The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-10-30
What Became of
His Letter?
Joe Ollinger Tells a Few
Things : Another Guard
Who Quit in Disgust-Sam
Langum Says 1t Is Posi-
bic An Investigation Might
Startle the State.

One week ago this morning the
G o b began to print statements and
afftdavits about the reported cruelty of
state prison officials. Every day since
something has been added to it, and
yet corroborative testimony continues
to be as easy to find as it was a week
ago.
Warden Wolfer has been treated to
daily revelation of what is alleged
to have been going on right in his own
institution and under his own eyes
almost, and yet he was reported in
one or two papers as saying there was
no truth in the stories. He may think
the same now, but there are a whole
lot of people it seems who think other
wise Frank W. Temple is another
man who rushed into print with a
sweeping denial of the statements
made. He is a member of the board of
prison managers, and, of course.
thought he knew all about it. He may
have received a bunch by this time
that perhaps there were some things
going on at the state prison that even
the board of managers had not been
advised of. If not, let him read tomor-
thing is promised that may be even
more convincing than anything that
has yet appeared in print.
Today the o e adds to what has
already been printed a little more evil
dence. In Mr. Langum's newspaper,
| the Preston Times, appears an edi-
terial, printed elsewhere in this paper.
Mr.. Langum was prison official him
self, and he says: IF the right sort of
commission is appointed, they may find
condition of things past and present
that will startle the state
Another newspaper, the Ellsworth
CWis) Cleaner, in this week S issue con-
tains the following:
The G o D e = expose was the
subject of conversation between
the editor of the Cleaner and MIR.
j. e. Elliott, proprietor of the For
est House, but formerly of Still
water. Mr.. Elliott stated that the
charges made by the G lob e are
un0uestiOnabIy true. for ne himself
had seen Deputy Warden Lemon
knock prisoners down with clubs
and canes and otherwise brItaIIy
treat them.
There are a number of interviews
that are crowded out this morning, but
there are other days and they will all
appear sooner or later.
GLENN ADDS HIS TESTIMONY.
Harry A. Glenn writes from Brecken-
ridge to verify some of the reports. He
also says that WOlfer wOuldn allow a
letter written to the Legislature to
reach that BODY, while on the other
hand the writer was thrown into IL
dungeon. Here is the letter.
To the Editor of the st. Paul Globe.
Dear Sir: In looking the contents
of your paper | see that there is to be an
investigation in regard to the cruelty that
is practiced toward the inmates of the Still
water prison, and wish to say that the state
ment of an eX-guard in regard to the treat
ment of Convict Hahn is true in every re-
spect, only the ex-guard does not put the
affair nearly strongly as ut really was
l was an eye witness of the assault and saw
four of the officials including Deputy War
den Lemon and Guards Coliigan, Parker and
Glennon, jump onto Hahn and beat him
nearly to death. Furthermore, Convict Hahn
was not the only one that was brutally beat
en-, and togther with Lemon, there is not
more cruel man living than Colllgan. and it
will be found upon fair and impartial in
vestigation that more cruel set of peop.e
do not exist on Gods green earth than the
present officials of this prison.
If Warden WoIfer is not afraid
of an investigation, why did he n9t
make public the letter that 1 wrote
to- the present IegisIaturet Instead,
however, they put me in the dun
geOn and kept me there until 1 was
half dead, and then tried to Justify
their actions by telling me that L
had broken the rules.
to
prisoners punished, Colligan in particular
using this means of persecution. Ii the
committee that is to conduct the nvestiga
ton so desires, l and will put ind-s-
putable facts before them that will surprise
the good people of this state. If everything
is brought to light and some Of those Of
ficials do not wear the convict's stripes it will
be a marvel. You will be doing an act of
justice if you will publish these few lines,
as l can prove every word have written,
and more. Very respectfully yours,
Harry A. Glenn.
Breckenridge, Mimi. Oct 2S, 1897.
OLLINGER'S EYES OPEN.
John ollinger, of Minneapolis, an ex-
prisoner, committed by the United
States to serve a term for counterfeit
ing. tells some very interesting stories
of the prison, and he does 1t in calm,
earnest way, which convinces his hear
ers of their truth. Mr.. Ollinger Kept
his eyes open while in pr1son-and III
consequence of this ne was frequently
reported for looking around he
saw great deal of what was gong on
and perhaps more than the ot1clais
wish.
A very suspicious thing, to Mr. Oh
Hnger. is that some convicts employed
as bookkeepers in the office of the
prison have been pardoned on condi-
ton of their leaving the state He
mentions several instances of this and
affirms that an investigation will de-
velop some reason for this disposition
Continued on Fourth Page.