davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

most rigorous punishment and yet
keep within the limit of the law. If
he goes beyond that point, to the eX-
tremity of using violence, striking,
beating or assaulting any of the ill
mates, he exceeds his authority and
himself becomes amenable to the laws
of the land
Has Deputy Lemon done this? If
so has Warden Wolfer sanctioned it?
Are questions, the answer to which
concerns every person in Minnesota.
The prison is a state institution for
the reformation of Wrongdoers as well
as their punishment, and the law of
common humanity should rule instead
of violence. A consideration and de-
gree of leniency consistent with good
discipline should prevail. There should
be no favorites among the convicts, nor
should there be any marked objects for
the vent of spleen and displeasure.
In the face of the accumulation of
charges made in this connection, es
pecially those from the ex-guards who
are known as respectable and truthful
members of society, the people OF Min
nesota will demand full investiga-
ton.
AS to the treatment Of persons there
is scarcely a discharged man nor an
ex-guard who has good word for
Deputy Warden Lemon. Every one of
them has something to tell. Perhaps
the story of Timothy O'Meara, backed
up by his affidavit. is the most shock
ing Mr.. O'Meara is now a special po-
lice officer in Minneapolis, but was a
guard at the prison for three years
and seven months, leaving there in
April, 1893 The following incidents re-
lated by him occurred about five years
ago. and to the truth of his statements
Of
Justice: the only regret expressed by
him is that he has remained silent SO
long.
Nels Heen was a life convict, Nor
wegian, and nearly seventy years Of
age. His mind had become impaired
by his long confinement and advanced
age, and his physical constitution was
likewise affected so that he was no
longer able to control his functienary
organs-he would wet his bed nearly
every night While nearly every other
person in the institution pitied the
poor old man, Deputy Lemon became
incensed at him, and on one morning,
at GAO o'clock, as the convicts were
about to be brought out of their cells,
the deputy noticed a repetition of the
offense. What followed can best be
told in Mr. O'Meara's own words:
"Heen'S cell was on the lowest cor
rldOr or the cell mouse anu neal liz
door. On the rise above was Guard
W. r. McCracken, and I was just be-
hind him but was in a position to see
all that happened. Ben Cayou was the
cell house sguard-poor old Ben, who
died a. year or two ago at his home
In White Bear. He was standing not
twenty feet from Lemon.
1.-THE deputy carried a heavy cane,
and three times did I see him raise
it. and three times did it fall with
crushing force on Heen's head. Then
as if that was not enough, the deputy
caught Heen by the collar and knock
+ ed his head against the iron bars Of
his cell door repeatedly. 1t was aw-
full. / felt sick at the sight and l
heard Cayou breathe a heavy sigh as
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

n the Fogu Is e and

death certificate giving the cause as
typhoid fever. That is the Gods
truth.
This was seen by myself, McCrack-
en- and Cayou, and the deputy, know
ing that we had seen it, at once got
down on us. Cayou was the first to
feel his displeasure and on some trivial
charge was suspended, after twenty
long years of service. Then it was
made so unpleasant for McCraken and
myself that we both resigned"
An inspection of the records in the
health office at Saltwater shows that
the last name in the list of deaths in
Saltwater for September, 1892, is that
of Nels H. Heen. After reciting the
name and the usual white, siXty-two
years of age, date of death, s26th, etc.
the record explains that the cause Of
death was 'typoid fever" but it does
not state the duration of the malady.
His occupation, presumably some time
previous to the occasion when the
deputy warden mauled him with the
cane, is given as a farmer and his
nativity Norway. The state prison is
frankly given as his place of death.
GUARD FoRRESTER'S STORY.
w. c. Forester, of this city, who
served as guard at the prison for near
some interesting things concerning it,
Mr.. Forester thinks that Warden
VOTERS intentions may be all right,
but that he is not aware of the alleged
eXcesses of his deputy
He tells that a convict named Charles
Hahn was so brutally maltreated in the
year 1S95-along in the summer or fall
of that year-that when he recovered
from the injuries he received, it was
~ fn T-ar hi 70 1n
asylum. Said he:
Hahn had been somewhat demented,
and one Sunday morning in coming out
of the chapel, he spit in the face of a
young lady who had come to witness
the services, or reached over to kiss
her, I couldn't tell which. He was i'm
mediately jumped on by Deputy Lem
on, Assistant Glennon and Guards Col
ligan and Parker, the latter striking
him with his cane. He was literally
thrown down flight after flight of the
stairs, four of them, to the ground
floor and was kicked all the way
was told that, as he laid on the floor, he
was struck across the forehead with
cane by Deputy Lemon, but of that
1 cannot say to my personal knowledge
[ do know, however. that he had an
ugly wound on his forehead, above his
right eye.
e'Aiy Ac1lS, liiCy Ilou " CARRY Hl1ll
to the hospital and then there was
great CONSERVATION for it was feared
that he would not live. Even Warden
Wolfer was exceedingly anxious and
visited him at the hospital several
times that day Hahn was in the hos
pital for long time before he re-
covered sufficiently to be sent to the
insane asylum. While he was in there,
convalescing, his brother called to see
M n mo 11t
The poor fellow didn't recognize me,
and I don't wonder, with that big cut
in his head
81 had an old man, a life convict,
in my gang, by the name of Lawton.
He was an inoffensive old fellow who
was getting childish, and L put him at
an easy task, knotting strings to-
gether He fell under Lemons dis
pleasure and was
LITERALLY PROSECUTED
by him; he would be yanked up for
such little things as having one side
of his coat collar turned up, or one
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

the victim carried out of the prison
corpse labeled typhoid fever be
not incompatible with good prison dis
cipline; if to dispose of unruly con-
victs by clubbing them until they are
unable to stand, or insanity results,
so as to foist them on the managers
of other state institutions be humanl-
tartan in it's conception and execution;
if the waste of public money IN the
purchase of supplies unfit for use any
where is the fit fulfillment of public
trust; then and only then, can the SER
wants of the state of Minnesota at
Saltwater come before the community
with clean hands.
The Globe today gives the mar
rative of the death of Nels Heen. 1t
gives today the story of brutal as
SAINT on Charles Hahn, another con-
Wet. 1t shows up in a light less en-
viable. almost than was that reflected
on any of his predecessors the deli
cate courtesy which Deputy Warden
Lemon shows to the convicts under
his control. 1t is but chapter of
serial story that might be written
about the prison.
Does the warden, or do the board Of
prison managers, want the G / o e to
go through the expense bills of the
state on file in the state auditors Of
flee and show what has been done
with the state money in some of the
prison shops?
Probably not.
Neither would they care to have the
Globe mention the thriftiness of cer-
tain prison officials.
Even this first chapter will stir up
the animals.
Within twenty-four hours the Re-
nublican papers will be rallying to his
defense with the charge that the
Globe has listened to the lying
mouths of ex-employes, animated by
hatred, or ex-convicts. unworthy OF
credence.
But there is a rule of evidence in
any cougt that the word Of even a
convict may be believed by the jury
when it is corroborated by credible
testimony or by cireumstantial cor
rohoration. Certainly the ex-guards
are entitled to the same, those whose
silence has not been secured by other
positions or the promise of them.
The human witnesses who have re-
cited to the G 10 b e their story of the
abuses practiced in the prison may be
disputed and denounced.
But how will Deputy Warden Lemon
explain away that mute witnessing
livid scar that marks like the brand
of Cain the mad occupant of a worse
than prison-the Rochester insane
asylum?
And when he has tried to show, per-
haps, that this scar was caused after
the prisoners removal to Rochester,
as he will, no doubt, he may tell the
people of the. state. how it is that
whenever any one refers to typhoid
fever" in his hearing at the prison the
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

spite of the fact that across the fore
head of the moody and untalkative
prisoner is a scar that looks as. though
it must have resulted from a severe
injury, some insist that his head never
was hurt.
On file in the office of the probate
judge of Washington county at Still
water are the papers in the case of
Hahn, who was committed Dec. Z, 1895.
One of these termed report of the
jury" corresponding to what, on some
legal forms, is denOminated the "queS-
tions and answers" The report is sign
ed by the jury, consisting of the pro-
bate judge, E. G. Butts, recently de-
ceased, and Drs. w. H. Pratt and 3.
J. Merrill, of Saltwater. DR.. Pratt is
now city health officer and practicing
physician, while DR.. Merrill is prison
physician, as he was then. Referring
to Hahn's insanity, the report gives
the following queries and replies.
among others. These, be it understood,
are the answers of the jury, from all
the evidence, not from the testimony
of the patient alone.
Us this the first attack" Yes"
when were the first symptoms Of
this attack manifested and in what
way?" Three months ago by refusing
to talk"
"Does the disease appear to be in
creasing, decreasing or stationary"
Stationary"
rs the disease variable and are there
rational intervals?" mo"
"On what subject or in what way Is
arrangement now manifested?" (State
fully Refusing to speak or obey when
he is spoken to-
HAS the patient shown any DISPOSE
ton to injure others?" yes"
HAS suicide ever been attempted?'
mo"
In spite of the fact that the follow
ing question is coupled in the blank
directly with the one just preceding,
the report goes on with the following
complication which would be amusing
If it were not an incident of what ap
pears to have been brutal tragedy.
rs the propensity now active?"
"Yes'
The Jurors had just reported that
there was no effort at suicide, so that
it must be the propensity not to COM
nit suicide that was in action, just as
1t is in a great many minds supposed
to be for the most part sane.
Then the. report continues:
HAS the patient ever suffered from
epilepsy or. convulsions, etc, or ever
had any injury of the head?" mo"
The tell tale scar across the forehead
of the Rochester patient and the state
ments of the attaches of the prison
who say they saw Hahn both during
the assault and afterwards, makes this
answer peculiarly interesting.
HAHN SEEN AT ROCHESTER.
DR.. Merrill is the prison physician
and Dr.. Pratt formerly occupied that
position.
At the Rochester asylum, Hahn drags
out weary existence, apparently dead
TO all sense of feeling. He sits the
Iivelong day, bowed over and with half
closed eyes, never stirring from morn
ing It'll night except when conducted
about by an attendant. He never
Continued ON Eighth Page.
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

he could trust, go into the solitary
with him, to witness his actions. The
appearance of the unlucky convict q
few days later, covered with bruises
and welts, told the story, however.
"a convict doesn't get any oppor-
tunity to air his woes and the outside
public has no idea of what goes on In
side the walls. Last winter there was
a junketing party visited the prison
and Senator Wyman made little
speech to the convicts, saying he
would talk to any of them who wished
to speak to him. A convict, Thomas
Fleury, arose to his feet and demand
ed an. investigation of his. case. He
was hustled out and taken to the soli-
tary. and reduced to the third or low
est grade, and kept degraded for
months, as punishment for his pre-
sumption"
HAHN'S COMMITMENT.
Hahn, as already stated, is now an
inmate Of Rochester asylum and in
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

1t is a long time since there was
shaking-up at the state prison at Still
water; too long, in fact, if the informa-
ton received by the G O b is as true
as it appears to be.
1t is nearly decade since the state
of Minnesota was startled by in
famous revelations from behind those
tightly barred walls, which caused an
almost complete turning over of the
then regime, and the delivery of the
institution to men who were looked to
to manage it right.
Have they done so?
If to beat an infirm old man over
the head with a heavy cane and see
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

cuffs slipped on his wrists on the out
side. He is kept standing there all
day, while the other inmates are at
work in the shops. and at night he
reposes on the soft side of a board
laid on the hard stone fioor-all the
furniture in the apartment. To sus-
tain life, he is given a crust of bread
and pan of water. A few days ex-
perience amid those comfortless sur
roundings is sufficient to break the
strongest will.
The guards report all offenses to the
deputy warden, who holds court daily,
and sentences the offenders. 1t will
thus be seen that if any of the guards
or other officials "have it in for a
man." they have the power to mako
his prison life one long, hideous night
mare. 1t is equally apparent that if
the deputy warden wishes, he can sub
ject the unfortunate convict to the
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

button of his coat unbuttoned. One
day he told me that he could stand it
no longer; that he would take his own
life. The next day he jumped off the
highest gallery of the cell house to
the stone tagging of the floor below
and was killed instantly.
Last spring a convict named John
Reed was reported by. his guard,
named Stilkey, for talking and was
sent to the deputy warden. On COM
ing back to the shop he walked up to
Stilkey and asked il he was the onewho
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

out to, the inmates Of the three grades
makes one Of the strongest induce
ments for the eonvicts to seek promo
ton. For example,, a sample days
bill of fare is given:
Breakfast-First grade, hash, pick
les,- syrup, bread, 5coffees second grade,
the same; third grade, hash, bread,
coffee.
Dinner-First grade, Deef, soup, pick
les, bread; second grade beef, soup,
bread; third grade,E the same.
Supper-First and second grades,
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

he turned away; it was too much for
Ben and he became so i'll he went out
to his home the same day.
after Lemon let go of Heen's collar
the convict fell to the stone tagging
and didn't move. The deputy hastily
bundled him into his cell until after
the other convicts had been marched
out to the shops, and then had him
removed to the hospital. Heen
DIED TWO DAYS LATER,
and the prison physician made out his
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

STATE OF MINNESOTA, COUNTY OF IIENNEPIN-ss
ONeaa doth depose and
months
H
o infct
cell
edy
assault Wholly cause
andG w. r McCracken
SOL ~ q
NN"'0
Public, Hennepn County, Minnesota
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

had reported him. Stilkey answered
yes, and Reed slapped his face. OF
course, the convict then got what he
deserved; he was overpowered and put
in the solitary. He was a sad look
ing sight when he came out several
days later; his head was covered with
bruises and contusions and two
fingers of his left hand were broken.
1.-The deputy was very clever in his
administering of punishment, for he
never let any of the guards except one
or two particular ones, whom he knew
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23
BULLETIN OF
THE ST. PFUI~ GLOBE
SATURDAY, OCT. 2s, 1897.
Weather for Today
Fair and Warmer.

PAGE 1.
Cruelty at the State Prison.
View of the Penitentiary.
PAGE =.
Charter Commission Adopts Rules.
Senator Davis Talks of Cuba.
PAGE 3.
Minneapolis Matters.
Sensational Shooting Affair.
Wilkinson Trial Grows Warm.
Reply of Sagasta Approved.
Details of Silver Negotiations.
PAGE f. ......-..,,
EDITORIAL.
Rank of Minnesota Matters.
New York MayoraIty- Campaign.
PAGE ..
Slash in western League Salaries.
Tests of Football Teams Today.
Days Sporting Events.
Cleveland Talks of SeIf-Made Men.
PAGE @.
Bar Silver, So E-4c.
Cnsh wheat in Chicago, 93 1-Sc.
Narrow Changes in Stocks.
worlds Markets Reviewed.
PAGE z.
ViIIace of Carver Wants n Depot.
Railway Gossip.
Weekly Commercial Reviews.
Lowering Court Martial Begun.
Arrnignment in Auditor Cases.
News of the Northwest.
Wants of the People.
PAGE s.
Damage Suits Against Railways
News of the Courts.
Naturalization of Foreigners.
CruelA at State Prison (ContinueO'
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

A Missouri boy put stick of dyna
mite in his pocket and tumbled down
flight of stairs. His funeral was more
largely attended by other people than
by himself.
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

Grover Cleveland's address at Prince
ton yesterday was on The Self Made
Man" Mr.. Cleveland knows how to
talk on this subject, as he is one of that
kind of men himself.
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

Tipping is reprehensible. A customer
gave a New York barber an extra
nickel the other day, and as soon as he
had gone out the proprietors Of the
shop fought over it, broke up all their
furnitr&e, blacked each others eyes and
were arrested, one of them being. held
tn 1000 for felonious assault.
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

Now that it is settled that Tracy will
run No. in the Greater New York
contest, and Mckinley has Endorsed
Tracy, what is the status of Mckinley
in the metropolis of the Empire COM
mOnWealth?
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

Insolence to fellow prisoner.
Inattentive in line.
Inattentive at work.
Inattentive in school
Looking about the shop
Laughing and fooling.
Loud talk in cell.
Loud reading in cell.
Malicious mischief.
Neglect of study.
Not out of bed promptly
Not at door for count.
Not wearing outside shirt
Not promptly out of cell when brake is
drawn.
Out of place in shop or line.
Profanity.
Quarreling.
Refusal to obey.
Sinking.
Splitting upon the floor.
Staring at visitors
Stealing.
Trading.
Talking in chapel.
Talking in line.
Talking in school.
Talking at work.
Talking from cell to cell.
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23
MOVEMENT OF STEAMSHIPS.

oTTEENSTOWN-Ar Indiana, mia MIA
deIphia for Liverpool; Campanla' NE" io- ~
for Liverpool.
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

The silver question isn't the only one
that is settling itself, A funeral is fol-
lowing each prize fight with such regu-
larity that ere long but few men will
dare enter the ring.
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

Arizona is also something of a rec
ord breaker. The first oranges Of the
season have been ripened in the Salt
Tivpr valley of that state at least two
mcRths ahead of the California crop.
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

The gold reserve has crept up to over
$3.50 900, 900 again, but the available cash
balance continues to go the other way
under the blighting influence of the
Dingley law.
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23
Talking in corridor.
Throwing away food.
Utio 1o,,01Io
USE OF THE SOLITARY

For the more fragrant of these, the
misguided convict is also punished by
confinement in the Solitary" an in
stitution which, needless to say, is
the horror Of prison life. Thrust in a
small cell, he is handcuffed to the
grating of the door, his hands being
thrust between the bars at about the
heighth of his head, ard the hand
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

One man has been found in North
Dakota who would not accept q fed
eraI office. He could not have done a
thing which would have caused him to
be more talked about.
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

One thing is certain-the Dingley act
will have to begin working twenty
four hours a day or quit working alto
gether.
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

Four hundred snakes got loose in an
Ohio crowd the other day. The reptiles
instead of the crowd had the delirium
tremenS.
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

John Y. McKane doesn't care how the
Greater New York election goes so long
as it does not go for Gleason.
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23
EVENTS TODAY.

Met-Never Again, 2.3O, s.I5.
Grand-BOy Wanted, 2.3o, SID
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

Richard Croker has earned one new
title in the big New York fight. Henry
George calls him the Earl OF New YORK.
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

Even the enthusiastic makers Of the
chainless bicycle admit that you callo'
play golf with it.
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

Now if we only had a Yerkes tele-
scope to turn on some OF st. Pauls po-
Htical stars"
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

We respectfully reserve our opinion
of the chainless bicycle until the chalh-
less dog races it around the block.
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

The least thankful old party at
Tbanlxsgiving time is the Thanksgiving
gobbler
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

What has become of Edward Ad-
dicks, Davis R. Waite, Danas cat ana
the Cripple Creek gold craze?
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

. Don't overlook the fact, however, Bis
marck, that the Monroe doctrine VIII
outlive you many, many years.
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

Deputy Warden Lem
On'S Temper.
Reported Use Of His
Cruel Stick.

Strong Affidavit From an Eye Witness of
Some of the Cruelty Said to Be Practiced
in the Big Penjtentiary==FaCts in General
Corroborated by Half Dozen ex=Attaches
of the Institution.
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23
peach sauce corn bread, tea; third
grade, corn bread and tea.


OFFENSES IN PRISON LIFE.
The a of offenses for which con-
victs receive demerit marks is as fol-
lows: 4
Altering clothing.
Bed not properly made.
Clothing not in proper order.
Communicating by signs.
CFookedness.
Defacing anything.
Dilatory.
Dirty cell or furnishings,
Disorderly cell.
Disobedence of orders
Disturbance in dollhouse.
Fighting.
Hands in pockets.
Hands or face not clean.
Hair not combed.
Impertinence to visitors.
= Insolence to officers.
Insolence to foreman.
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

hot flush of shame mounts to his
cheek, the badge of a not entirely
scared conscience, frightened by the
only too tangible recollection of Nels
Heen's funeral?
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

Continued ON Eighth Page.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-06
New York Sun.


IA Laurence Dunbar, the negro poet.
has succeeded in gaining the success he
went to London to seek, and he has, ac-
cording to the news sent to this country,
made a reputation by his readings of his
own verse. Mr.. Dunbar's reputation as a
poet has been we'll recognized here, but he
did not meet much encouragement in his
attempts here to read from his own works.
His only appearance in New York as a
reader was at a private performance in the
Lyceum Theater. His reading of his dialect
poems was at that time highly praised, but
his managers thought it would be unwise to
appeal to a larger public here. He read
with success in other cities, and then made
for London in the belief that the racial
qualities of his poetry would make his work
liked. He seems to have recited and read
there with success, and next winter Mr..
Dunbar may be expected to try it again
in New York on a more elaborate plan. He
is Il very simple, modest fellow, who is
quite as unpretentious in demeanor now as
he was when five years ago he was run
ming the elevator in a government build
ing at Columbus, o. 1t was, indeed, only
a short time before he sailed for Europe
tina Mr.. Dunbar gave VI his place there.
Not before had he felt himself finally as
sured that he could live by his writings.
The sum that was paid him for a book of
his poems at this time was the largest
amount of money he had ever possessed at
one time-$20 in two 800 bills.