The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-18

Some days ago Peter Brown, negro
sailor inst released from San Quentin,
where he spent five years for killing a
shipmate, addressed a letter to Governor
Budd alleging many irregularities in the
States great criminal institution, not the
least of which was the free barter and sale
of opium. This letter, with the names of
the officials directly accused omitted, reads
as follows:
SAN FRANCISCO, May 8, 1896.
To HIS Ercetlency James H. Budd, Governor Of
the State of Cdlifornia-DEAR SIR: AS recent
inmate of the State prison at San Quentin l
desire to call your attention to a few OF the
practices INDUCED in by some OF the men in
charge. First allow me TO say that L was sent
TO San Quentin five years for killing sailor
named Brown. Had been properly defended
| would have been exonerated, as l acted
purely in self-defense. Like all convicts, L
appreciate that my word does not go for much
but just the same all that say is true.
will pass over my person al treatment, which
was harsh and cruel, from beginning to end
and get down to the facts. Prisoners without
friends at San Quentin are subjected to the
most inhuman treatment II they don't happen
TO stand IN with the guards they are forced 10
undergo the tortures of the dungeon on the
slightest provocation. Men are butehered
there for nothing. l know OF one or two men
who were killed and nothing was even said
about it. The favored prisoners are allowed TO
carry knives, Duild fires in their cells and have
all the opium they want. They did not like
me because 1 was not an American. Mr.. -
and Mr.. are respons ible for all the trouble
there. 1 do not think Warden Hale knows
anything aboutit. i think in justice to the
prisoners at San Quentin, that this thing
should be investigated. If you want my per-
sonal experience there will give it TO you.
My address is 722 Bush street. Yours respect
fully, PETER BROWN.
Prison Inspector James Wilkins now
comes forward with a statement which
corroborates in a general way the allega-
tons made by Brown. At a meeting of
the prison directors held last week Mr.
Wilkins made report, of which the fol-
lowing is part:
81 have closely questioned the best-in-
formed officials and the prisoners addicted
to the fatal habit, and from the evidence
given no one should deny for moment
that large supply of opium is constantly
on hand within the walls and easily access
sible to those who wish to use it. l might
add that the same unfortunate condition
of things has existed under all administra-
Is
acquainted with it.
strenuous efforts have been made by
the Warden and his officers of late to sup
press the traffic. Yet the fact remains
that there is still opium IN the yard, and
plenty of it at that. As a result of my
inquiry l am reluctantly forced to the
conclusion that there are employees of this
institution base enough to sell the drug to
the prisoners. When / make this asser-
ton do not wish to appear as casting a
general stigma on the reputation of the
officials at San Quentin prison. The ma
jorty believe to be honorable men, who
would scorn such rascally transaction as
heartily as any one could"
Brown. the ex-convict, in his letter to
Governor Budd, eliminated ell the harsher
| features, but TO CALL reporter he told a
horrible story of inside prison life, which,
if only true in part, will be sufficient to
land some of the very men now doing
guard duty behind the bars.
at would take whole pages to tell of the
| inhuman treatment accorded some of the
prisoners at San Quentin" said Brown,
land of my own experience there / could
tell more than you would care to publish.
Ii a man stands in with the guards he is
| secure from all harm, but woe unto him il
he offends them in any way. l was not
| liked by the keepers and suffered accord.
ingly."
Two men were killed at San Quentin
during the five years was there and moth
| ing was ever said about it. The only pun
ishment melted out to the murderers was
thirty days in the dungeon. 1 came very
| near being killed myself by cellmate, who
was prompted to do the work by one OF
the guards. 1t all came about in this way.
l haG friend from this City come and see
me, and because refused to tell what con-
versation passed between us the guard be-
came angry. He threatened and cajoled
by turns and incidentally made my situa-
ton more uncomfortable by throwing me
in the dungeon on the slightest provoca-
ton.
Finally one night my cellmate, a man
named Richardson, attacked me with a
knife, and had l not been the stronger of
the two he would have killed me. As it
was was laid up in the hospital for sew
eral weeks. For his urprovoked attack on
me Richardson was sentenced to few
days in the dungeon, while I had six
months taken off my good behavior time.
1.-The favored prisoners are allowed to
carry knives and build fires in their cells
and, In fact, do pretty much as they please.
Opium is to be had by any who has the
money to purchase, the profits being di-
yided between the guards and those who
dispose of the drug. 1 had not been in
prison week before this same fellow
Richardson offered me some of the opiu m
saying she could get all he wanted. After
that kept my eyes open, and found that
what he said was true. Opium and other
drugs may be had at San Quentin at all
times.
"All the trouble there is due to the two
men, whose names 1 have given to Gov
ernor Bud. l am sure that Warden hale
knows nothing about the rascality going
on there, though he has only to keep a
close watch and see for himself. A negro
has very little show at San Quentin. One
OF the men killed shortly after 1 entered
the prison was a negro named Jackson.
Inc murderer was given ten days in the
dungeon and there the matter ended.