The morning call., 1894-03-11
A NEW POSITION CREATED.
Solitary Cells for Footpads Was
Illegal.
THE RESOLUTION REsCINDED.
Prison Directors Commute Sentences
of Some Convicts Who Were
Considered Worthy.

Prison Director Neff submitted his report
as Inspector of San Quentin prison fol
February at meeting of the State Board
of Prison Commissioners yesterday. He
recommended that the Offices of usher and
lieutenant of the yard be abolished. and
instead an Office of turnkey be substituted
This was made on the ground of economy
as by the new arrangement S65 Will be
saved in salaries. The usher's duties were
to measure convicts according to the Ber-
tillion system of Identifying criminals.
and to manage the photograph gallery.
The lieutenant was an assistant to Captain
Edgar, the deputy warden. After consld-
Grafton the board decided 10 adopt this
recommendation, to take effect on April L.
The turnkey will have salary OF S125 a
month and attend TO the duties OF both
retiring officials, and in the absence OF the
captain he will preside over the yard.
1t was further recommended, as soon
as funds are available, to remodel the
laundry building in the lower yard into
quarters for demepted prisoners, who are
now compelled to remain in "crank alley,
a sunless place between two high build
ings.
Tne matter was referred to Consulting
furnish the board with an estimate of the
cost of remodeling and constructing cells
for solitary con fiDement in the laundry.
Warden Hale was instructed to purchase
two sewing-machines for the jutemill.
Director Neff stated he had made per-
sonal investigation into statement pub
lished in local paper 10 he effect that the
w arden had used his position to introduce
the opium cure into San Quentin prison.
He had interviewed prisoners and made
inquiries in various directions and arrived
al the conclusion that there was absolutely
no truth In the story, which was prompted
by spite entertained by discharged con-
Wet against the Warden.
''Oh, the board perfectly understands the
matter" remarked Director Devlin. with
which remark the subject was dropped as
not worthy of consideration.
An expert gunsmlth, named David
Brown, from San Francisco informed the
board that the Calling guns at San
Quentin were in need of notifications TO
The cartridges are about twenty years old
and cannot be duplicated, and because
shells have been refiIied repeatedly they
will moi all explode. Cartridges of the
present do not fit the guns. and cOnse-
Quently, SO Mr.. Brown said. the guns
should be rebored so as to fit in 45-car-
tridges. He offered TO make the change
for $500, but his proposition was declined.
Warden Hale announced that after con-
sulting with his attorney regarding The
resolution adopted at previous meeting,
by which coDvicts, sentenced for TO bbery
and garroting, were confined In solitary
cells and given two meals day, he was of
the opinion that the action was not in ac-
cordance with law. Attorney-General
Hart had confirmed this opinion IN a letter
which was placed on file. The resolution
was reseinded.
The warden reported that he had sent
Joseph Fair, convict from San Francisco.
to the Napa Insane Asylum. on February
%. Fair having lost his reason.
a letter from the Theosophical Society
asking permission to preach to prisoners
was read, and the directors agreed to allow
Theosophlsts every opportunity for pre-
sentiDg their theories at San Quentin.
In the afternoon appeals from prisoners