Morning journal and courier., 1893-04-08
AT THE STATE PRISON.

Normal school-The Senate and
House.
HARTFORD, April 7.-[special. ]-Yester
day as the ever-faithful members of the
general assembly, weary from their efforts
in passing the pool bill, toiled slowly up
Capitol hill, their hearts swelled with
gladness at the signs of gentle spring.
Men we're busy rsking the lawns, planting
shrubs and otherwise getting ready for
the flowers to bloom, while the bluebirds
and robins sang merrily in the treetops.
To day the scene had changed, and once
more the same men toiled wearily up the
slippery hill in the binding snowstorm,
ing shrubs, to-day were wrapped In ulsters
and shoveling snow, and the bluebirds and
robins were not to be seen. The gloom
of the day outside had evidently taken
possession of the spirits of the members,
and after short session of the house and
senate, they departed for their respective
homes and the bosoms of their respective
families. Not so with the new state prison
committee. They remained to do some
work, but were very careful to do 1t behind
closed doors in executive session.
The committee went into executive ses-
sion Immediately after adjournment of the
house and senate, and for over two hours
debated as to what method they would
pursue in carrying on the investigation of
the charges against Warden Chamberlain.
At $50 they adjourned and after taking
dinner at the Allyn house repaired to DR..
Jones room and continued in session until
s O'Clock. During the session the
committee had before them Mr..
George Bidwell of East Hartford,
the famous English ticket of leave man,
who spent sixteen years in English prisons
for robbing, by means of forgery, the Bank
of England of $500, 600. Mr.. Bidwell ex-
planned to the committee the manner of
treating prisoners and 90 impressed them
that Senator Jones and another member of
the committee purchased copies of Mr..
Bidwell's famous book, "Forging His
Chains, ," which they intend to study with
care. Harry Raymond of the New York
World was also before the committee and
offered suggestions as to how the investiga-
ton should be conducted. He was asked
to submit all the af6davits in the case 80
that the committee might know what is to
be testified to and the names of the wit
nesses.
Mr.. Raymond said he could not give the
Worlds af6davits without permission from
the World.
Ex-Keepsr Martin, whom Warden Cham.
berlain recently discharged, was also pres
emit and urged that the committee follow
out his ideas concerning what the investi-
cation should be, and how 1t should be
conducted.
After the executive session was over Sen
ator Jones said that they did nothing, but
Senator Root emphatically stated that while
the committee had not decided upon plan
of action yet, they had listened to the sug-
gestions of several people, but they should
not adopt any method go far suggested,
but should take some method of their own.
He also stated that the public would be
given all the facts as to their doings, but
he failed to state whether it would be as
they proceeded with the investigation, or
only when the committee report to the as
sembly.
In conversation with another member OF
the committee regarding the visit to the
state prison yesterday, he said: Immedi.
ately after We were appointed yesterday,
and without waiting for dinner, we started
for the state prison. When we arrived We
were well received by Warden Chamber
lain, and immediately started to make a
Thorough investigation of the prison, both
the new and the old parts. We made g
thorough Investigation from the top to the
bottom, and the interest displayed by
Senator Jones, was something startling.
He insisted on prying into every nook and
corner, even when the warden said ''this
room is Just like the other; do you wish te
sec it." "Open the door and let us in
| would invariably be the reply of Senate,
Jones, and this would be followed by 9
volley of questions as to what sanitary
| arrangements were carried out, about
ventilation and other important questions
We saw all the dungeons which, by the
| way, are all at least eighteen inches above
the ground, and as far as I saw they wer,
clean and dry. Of course there are NJ
beds or other furniture in them and they
are absolutely dark, but to all appearances
have not been white washed or cleaned IL
anticipation of the visit of any committee
In the hospital we found three men sitting
around table and two men in beds suf
fering from hemorrhages. These men were
| would like to tell you the facts about the
| story printed In the World to the effect
that Mr.. Mowry, member of our commit
| tee, was overcome at the sight of the
dungeons and tainted. That is false
version of the affair.
Mr.. Mowry had been Ill for some weeks
and only within day or two got up from
sick bed to come to Hartford. When
we started yesterday 1t was after hard
mornings work in the assembly, and with
empty stomachs. We urged Mr.. Mowry
not to undertake the trip, but he insisted
| on doing 80. When we reached the prison,
| we had examined it throughout, and had
at last made our way to the hospital. Mr.
Mowry made the remark that it seemed
| rather close, and I noticed that he wal
rather pale. We stepped into the corridor,
where he sat down, and DR.. Jones coming
| up put his hand on his shoulder and said
"He looks as if he felt faint, bring him a
glass of water" This was done, when
Mr.. Mowry arose and accompanied us
| during the rest Of the day. On these
| facts the Worlds story is based. So you
see newspaper yarns cannot always be re-
lied upon.
What method we shall pursue in our
investigation and whether our meetings
will be public or not, cannot now say, az
we do not know ourselves. Ex-Keeper
Martin was very anxious, and almost in
sisted that the committee pursue his meth
cd of carrying out our Investigation, which
he stated would surely lead us to his con-
illusions. This matter is a very serious
one and the good name of the state Is at
stake, so that we must not start off in any
way as prejudiced committee on either
side. The public do not understand this,
and you little know the feeling that is
growing day by day against Warden
Chamberlain; and no longer ago than yes
terday q good citizen came to me and said:
1.-THE sooner you put the warden out, the
better for ALL" None of the members of
our committee ever knew the warden be-
fore yesterday, and doubt if they even
knew him by sight. We have investi
gated the prison; we can now examine
what witnesses we can find who
have been in our state prison or who knew
the warden and his keepers before he came
here, and as far as I see now that Is about
all and on that we must base our report.
Every one who desires will have a chance
to be heard and everything will be given
to the public.
On next Tuesday the committee on ed
cation will make report IS to whether
the new state normal school shall be sit
uated at New Haven or Bridgeport
The Senate.
The senate this morning upon the motion OF
Mr.. Caffey decided to make the bill making
Storrs school a college, and giving 1t the govern
ment grant to agricultural colleges, heretofore
appropriated to Yale university, the special or
der for Thursday, April 49, at noon.
The resolution directing the insurance com
missioner to investigate the Peoples Industria]
Insurance company of Norwich was rejected, Mr..
Phelps, chairman of the committee on insurance
explaining that the commissioner would soon
begin his regular quadrennial examination Of the
The following matters were passed: Resolu
ton Incorporating the Leeds council Q. Y A: NJ,