The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-03-27

One al the most difficult things 10 40
is to got IN insight into the manage
ment and condition OF prison. Those
in it naturally are not IN position to
talk, even ii they had the opportunity
and the privilege, while the attaches, OF
course, will not talk, except in an OK
IRENE case. The testimony OF an OK
convict is justly somewhat discred-
tied at the best. A guard who has been
discharged also falls under suspicion as
having motive to SANDER the super.
intendent who has removed him,
In an accumulation Of evidence, how
over, there is at least moral proof,
"Whero there is so much smoke thoro
must DO some fire." Some time ago the
INrELLIGENoER printed the sworn state
ment OF Lorenzo D. bright, discharged
convict, which made out pretty bad
state OF affairs Tor the, prison management
at MoundsVille. Superintendent Van
Pelt GOntented himself with Il general
denial, slur on Bright, and challenge
10 inspect the prison. So far as results
uEC GuACGlHeuI tIlc l'VHAtSAlbl AASHN
be inspected" as well from Wheeling
as anywhere else. OF course, the prs-
oners are under duress,
On Saturday there arrived in the city
two men who were that day released
from the prison, having served their
terms, less good time They We're
Frank Adams, printer, OF Washing
ton, d. O., and Thomas Burns. These
were two OF five who were arrested in
1883 for burglary at Rowlesburg, Pres
ton county. W. W. Shocks store there
was entered and robbed. Four OF the
men admitted their guilt and declared
Adams innocent. He saik he had been
with the men only half an hour when
they were arrested. Still, he was con-
victed with them, and served four
years three months and several days.
One OF tho five served six months and
was pardoned on the grounds OF in
sanity. Two lost ten days good time,
and will be released next week.
Adams was seen by All lNTELLIGENCER
reporter last evening, and he told some
interesting things about the prison.
The peculiar fact about his story is that
it is borne out by very peculiar doCu-
mentary evidence which he smuggled
out OF the prison in some mysterious
way, and which contains transcripts OF
the police records, dates Of punishments
inflicted and not recorded, 0s the law
requires, and statistics Of Significance
as to the finances and other features OF
the prison management.
Whatever may be said Of Adams's
record, he is very intelligent man.
He acted as librarian" at the prison,
and wrote letters fot illiterate prisoners,
ms did also Burns, who in addition has
been DR.. Bruce's hospital steward.
One of the others OF the five was book
keeper OF tho prison, and is now chip
ping clerk in one OF the Victories.
Adams was arrayed in suit OF clothes
given him, us the law requires, when
discharged. II was about as tlimsy and
poor mass OF shoddy as ever put to.
Eether, and II the state is charged over
s. so for it it is case OF extortion by
somebody.
Adams and Burns were entitled to
tickets back to Preston county. but did
not want to 60 there. Adams wanted to
go to Bellaire, Washington, Pa, West
Alexander, or Wheeling. For some
reason, he says, as Harry Lacy said
when he came out, Superintendent Van
Pelt and the other officials discourage
released convicts from coming to Wheel
ing. Tickets were given Adams and
Burns for Pittsburgh, but they stopped
here.
Adams makes general charge
against the prison management OF in
competence, Carelessness and general
looseness. lnhuman punishment is
declared to be still in vogue. Visiting
committees Of the legislature are said
to be deceived.
OF the inhuman punishments, buck
ing and gagging seems to be tho worst.
Adams says he has seen prisoners
mouths split open at tho corners by
the stick which is tied in their lips US
q gag.
The state, Adams said, provided a
place to be used as hospital. This
was over the dining room. Tho super.
intondent and his family and friends
from outside tho prison converted this
into II skating rink, md there has been
no hospital there yet.
The superintendent at one time de-
cided that no prisoner should be let out
after hours, but no was the ilrat to VIC.
late this, US hc brought mon out to
paint banners for Democratic jolllca.
ton, the work being done ut night. On
the night OF tho demonstration the
guard ordered all the conviCts on the
tier next tho street to leave their lamps
burning, and said he would report for
punishment tho first convict who put
his light out before the procession had
passed.
Tho case Of Jacob Dowutain, who
was bucked and gagged till no became
unconscious, and then removed whore
visitors could not sec him, and that OF
james Clean, who was refused permis.
sionto present his case to the legislative
investigating committee, as depicted by
Adams, seem particularly barbarous
and inhuman.
The food, Adams says, is not prop.
erly cooked nor served. In twenty-five
days no remembers OF having beans
served eighteen days, and they were
not thoroughly cooked at that.
Speaking OF the alleged school for tho
prisoners, Adams gives very funny NC-
count. The books are few and not uso.
full, and in eighteen months tho supply
OF slate pencils for over 800 convicts ag-
gtegated exactly 100. This certainly
cannot como under the head OF reckless
extravaganza. There is not geogra.
ply nor n history in the place. Adams
was asked to report as to the supply Of
Bibles, and reported 100 needed. Not
one had been bought, although tho
prisoners are eager to have them.
Newspapers taken by convicte,
Adams says, are ConilscatUd by guards.
Certain papers arc allowed to 20 in and