The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-30
Convicts Who Have Been Dis
charged Tell of Inhumanities
They Saw at Saltwater.
Defense Presents a Number of Paroled Prisoners to
Show That They Were Always Well Treated
Prison Fare in the Solitary and Out Discussed
at Length.

he got over that when he realized that it
was necessary for the discipline Of the prf-
one of the soft jobs in the prison, but IN
sisted that while he was in the front Office,
as it is known over there, he was subject
to all the rules of the prison discipline as
to looking around, talking and the like.
DAVIS DID COMPLAIN.
The fourth witness called had served O
year and eleven days and had but been re-
leased within the last month. He had never
seen any brutality. over there, although on
cross examination he admitted he had heard
of convict named Davis complaining about
his treatment in committal to the solitary.
A fifth ex-convict, now working outside the
prison at an employment which he followed
there, testified that he had not seen any bru-
tality there. His occupation there, however,
was confined to the operation of one Of the
machines, which kept him pretty busy.
was but a week out Of the prison. He said his
treatment had always been good and as his
predecessor had testified, "If convict be-
haved himself, he got along all right
Still a seventh witness was called, this one
being a former ST. Paul man, formerly in
the mercantile business here. but was now
the row in the dining room. when Guard
Powers was cut in the face by James Rogan
and said that he remembered it because the
sight of the blood sickened him and he had
to leave the table. He had not seen any
other instance Of brutality, although he had
heard OF prisoners having grievances. His
personal experience and observation had been
that if prisoner behaved himself, he would
get along all right.
Witness admitted that he was paroled, and
not yet pardoned. although an application
for his pardon had been before the state
board.
+ Attorney Penney then asked to be permit
ted to proceed with the accusative testimony
and former counterfeiter, now engaged in
legitimate business in this city, with a rec
ogniZed habitation, home and place of busi-
ness, was called. He had been twice in
the prison, and could not fix dates very
definitely.
ity at the prison?' asked Mr. Penney.
"Yes sir
HE SAW MAREsCH CLUBBED.
what was there about convict named
Maresch?"
'Maresch pushed his plate away from
him in the dining room. The guard pushed
it back, and Maresch pushed it away again
The deputy warden had then rushed up, and
while a big convict, a Frenchman who was
employed as waiter, grabbed his arms and
held him the deputy struck him on the head
with his cane knocking him down. He was
bleeding from wound on his head"
Were you ever in the solitary?''
Yes, sir. One day l was sent up there
warden was putting me in the solitary he
raised his hand as though to strike me, and
put up my arm to ward off the blow. I
said: Better men than you have tried that.
the solitary five days. I was chained to the
door the first night from about o'clock
in the afternoon, when L was put in there,
until y o'clock at night, and did not have
tary five days that time. Had one slice of
bread twice day, I think it was twice, al
though am not sure. They did not give
me water whenever 1 wanted it. but just
when I was let down at noon or night They
let me down when l told them I wanted to
go to work.