The record-union., 1899-10-10
STATE LOSES A GOOD MAN.
DEATH REMOVES WARDEN
AULL oT FOLSOM PRISON.
Had Served the State in That Ca.
pacity for Sixteen Consecu-
tive Years.

After a. long illness of varying inten-
sity Charles Aull, Warden of the State
Prison at Folsom, passed away yester-
day. The attack which laid low the
distinguished prison manager came a
week ago, though as before stated, his
health had been precarious for a long
time A change was noted in his health
soon after the death of his wife, which
occurred in August, 1897.
For sixteen years Charles Aull had
served the State as Warden of the
Folsom Prison, and in all that time not
| a breath of scandal was ever uttered
against his administration. He seem
ed to have been born and educated for
just such duty as attached to the place.
which requires not only executive abil-
ity of the highest order, but a keen
knowledge of men of the criminal
classes-their varying natures and how
to deal with them successfully.
1t was owing. chiefly to Warden Aull's S
thorough management of the prison
and wonderful success in dealing with
criminals that the worst prisoners were
taken from San Quentin and placed un-
der his charge, and though he was a
strict disciplinarian and insisted on a
rigid compliance with prison rules. it is
safe to say there are not a dozen con-
victS among the thousand or more con-
fined within the prison whose hearts
We're not filled with sadness at the
news of the Warden's death, for he was
no mans enemy and was considerate
even of the rights of his convict wards
Mr.. Aull was called to the manage
ment of the Folsom Prison about the
beginning of the year 1884, having just
completed four years of valuable SER
vice for Wells, Fargo & Co, during
which he had gained an enviable repu-
tation as a detective and trailer of
highwaymen. Stage and train robber-
les had been of frequent occurrence at
that time, and Charles Aull was just
the man to run down the bandits and
bring them to justice Prior to his en-
tering the service of Wells, Fargo & Co.
he served four years as Captain of
Turkeys at San Quentin Prison.
There have been many changes in the
State administration and the directory
of the Prison Board since Charles Aull
was first installed as Warden at Fol-
som, and many a politician has looked
longingly on the Wardenship of that
institution as reward for party SER
vice, but no executive would listen to
any suggestion looking to the removal
of Warden Aull in order to make a
place for a party favorite.
Charles Aull was born in CLAY Coun-
ty, Missouri, May %, 1S49, and came
to California with his parents in 1852
The family took up their home in San
Joaquin County, where the subject of
this sketch grew up to manhood Be
fore he was II years of age he engaged
in mercantile pursuits in the town of
Liberty, but in 1870 removed to Mo-
desto, Stanislaus County, and a few
years later was appointed under Sheriff
OF that county, in which capacity he
served several years, afterward enter
ing the service of the State.
As Warden of the, Folsom Prison Mr.
Aull took a deep interest in the matter
of beautifying the premises as we'll as
in the management of the prison it.
self, and the beautiful grounds and
flower covered terraces surrounding the
prison have won thousands of compli-
ments for him from visitors from all
parts of the Union and even from Eu-
rope.
II Was uHuST w dTQen AullS s ADMIN
istration that the great stone dam was
erected across the American River at
that point. the designer and construct
ing engineer being his brother-in-law.
the late P. A Humbert With it's
splendid granite buildings and walls,
the electric power house, etc, the Fol-
som Prison has become one of the most
picturesque spots in California despite
the fact that inside it's walls are con-
fined the worst criminals and despera-
does on the coast.
No monument that human hands
may erect to the memory of Charles
Aull can speak more eloquently of the
success Of his career than the grand
and beautiful structures and grounds
that overlook the canyon of the Ameri-
can River at Represa.