Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-02-10

Waupun, Wis, Feb. 1.-The inves-
tigation of the state prison came to an
abrupt end at noon Thursday. Ar
gument by counsel was waived with
the exception of Mr.. Butterfeld, who
only asked that in view of the fact
that the professional reputation of his
client, DR.. Messer, had been attacked
in the charges, that something more
than Scotch verdict be rendered in
his case.
The board of control, as soon as the
testimony is transcribed, will review
the mater, make findings of fact and
submit it's conclusions to the gov
ernor for his directions in the matter.
Attorney ELLSWORTH moved to take
out and exclude from the record the
letters written by Mrs. Waterman to
Convict Camp, but Judge Lyon
promptly denied the motion. Mrs.
Waterman is very anxious that The
reputation of herself and her family
shall not be hurt by these letters. 1t
is assured that these letters and those
of Attorney Ellsworth, which were
found in Camps cell, came into the
prison in violation of section 4493 of
Wisconsin statutes, and that the guilty
party is liable to two years imprison-
ment.
The Lessard case was the only thing
of Importance investigated Thursday
The testimony of DR.. Messer and Con-
Wet Muggley, the hospital nurse,
shows that Lessard died from uraemic
coma, caused by the excessive use of
intoxicating liquor. The prison rec
ords show that when Lessard came to
prison he informed Warden Roberts
and Dr. Messer that he had been a
hard drinker for many years and that
while he seldom got drunk, he spent
all of his earnings for liquor. He
showed no signs Of physical or mental
ailment until within few days be-
fore he died and he received proper
treatment from that time until his
death. The case went the way of all
the other charges, showing that the
charges were merely based upon ru-
NOR and that Attorney Ellsworth could
have easily acquainted himself with the
facts, had he taken the pains to look
at the prison records and investigated
from them.
Attorney Ellsworth stated that he
would refuse to disclose the means and
sources by which he had got letters to
and from Convict Camp without send
ing them through the regular prison
channels, and stated that he was pre-
pared to meet any charges of unlaw-
fully getting them in and out. In not
a single instance has it developed that
Attorney Ellsworth ever looked at the
prison records. Almost all the charges
could have been and on the trial were
easily explained to his entire satisfac-
ton by evidence within the reach of
Ellsworth before he formally presented
the charges.
The witnesses upon both sides will
be paid by the state. 1t is understood
that Warden Roberts will, as an in
dividual, bring action for libel and in
all probability the state will prosecute
parties who have been carrying in and
taking out letters or other articles IL
able to cause the state all kinds Of
trouble.
The board of control is now investi-
eating another matter, the claim of
Henry Manypenny, an Indian, who
charges Banker PTobelt with inter-
cepting a draft which was. sent to him
by the governm emit, that the draft was
taken while Probert was in the libra
rams office in prison. Probert admits
having taken the draft but claims that
he had acted as legal adviser of Many
penny and that the Indian owed him
some money and that the draft was
taken as payment on account. Many
penny claims that he knew nothing
about it.