Morning journal and courier., 1893-04-21
THE DEPUTY WARDEN TALKS.

[o TeStfheS Before the state PRISON |
Refers to the Brutal
Clubbing OF Wales DoOIittle as Fun
who Were Too Filthy
to Go to the Hospital Put I'm the
Dungeons and Fed on Bread and
Left Without a Nurse, a Light, and
A Assistance Too Far Away to be
Called If Needed-Only Noisy Insane |
Men Reported as Insane to the /
Warden, Although the Law Says |
All Insane Prisoners Shall Be Re- |
ported to the Governor.
HARTFORD, April 20,-[Special. This
aorning Senator Jones, chairman of the
tate prison committee, took an early trip
. the state prison to investigate the story
n to-day's New York paper that Warden
chamberlain was interfering with General
Ravens in his management of affairs at
he prison. Mr.. Jones, upon his return,
old your correspondent that he had q
ong talk with General Ravens, and that
General Chamberlain still occupies his
quarters at the prison, aud out of these
We cannot turn him unless we have some
good reason for 80 doing. We cannot
hang man on the strength of newspaper
stories. General Ravens told me that ev-
erything was moving along smoothly, and
that there had been no trouble with any
of the prisoners, except in the case Of
crazy man who yesterday endeavored to
assault Captain Giddings with piees of
mortar, but who was quickly subdued.
The hall of the house was crowded this
afternoon, when the time set for the second
public hearing by the prison committee
arrived. It was noticeable fact that the
number of ladies present to day was con-
siderably less than on Tuesday, while the
number of members of the house In the
audience had increased. Deputy Sheriff
McCabe called the meeting to order. and
the ever gallant Senator Jones requested
that as ladies were present, there would
be no smoking allowed. Deputy George
E. Bsisden was the witness of the day,
witness, he evidently appeared to be tell
ing the truth, and admitted several facts
which Martin had previously testified to,
which goes to show that the system
at the prison tends to be inhuman. Deputy
Baisden is a man of medium build, about
five feet ten inches in height, with yet
black eyes and hair, and made fairly
good witness. His memory, however,
failed him noticeably OF times, especially
regards the length of time the prisoners
were confined in the dungeons and hos
pital.
Warden Chamberlain was present, and
an interested listener, as was also ex-Hall
Keeper Martin who occupied a mem ber's
chair where he was noticed to add a line
here and there to his diary, and a smile
would pass over his face when he thought
Baisden's testimony was againt the warden
or con rmatory of his testimony. The com
mittee proceeded with examination in the
form of questions, based on the testimony
of Martin taken on Tuesday. Mr.. Baisden
in answer to the various questions stated
practically the following: My name Ia
George E. Baisden. I am ffty-one years
of age, and my, residence is at Wethersfsld.
have been In the prison eighteen and a
half years. I was first night Waterman
under Warden Kimball. I was then ap-
pointed overseer in January, rs; then
deputy warden July 3, 1889. Mr.. Hughes
was warden when I was appointed over
seer, and was appointed deputy warden
by Mr.. Chamberlain.
As deputy warden look after the inside
discipline of the prison. My salary Is 81,
500 and house rent, furnished by the state
I have had no conversation with Chamber
lain since yesterday morning and know
nothing about Martins testimony excep
what read in the Hartford papers. I have
had no conversation with anyone elst
about the matter since yesterday morning
Warden Chamberlain has not been withir
the prison, to my kno Wedge, since Genera
Ravens took hold Monday morning. Gen
eral Ravens wanted some men to work out
side and then had some talk with Genera
Ravens and General Chamberlain abou
that. We have had no conversation sine,
Monday about the investigation. All m,
orders since then have come through Gen
eral Ravens.
About the George Smith case wines
said: he (Snitb) acted as If he had littl
| intellect. When he came to the prison h
was strong physically. In his cell he wa
very filthy. He talked like a man of httl
education. He was put in No. 5 shop frs
for short time. There he was unable t
learn to make shoes, and go he was put t
work out in the yard. He was placed il
| the dungeon at the "west end" severa
times.
Inever kept dairy, and 80 cannot Civ
dates. Smith was put in the light sohtar
at the "west end" No. 8, think. Tn
cell had bed, two blankets and pillow
on planks three feet wide, six inches iron
the floor. There was nothing else in tn
cell but a bucket used for slol
pail. he was placed there becaus
he was 80 filthy he could no
be kept in the hall where the regular cell
are. He was we'll at the time he wa
placed in the solitary, and had the regula
rations Of other prisoners.
I don't know whether his bed wa
changed when dirty or not. It was tn
hall keepers business to see to it. Som
time after he was down there he complain
ed of diarroeha. He was visited by tn
doctor while there, and he said there wa
no chance for the man to get well, as hi
| death was only question of short time
The doctor did not say what disease b
was suffering from. He was very filth
and was three times to my knowledg
taken to the bath room and washed. W
| found one time a swelling on his foo
which was caused by nails in his shoe
This was dressed and got we'll. 1 do no
know why he was not sent to the hospital
he did not have nurse while in the cell
never was advised by the docto
to put him in the hospital. l visited hin
every day for some time after he was pu
in the dungeon; he appeared about tn
sauna at first but soon began to fail. 81
got 60 weak he could not look out for him
self and upon the order of General Cham
berlain he was removed to the hospital.
made no examination of the man ex
cept to notice that he was growing feebl
and then talked with the warden abou
him. He had no light at night.
I do not know how long he was in tn
dungeon or how long he was in the hos
pital. The doctor told me he would die
This was about two weeks before he wa
taken to the hospital. never heard hi
arm was diseased, or saw it.
It was the hallkeeper's duty to keep tn
cells clean, and I suppose he understood
his duty. I instructed the hallkeepers i,
their duties, but there were no written O
| printed rules.
Smith was never on short rations Will
4 down at the ''west end" The doctor saw
him once or twice every week, and Smitl
was never unable to feed himself. Martil
was responsible for the condition of tn
mans cell.
As a rule when I saw Smith he wa
standing up, and to the time he was re
moved to the hospital he was able to be Oh
his feet.
never reported Officer Martin for no
keeping the cell clean, although though
he might have kept it cleaner.
Smith begged to get out of his cell ono
or twice, and wanted to go home.
Chamberlain-There are other ngh
cells; did you ever have occasion to hav
them cleaned up, and report to me tina
your orders were not dones
Answer-Yes, sir; just before the chang
in hall officers.