Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1899-02-02
PRISON REFORM.
An Xxx. Convict Lectures at Reeds Opera
House ,ettef OF Rev. Walter.

An Rx. Convict Lectures at Reeds operi
House Letter Of Rey. Walter.
Jno. r. Elliot, an eS convict, enter
talned an audience Of about 200 al
Reed s opera house last night with
story Of the abuses practiced 10 The
Oregon state prison. Those present
we're composed almost entirely OF The
laborlng class, with a sprinklnR oI
ladies' The speaker announced that
he had betrayed the entire expense Of
hiring the opera house and advertls-
Ing the meeting out Of bis earnings
at $40 a month on farm east OF Sa'
lem. At the conclusion ~ his lee
ture he offered any one 4 chance u
dispute any Of bis statements but no
one entered a protest or denial Hc
expressed regret that there were
many matters 80 indecent that they
could not be discussed with prOprlcty
before public audsence. lie
considered the only redeeming
feature Of the prison manage
ment % be the medical dc
partment under Dr. Phibrook Ow'
Ing 20 the demands made upon our
space by the legislature DOW 10 session
we connOt give an extended report Of
Mr. EllOtts lecture. lie employs
good language, shows no signs Of
insanity az has been charged by some
OF the prison oiilcials, and seems Inn
bucd with a deep moral and Christian
passion for reform In that Institution
and his lecture should be heard by the
people ln other parts Of the state. He
charges that observation OF the Sab.
bath az the prison Is a mere formal
hypocrisy. lie charges that the bath
ing Of the prisoners Is conducted In
an indecent manner, lie cited In.
stauces where cOnYlcts were logged
for complaining that the beans were
sour and that the guards employ such
methods as banging a convict up by
the arms IT, enforce discipline. A con
troyersy arose over taking a haUhet
from crazy indian who was going
to assault another convict. The
guard did not see II done. One man
wanted TO make a statement. The
warden had all three hogged % make
sure OF furnishing the right one. One
man lost his reason partly over
ltudlng perpetual motion. lie be.
came very tlmld, Meeti ng an officer
Dne day coming through door he /
started back aud threw up his ,hands .
He was tied up IT, the chapel aud .
given l40 lashes aud an Oregon boot .
vas put on bin and he was sent TO /
HE cell aud IN short time ne seemed /
10 he dying. He was carried o. the .
bath room, his shirt was soaked of .
his back covered with blood, skin add
lesh. so horrible was the sight that
me Of the hardened conyicts tainted.
'he man was declared insane, sent 10
he asylum where IN few days he
led.
The editor Of THE JOURNAL does
ot believe that the unsupported
tatement OF an eX-cOnylct should be
ecelyed by the public az evidence In
D every detail, unless corroburated by
olatteral testimony what Is here
uollshed Is solely In the Interest Of a
rlson reform aud humanity. aud not
lr the purpose OF rejecting upon the
haacter OF Supt. Gilbert or any
Iiiclal OF the prison. But Tue jour.
Al IL convinced that the Oregon
tate prison is not the educational or
'format0ry institution which 70 =
lould be. la conclusion We publish |,
letter dated Portland, January 30.
'om j. j. Walter, IN. Is. pastor Of
he Centenary NJ. Il. church:
DEAR SlR, In 1885 was appointed 4
laplain oi the State Pcnitentiary at d
illet, H., which place held through Z
le term OF GOV Ogleshy's iucum- n
'ncy, | have prepared lecture en- c
Tied -Four Years Among Crlmi [
rs This lecture while In the na. n
ne Of an entertainment still touches q
'on prison management. Joliet
lnds easily tfst AS a model penal m
Tuition In this or any other country
lm planning To deliver my lecture q
Salem during this session or the D
'lsldture. You are right when you "
y that corporal punishment n out ~
date. We have not had that la Jul- u
for 20 years" vi
fnE JOURNAL viii give space 10 81
egou State Prison officials 10 cor. ct
. or reiute MT Elllots statements o'
thout expense. ot