The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-11-14
THE STATE PRISON
Testimony to the Bru-
tality There.
ANOTHER EI-COHYICT TALKS OF IT.
The Superintendent Pronounced In
competent aud Cruel aud the Man
agement Bad in Every Sense.
Cumulative Evidence of the Truth
ofoharGes Which Have Never Been
Denied.

The IyrErLIGEScER has several times
had occasion to arraign the manage
ment of the state penilentiary at
Moundsville as Superintendent Van
Pelt runs it. Serious charges have
been made against him. and though he
has responded to them, he has never
said Of any one Of the specific charges,
"This ia untrue" As has been re-
marked repeatedly, it is hard to secure
the truth about such an institution.
Those who are within its walls cannot
we'll testify against the administration,
and an ex-convict's testimony is neces-
sarily to some extent discredited. But
when men who have served with good
records, to the number OF three or four,
agree, without chance TO consult, in
making grave charges, the old aGage,
""Where there is 80 much smoke there
must be some FIRE." would seem to
apply.
First Frank Adams told of the inoom-
petence and cruelty OF Superintendent
Van Pelt. This was several years ago.
A few weeks ago Capt. James H. Pine
told similar story, followed by one
quite as severe on the prison MANAGE
ment, told by an ex-convict named
Holmes. These oil agreed in general
way, though the details naturally
differed, according TO the chances those
who told tue stories had for observa.
ton while in the penitentiary.
Yesterday an lNrELLIdENcER reporter
met Francis Martin, who was discharg-
ed the day before after serving five
years, less good time. He was sent up
from Berkeley county on a charge OF
robbing car. Martin is an intelligent
man, a keen observer, with q good
memory. He was never reported once
in the i've years and three months he
served in the prison, was "trusty,"
and worked in the engine room. Once
when the engineer was sick the entire
charge OF the room developed on him
for q considerable time; so that It will
be seen that his story ia not to be light
" dismissed as born OF malice or told
for revenge.
Mr.. Martin saws Superintendent Van
Pelt sis not only incompetent, but is
brutal by nature" He quoted from his
reports and from those OF his predeces-
sors to show that all he thinks Of is
discipline" while other men in the
same position look to health, morals
and happiness Of those under their
charge. Where humane man looks
to reform the convicts, he only thinks
OF what he calls discipline.
Martin figured out his own time, and
found he should be discharged on Mon
day. The officials had him booked for
Tuesday. He wrote polite note to
Van Pelt, giving his figures and asking
II he was not right. Van Pelt sent for
him, and sitting surrounded by four
guards armed with big clubs. said
roughly:
Look here, Martin, what are you
bothering me with notes for2 haven't
cot time to waste on that kind oil bust
ness" He added that by law convict
was not entitled to credit for his first
day in prison, which, if it ia true, ia all
wrong, OF course.
Martin says Van Pelt now bucks and
gags women for very trivial onenaes.
One woman, Rose King, had weak eyes,
and she was buCked and gagged so
severely that her sight was nearly des.
troyed.
John Strothers was bucked and gag.
ced for trivial ofTense. lie was very
i'll at the time. Three days later he
died. Cases like these could be multi.
plied-but what's the use2
AS to the food now, Martin says no
Just complaint can DO made. There was
time, though, just before Van Pelts
reappointment, when it was neither
sufficient in quantity nor decent in
quality. He was then cutting down OK
penses TO make favorable impression.
It ia on record that he spent much less
in six months than had been spent in
the same period before to feed ahundred
fower prisoners. There were several re.
volts in the shops on account OF actual
hunger, and Martin says: II have seen
men with tears in their eyes pleading
for more food"
He accused Van Pelt Of changing the
rules five times week. lie seems to