hospital, We buried the bedding and hi
clothes. The stencil was horrible. coul
only stand it by holding my most
Convicts Healey, Blosher and Bound WEI
with me when we cleaned out his eel
The warden was down there many timei
It was never cold while Smith was in Their.
but have seen water freezs in cup thi
winter. The only heat is from stea,
pipes in the corridor. Very often there
no steam there at all. The sore on Smith
foot was as large as half dollar, and hs
been made by nails in his shoes, carelessl
driven in the state shoe shop. had tn
care of that man under the deputy warden
The deputy warden visited his cell ever
day, so no use reporting anything to hin
The deputy warden had the steward dres
the wound. The doctor had seen hin
He saw him, perhaps, Elk or eight tint
during all the time he was down Their
He never asked me any questions. A we
man. or man in the hospital the docte
would visit, but down there /
meaning the convict in question, was co,
sidered an idiot, and not worth botherin
with. He did not eat very much and
his rations were not touched when we can
around again We took them away. If
did not eat his rations that was his lookor
not ours. Every man put in the west en-
was under the direction entirely of th
deputy warden, and no one could eve
| open the door of the dungeon without b!
order. When Smith went into the dungeo
he was merely suffering from diarrhol
but when he came out he could not spea
and WAS dying. At one time found hil
covered with maggots. When I spoke
the deputy warden about cleaning his eel
he would say what is the use; he will dirt
it up again. At this time there were onl
three or four patients in the hospita
| which will accommodate about twenty-fiv.
Warden Chamberlain-You were hs
keeper during your time in the prison9
Answer-Yes.
Were you not ordered I
keep cells clean in the west enda
Answer-No sir.
/ Characterization say I did not civ
you orders to keep all those cells in til
west end clesns
Answer-Yes sir, do.
Mr.. Martin then said in regards th
Frank Jones case:
| He (Jonesl came to the state prison o.
tober Q, 1892. He was suffering fror
} scrofula and on November 16, 1892, the da
, after Collou was found dead, Jones, wit
four others, were sent to the hospital. 3
stayed there five days and then went bac
to work, as the steward said he spit out b
pills.
He worked only half day and was the
put in his cell. He was sent out to wor
several times, but was always brougt
back to his cell doubled up. Jones ",
put on bread and water December 10, %,
and then put the date and change in m
transfer book, which used for CONVEX
fence In marking the clothes. The warde
told me to put him on bread and wat,
until he stopped his shamming; and /
was kept ON bread and water all the tin
until January, when he went down to Il
.. west end.
Thara he bod 6ua ~ CIV ounoas ~ h,ao