Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-08
They Ask Investigation Of Alleged
Improper Treatment.
SENT TO WORK OUTSIDE THE WALLS
Complain Of Being Numerically
FIogged.
INQUIRY WILL BE MADE


the Raleigh, N. c.. prison have joined in a
ptiful appeal to The Star to investigate
their alleged brutal treatment by the prison
authorities. The same prisoners have also
sent communications to the President and
to the Department of Justice. The letters
were mailed by a disc harged prisoner, or
they would not have reach their destina-
ton. The communication sent to the Presi-
dent was referred to the Department of
Justice, which has promptly taken up the
matter.
The Prisoners Complaint
Ore of TIE coInnunica tons received by
The S.ar is as follows:
we, The undersigned. United States pris-
orers, wish TO call your attention 10 the
treatment and punishment we received here
on Tuesday, the 18th Of this month"; We
were formed in line and told we were to be
taken eight miles outside of the walls to
dlg clay to be used TO make brick. We
tod the officers here that we were al, WILL
ing to work, but that the law did not re-
qClre CT permit us to be taken outside of
the walls. The brick yard a.so here COM
petes with the outside labor and brick yards
IN the vicinity. Thirty or more United
States prisoners went and are still going
every day, the eight miles to the clay hole
Tor fear of the inhuman and corporal
punishment we received. The authorities
took us in cell block. We were handcuffed
and tied with a rope from overhead and
pulled up by our wrists until our toes just
touched Our trousers were pulled down.
and We were dashed on our bare backs.
one man was given twenty lashes, and
when taken Down was unable to stand. He
was taken up to the hospital. The others
of us had from eleven laShsS down to three.
Two other United States prisoners have
been whipped since. The authorities here
claim they have permission from Washing
ton 10 whip, and do, and take any of The
United States prisoners outside of walls
and work anywhere they see fit They
say they soon expect to get permission to
take United States prisoners 10 work on
farms throughout the state. Meme Of the
United States prisoners refuse to work in
side Of the walls. and God knows We are
fed improperly and bad enough The food
causes weakly men and sickness. and when
sick. before God, they don't furnish med
icne neither DO they have the medicine on
hand. Our working hours here are from
sun up to sun down. We get fresh meat
once a week. boiled Will you investigate
this fuhumau and outrageous treatment?
If this is law we are the only United States
prisoners i'll this great free country that
must submit to this brutal abuse We hope
that you will investigate this shameless
and slavery treatment, and We expect to
get redress
The other communication is similar 1t
says that during the cold wave one of the
convicts had the fingers of both hands
lTpEtH on DN pelllS maze TO work IN the
cold. 1t goes on 10 say that one of the five
men so terribly dashed is in bad way.
What Major Strong Says.
Maj Strong, general agent Of the Depart
ment of Justice, has had charge of United
States prisons for years. He said that he
would send examiner to Raleigh in a
few days. These examiners visit every
prison where federal prisoners are confined
and give the prisoners an opportunity to
make statements. Maj. Strong said that
he could not say now whether the prison.
ers VINO are complaining have a just cause.
prisoners are always complaining" said
Maj Strong, and in the majority of cases
they have no grounds for what they say.
Often they are unruly, refuse to work and
give much trouble.
There is no law preventing United States
prisoners from working outside of prison
walls. but for years we have made it a rule
that this should not be done A clause of
our contract with the Raleigh prison pro-
hibits working the prisoners outside. If
this has been done the agreement has been
violated
FlOEginE the Prisoners.
There is also no statute, Major Strong
said, preventing federal prisoners from be-
ing fiogged. There has for years. however,
been rule of the department against the
application Of fiogging as a general punish
ment for prisoners. 1t is said that it would
not De WISE 10 INFORM PRISONERS OF inns, anu
the rule is only given TO prison officials.
1t is said that, if anything, the statutes
lean to tiogging, If that punishment is prac
ticed upon state prisoners in an institution
where both state and federal prisoners are
confined. Section 5J39 of the Revised Stat
utes says that United States prisoners con-
fined in a state prison are subject to the
same treatment and under the same
laws as state prisoners They are abso-
lutely IN control of the authorities" said
Major Strong. but we generally exact
certain agreements as to the treatment of
our prisoners. OF course, these charges will
be fully and fairly investigated"
Attorney General CiriggS. who returned to
the city today. has not taken up the mat
ter and viii not do so unless it becomes
necessary. He leaves all prison matters to
Major Strong.
n.sEN t,nD SyTnyrrE