Morning journal and courier., 1893-06-01
WARDEN CHAMBERLAIN TALKS.

Senator Root Makes Statement
The Public Hearings Ftntshed-
Judge Hammersley Confirmed-The
Quo Warranto BilIs-The Collateral
Inheritance Tax-Strong Language
Used by Representative Gunn-Ine
Senate and House.
HARTFORD, May 31.-[Specisl. l-The
special state prison committee after very
peaceful hearing this afternoon closed its
public sessions, and thus ending the IN
vestigation into abuses at the prison, AZ
least for the present. The features OF the
hearing was the zeal with which Senator
Root avoided asking questions of the wit
nesses and the cutting attack on the news
papers by General Chamberlain at the close
of the hearing. The hearing was held as
usual in the hall of the. house of represent
atives, the usual number of spectators be-
ing present. Upon the committee coming
to order Senator Root arose, and address
ing the audience, said: Before commencing
with the duties of the day desire to say
word in relation to the somewhat unseen
ly spectacle that was presented by the COM
mittee at its last session. regret my par
ticipation in it, and can only explain my
acts by attributing them to an earnest de-
sire to lay open to public inspection all
the doings of the board of directors. If 1
have shown any undue participation In
what considered to be my duty, trust
that the members of the committee will
pardon me.
Senator Jones: am somewhat surprised
and gratifed at the honorable position
taken by Senator Root. am not surprised
at the position at all. but at the position
taken to day; but 1t is perfectly proper, of
course, that he should feel zeal, we ell
have zeal in getting at the facts, aud am
sure this committee is unanimous in a
desire to obtain facts. But, as we have
had no executive sessions recently, 1t Is
necessary to have discussions, and those
discussions may seem unseemly here, but
1t Is the only opportunity we have for dis
oussions, and therefore 1t is proper to
make them at any time.
Prison Director Murphy was then called
to the stand and testified as follows:
DIRECTOR MURPHY's TESTIMONY.
I wish to make statement of q prison
case not as yet mentioned either in the
newspapers or by the witnesses. About
two years ago prominent Hartford man
came to me and asked if life prisoner
could be allowed by the directors to visit
his dying mother. I told him we could
not permit it, and the man said that he
would appeal to the governor. That is all
I know personally about it, and an eye
witness who does know what occurred will
be here presently to testify. He is Patrick
McGovern.
Characterization are the salaries of
engineers at the prison fxeds
Murphy-By the directors.
Chambezlain-Is state this because 1t has
been testified to that the salaries were fixed
by statute and implied that there had been
some rascality on my part about paying
them.
Senator Root at this point examined the
statutes, which show that an appropriation
of 81 800 had been made for two engineers.
General Chamberlain explained that this
was to pay two engineers for fixing up
some boilers.
Mr.. Root-In examining those accounts
did you find separate account showing
the bill for the meat and groceries for the
officers and one for the meat and groceries
furnished the prisonersa
Murphy-No, sir. We have only one
account and no distinction.
Mr.. Root-How does the bill furnishing
GuO O1ACclS baO1o COup pare WILL Lu6b VI tue
prisoners?
Mr.. Murphy-Why, I know of no dig
tinction.
Eugene F. Atwood was the next wit
ness. He said: reside in Wethersfeld
and have been prison chaplain little over
year. My duties are multifarious. am
obliged to devote my whole time to the
prison. The chaplain is the intellectual
and moral teacher as well as the preacher.
He conducts the night school and teaches
| various languages. One man studies Latin.
The chaplain is also Sunday school teach
or, superintendent, librarian and does much
l cell work besides.
have Bible in every cell and a list Of
| books furnished from the library. Al
| the literary work is in my hands. writ.
write.
visit the sick two OF three times a weel
| and if prisoner is very sick often.
have visited the west end about dozsr
| times
Drogeires was man of very ugly dis
position and We had to put him in the ives
end.
Smith was an idiot when ne came ther'
| and never competent to carry on a rationa
conversation. I saw him in the west enc
| four or five times. He never complained
| to me about anything. The last few timei
I saw him he was very filthy, and not I'll
subject for the hospital.
knew Jones; he was not as weak in hi
| mind IS Smith, but was case which thu
chaplain could not do much for.
I would ask him when I passed, anG
| sometimes he would not answer and some
times he would ask me to get him some to
| bacco, but he never asked me for bread.
I saw him within week of his death.
| I never had a conversation with Martir
about submitting Smith sscase to Professo
Wayland.
I did have a talk with the warden abou
Smiths getting out, and the warden sale
his time will be out before we coult
stretch the red tape out long enough t.
| get his release.
had talk in New Haven with Profes
| sor Wayland about the library. I did no
when told Professor Wayland so, he sale
that the warden knew about those natter
| and had better do as he wanted me to.
I had some talk with Martin about
finances, he speaking of how the new
engineers were to be paid, and said the
library books were bought very cheap, ani
what was paid for them the prison book
will show.
often visited the hospital, and found
| there books with Mrs. Chamberlain's name
| in, also custards and other dsinties.
Mr.. Root-Do you remember an illus
| tration in O sermon that SOHO one had
been in dark cell fifteen days9
Mr.. Atwood-No, sir.
Alderman Patrick McGovern of Hart
ford said: know of a case where pris
oner's mother was dying and wanted to SET
her son. After applying to Mr.. Murphy
| to let the prisoner see his mother, who re-
fused, I got note from Governor Bulke
| ley to General Chamberlain. I saw the
| latter and he refused to let the man 20, al
he said he might be found fault with TO,
SO doing. I got a permit from a judge Of
the superior court, and I went down with
| the prisoner and the general to see hit
mother. -
Prison Director Hewitt was recalled and
| said that he wished to make q correction
as to his knowledge of the duties of the
directors, in effect that he now remember
| ed that he had read the laws governing
| the directors, and that Professor Wayland
had often read the law aloud in directors
| meetings.
General Chamberlain was then put on the
| stand:
Mr.. Jones-What was done with fines
| collected from eacsrsa
ed on the pay roll and only the money due
the man is drawn from the bank.
Mr.. Jones-Have you ever allowed any
one to complain to you of the deputy9
Chamberlain have had men complain
of the deputy. Both the deputy and the
doctor are always complained of by prison,