Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1895-08-07
WILSON'S MINORITY REPORT.


day to publish Representative Wilson's |
minority report in the Chase investiga-
tion matter. Our reason for not pub
fishing the entire report At the time |
was its length. Had we known that it |
was so stronglydesired, we should have |
published it before. We have previ- |
ously endorsed it in its entirety and |
hence comment at this time is unneces- |
sary. The report is cheerfuliy publish |
ed in flu herewith:
To the Governor:
beg leave to make a separate report, diff
fering somewhat from each of the other men,
bers of the committee filed In the case of the
investigation of Seth w. Chase, warden.
j find first that the charge of immorality, in
the introduction of the warden of a known
prostitute into the penitentiary for his person
al qualification is absolutely untrue.
In the charge of having permitted corporal
punishment, by beating convicts with clubs,
large prison keys, slung shots. steel knuckles,
biilies, hands and fists, and permitting keepers
to pinion limbs of members so as to cause
great pain and permanent and serious injury,
/ find that ever since this has been peniten-
tiary there have been means and instruments
vented by the first warden, and used by every
warden more or less since that time for the in
| fiction OF punishment; that Mr.. Chase pro-
| yided himself with no new implements, but
| fell in very naturally to the methods of pun
ishment in vogue; that during his period
! as warden, several convicts have been pun
| ished severely, and the only justification i
| can find for such punishment is mat it was
such punishment as previous wardens had in
| fiicted, and the cOnvicts were incorrigibe, and
| amenable to no persuasion or less merciful
| treatment; but for punishment used in this
penitentary by every warden, each one
should be criticised for his conduct Mr.. Chase
no more than the others but it is not of that
| gravity that I, as citizen of Kansas and a
member of the committee, would ever agree
| to any of their dsmissas on that account. 1t
was the duty of legislatures during the num-
erous sessions since this has been a state, TO
have kept more diligent and vigilant eye
upon this institution, and the criticism is
more justly chargeable to the legislature of
the state than to these various wardens. And
if this investigation is productive of any good,
it is In calling the attention of the legislature
to these long existing evils of a quarter of
a century IN duration.
find that O keeper struck man with billy
il one instance-a great big burly negro, who
| was not amenable to any persuasion or rea-
soning, and who made visciOus attack upon
such keeper at time when they were alone
| in the cell-room, and where the life of the
keeper was at the mercy of the burly convict,
and that he acted in self defense.
The testimony does not disclose that any
permanent injury was ever caused to any con-
Wet in that penitentiary by the punishment
he received and that all who were so punish
ed, bad it within their means to stop such pun
ishment almost instantly by obedience to the
discipline of the institution.
concur with the other gentlemen of the
committee that Warden Chase has not been in
the habit of inducing III loud swearing in the
presence and hearing of convicts.
find that there was difficulty at the peni-
Tertiary on the 33rd of July, 1894, between the
warden and one MoDonald, resulting in an as
sault and battery by Mr. Chase upon the per-
son of Mr.. Mcdonald under what 1 deem
great provocation offered tby Mcdonald TO
Chase; that Mr. Chase resented this provoca-
ton at a time when he angered. and that
q finding commensurate with his offense
would be simply criticism of his Conduct in
that respect and not his dismissal. l find as
regards this matter that no steps were ever
taken, crminally or otherwise against him,
and from all the testimony, criticism upon
Mr.. Chase's conduct is all in my Judgment
ought to be rendered by this committee.
concur with the other gentlemen OF the
, ! committee that it has not been proven that
Warden Chase sent any letter to Gov. Level
ling for the Influencing of his conduct gov
ernor with reference to any investigation or
! charge against the warden.
l further concur with the other gentlemen
of this committee that it is not proven that
ly, or Intentionally aided or permitted to be
released from the prison, before the expira-
, ton of the legal term for which they were
2 committed, any convict whatever.
find that on the charge of payment of Off
GERS for times which they did work that in a
few instances persons who were absent were
paid for the loss of time the same as il they
had been present; but L further find that it
was in pursuance of custom as old as the in
stitution, practiced by former wardcns and
the duties of these absentee officers were per-
formed by other officers, friends of the absen-
tee without the expense of a single dollar 10
the state, and that all these officers are paid
by the year and not by the day. The one crit
} cism can suggest this i5 that the legisla-
= ture should have been more definite and ex-
, acting in determining the exact pay of officer
so as TO have left wardens in doubt as to his
measure Ot duty.
find that John 3. Greeyer did receive pay
as mine officer for period of a few months
] while performing the duties of assistant turn
} key, it being position of inferior pay. 1t ap-
, pears however, that Greever had long been in
the penitcntary, thoroughly efficient officer
and whom Mr.. Chase found there upon his en-.
try into the Office of warden, and that Chase
? continued him in the pententiary as keeper
5 and paid him the extra pay of the mine off,
:, Ger for the purpose Of haying the benefit of
g his experience and ability as an old and tried
of1ioer Of the institution; but that the state re-
: ceved his services and they were worth the
sum paid him, part of which services were
: some little duties connected with the mines
such rs letting the convict down in the mine
of MORNINGS. think. with other things, this
conduct is entitled to criticism, more for the
benefit of officers to come hereafter than for
the past conduct
1 ] find that syCrler Chase has employed
l three members of his family, one Carrie Chase
who was borne on the rolls as keeper and who
o really never performed an hour of work lie
keeper, hut was employed as cashier in his Of
: flee, an Ofiee aGd position which has been
4 maintained for many years prior te Chsse's
taking his position as warden; that other war