The Washington times., 1894-10-31
SERVED THEIR FULL TERN.
Three Coxeyites Who Were Not Pardoned
by Coy. Brown-Ill Treatment in
Maryland Prison.

When the eighty or more survivors of
Coxey's commonweal army sentenced to
ninety days Imprisonment in the Maryland
House of Correction were pardoned by Gov
Brown last August, three of them were, for
some reason or other, omitted from the gem
eral act of amnesty.
These three men served their full terms
less ten days time earned by good behavior,
and were released on Monday.
Two of them, John O'Neil and William
Horst, called yesterday on Mr.. J. II. Ralston,
the attorney, with the idea of seeking some
legal redress for their long Imprisonment.
Mr.. Ralston was considerably surprised by
the cali, as he supposed that, under his agree
ment with Gov. Brown, all the CoXeyltes had
been released.
Shortly alter the arrest of the Coxey rem
nant at Bladensburg Mr.. RalstOn filed petit
ton for habeas corpus to secure the release
of all the men. At the request of Gov. Brown
Mr.. Raiston consented ,o The dismissal of this
petition and on his par .Uv. Brown agreed
to pardon all those then ll The house Of cor
rection who would accept pardon on condi-
ton of leaving the State oi Maryland.
In the cases of the three men who have just
been released this agreement appears 10 have
been violated. There is, however no legal
redress for the men, and their mission TO Mr..
Ralston's office proved fruitless.
The case of the third man, whose name Is
| George Hartman, is very pitiful. He is a
young man of excellent parentage. and is be-
lieved 10 have joined the army at Bladens-
burg Soon after his confinement in the
house Of correction he began TO lose his eye
sight. He failed 10 receive proper treatment
and is now totally blind. He VIII be removed
on Thursday 10 an institution in Baltimore.
His present condition is believed to be wholly
due to want Of care at the prison.
O'Neil and Horst relate some unpleasant
stories of the treatment of prisoners in the
Maryland house of correction. About a
month ago. they say n child was born 10 a
woman conUned in a cell. This woman re-
ceived no medical or other attention. An old
man who fell in fit was confined in a dark
cell. Lashings were frequent and were given
in the most brutal manner possible.
For several weeks O'Neil and Horst worked
in water up to their knees enlarging a ditch
They were not given change of clothing al
the close of their days work and were com.
| PEELED TO sleep in their wet garments, as a re-
suit of which both contracted rheumatism
No communication with the outside world
was permitted them, though the prison rules
allowed 1t. Nor were they allowed to make
complaint to the board of visitors, though
this privilege is given them by the rules of the
institution.
The prison food is bad. except the bread
Meals consist of weak soup, bread, ana black
molasses, very small portions OF meat, fre.
quently unfit TO eat and rye coffee. On days
| when the board of visitors are expected there
is a noticeable Improvement in the quality oil
the soup. special treat is provided on Fri
days in the shape of herring, boiled whole
without cleaning.
O'Neil and Horst are skilled workmen, the
former puddler and the latter 4 tanner
O'Neil came from Massillon with the original
Coxey army, while Horst joined the Frye
contingent at St. Louis. Both men are look.
ing for work here.