Morning journal and courier., 1893-05-19
THE STATE PRISON.

HARTFORD, May 18.-The directors of
the state prison held meeting at the
prison this afternoon just before the meet
ing of the legislative investigating commit
tee. The action of Acting Warden Haven
in Diminishing Matron Hall was confirmed.
General Haven appeared before the direct
ors and asked whether or not he should
pay the salaries of Warden Chamberlain,
Surgeon Fox and Chaplain Atwood, the
officials who have been granted leave of
absence during the investigation of the
charges against Chamberlain. He was In
strueted to pay the salaries as usual.
The only witness before the prison in
vestigating committee this afternoon at the
session held at the prison chapel was Dean
Francis Wayland of the Yale law school, q
member of the board Of directors of the
prison. From beginning to end the SEES
sion was an exhibition Of clever legal spar
ring between Senator Root of the invest:
eating committee and the witness. Both
being old and experienced lawyers,
the efforts of the senator to make
portancs and the efforts of Dean
of interest were very amusing The wit
ness told of his connection with the
prison and of his visits there. and what he
knew of its management. In his opinion
Warden Chamberlain was q very humane
and kindly warden. He never met q bet
ter or kinder wa den. Chamberlain he
thought always looked out for the well
fare of the prisoners and the prison, and
his management was in every respect care
full and Conscientious. Never during his
| connection with the board of directors had
the dean known of any complaints against
Chamberlain. The witness said that be
visited the prison frequently, and thought
he knew something about what was going
on there.
On closer questioning. however, he ad-
mitted that he went there about twelve
times year or about once q month. He
| then spent two or three hours in the
prison. On these occasions a meeting of
the board of directors was usually held.
No minutes Of the meeting were kept, and
| 1t was entirely informal. He had often
talked with convicts in the prison, but
| never heard any complaint from them.
About convicts dying in cells he knew bu,
little. 1t was usual to report sudden deaths
to the board, and the directors then gave q
burial permit, but no inquiry was ever
made into the cause of death when q
prisoner passed away suddenly. The
board did not think there was any need
of It, The directors had implicit con.
fdence in Warden Chamberlain and
when he said that man died suddenly Of
heart disease that satisfied them. The
witness had seen the dungeon and had
seen prisoners In confinement there. He
had seen hslf-witted, simple convict In
the dungeon. He could not remember the
names Of the convicts he had seen there
When asked whether or not he thought
that solitary confinement was suitable
punishment for prisoners when they were
believed to be shsmming sickness or in
sanity, he refused to give his opinion.
The witness talked from $50 until after
O'Clock, but he used many words to say
but little and it was the opinion at the
close of the hearing that the dean had
very cleverly avoided committing him
| self.
Connections Postmasters.
The postmaster general yesterday ap
pointed q. A. Steele postmaster at Chesh,
ire, New Haven county, and Henry Higin.
Il L L., Ill