Morning journal and courier., 1893-04-27
EArTAInTED MEAT.

SO Says Rx.Keeper Cr1ttendeH of the
State Prison-The Same COfhn Used
for the Burial of Different Prisoners
An Insane Man Confined in q Cell
Where snow and Sleet Blows en-
Him - The Burke Shooting
Committee to all Appearances Bi.
vided - What the Witness Saw
Through a Peep Hole-Prisoners
Allowed to Remain Out all Night
The Electric Road Bill Passed with
all the Committee Amendments-
The Committee Report Unfavorably
on the States Acceptance OF the
Marrett Fund The Senate and
House..
HARTFORD, April 2s.-[Special]. Tho
interest in the state prison investigation
continues to increase, and very notice
able thing is the interest taken in the
hearings by the members of both the house
and senate. They evidently wish to know
just what the evidence is, and not wade
through long committee report later on.
At the hearing this afternoon George e.
Crittenden of Rlainville, an ex-keeper at
the prison was the witness, and he gave
some exceedingly interesting testimony as
regards the treatment of prisoners.
1t was particularly. noticeable to-day Is
well as yesterday, that Senators Jones and
Mowry, the republican members OF tho
committee were endeavoring to bring
forth all the testimony favorable to the
warden, while Senator Root and Judge
Beardsley the other members OF the COM
mittee, by skilful cross-examining en-
deavor to bring forth all the infor-
nation they can, no matter who 1t
affects. At one time during the afternoon
the members of the committee INDUCED in
a little back talk among themselves,
brought about by Senator Jones asking the
witness question and then cutting him
off before he could reply. Senators Root
and Mr.. Beardsley took exception to this
and insisted that the witness be allowed to
answer as fully as he saw fit. Senator
Jones would not allow this, saying that
Messrs. Root and Beardsley could let him
answer it later.
In reply to the various questions the
witness said: "My name is Thomas G..
Crittenden, am an ex-keeper at the prison
living at Plainville. I am a professional
nurse. I went to the states prison May
II, 1879, and was an extra until July g.,
when acted regular until April, 1890.
While was there, prisoners were punished
by being placed in dungeons on bread and
water. One man was kept there five days,
his name was Plum.
Another CAGE was one MoManus. When
he came out he was as white as death, but
whether it in ured him permanently or not
! do not know, as regards his health.
rs had to be assisted by Deputy Bsisden
when no came cut. Convict Brown was
another man confined in the solitary. He
was in poor health and was constantly ap-
plying to the doctor.
I kept diary sinca the 9th day of
March. On that day I saw Andrews
brought into the chapel nearly naked and
stood up in the corner and beaten with a
cane by the warden. He was struck sew
eral blows on the back, shoulders and
knees and knocked down, when the cane
broke.
I picked up the cane, because noticed
there was an extra large ferule on it, diff
ferent from other deputies canes. Where
the ferule Joined the cane it was as
three inches long. The ferule was cold
piece of steel or iron. I think the deputy
told me it was made by blacksmith.
Andrews stood between me and the war
den when he was being struck. The war
den threw down the cane and with some
remark told Martin to take Andrews
to the solitary. be was struck
because he had made some disturbance in
his cell. As the warden began to strike
him he made some remark to the prisoner,
but do not know what it was. I had been
up town that night, and when returned
found Mullen in the guard room. Mullen
said they had gone down after prisoner.
He was brought up and was taken into the
chapel, where the warden struck him.
Andrews had on nothing but his shirt.
After the warden struck him, he sent down
for his clothes and told him to put them
on. He was rather slow about this, and
the warden said take him down to the dur
geon and let him put his clothes on there
Mullen and had some conversation in the
guard room, and one of us said to the
other: 81 guess we had not better say
anything about this"
There was no provocation to the warden
while in the chapel to strike Andrews, and
supposed it was for something Andrews
had done in his cell. Andrews was an
idiot.
At another time Deputy Baisden, Mullen
and myself went to Andrews cell, where
he was singing, lying on his back. We
dressed him and took him to the dungeon.
He was harmless idiot. nothing ugly OF
dangerous about him. Mullen and I saw
the warden strike Andrews through peep
hole in the door between the guard room
and the chapel. Since that time I kept a
diary.
In my diary have this. under date of
March 10: s'Sumner died to-day. He has
been confined in the dungeons several
times" He was subject that looked fit
to work, and as he complained that he
could not work, he was put in the dungeon
on bread and water. saw him once or twica
when he went in and when he came out.
He was strong looking man. I do not
know what his disease was. do not know
how long he was in the hospital. He died
March l, about O'Clock in the evening.
His body was in the hospital until abou!
Q o'clock the next morning. There were
other patients in the hospital at that time.
The hospital was under the charge of
Stewart ChafEK.
Sumner, when he went into the hos
pital,. looked like healthy man, and
when he first went to the dungeon
I thought he was shamming sick. never
had any talk with the doctor about him,
nor do know what he died of. ALI of us
thought that he was shamming until the
time when I changed my mind, which
think was the last time he was in the dun
geon. noticed he looked white then. It
seems his disease was quick consumption,
but that I won't state positively. The hos
pital is locked up at night, and If any one
died at night the officials could not, to my
knowledge, be notified until the next
morning. I think the deputy is notified
when person dies In the hospital, but I
am not familiar with that part of the
prison.
The hospital ia locked up at 6 O'Clock,
and an officer would go into the hospital
to sleep about Z or O'Clock. He was put
in there more as guard than as a nurse.
hamberlain-''Kindly measure this
hole In this piece of paper and see how
large it is"
Answer-Three inches.
The witness then gave an illustration of
how two men could look through the hole
in the door.
Chamberlain Didn't you hear me tell
Andrews to put on his clothes before I
Answer-1 did not, until after you
MChamberlain-Are you sure struck him
three blowss
Answer-I am.
Chamberlain-Did I not strike him low
down and the cane struck the floor and
brokes
Answer-No Sir.
Chamberlsin-When I struck him did
you not hear him say, "touch me up,
like it; that's the way they did at Middle
town.
Answer-I did not.
hamberlsin-Would you think 1t prac-
teal to take body out after dark to the
Answar-Yes