El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-01-10
is WELL TREATED
As Mexican Prisons Go, and
the Authorities Give Her
More Than the Aver
age Attention.

Mrs. Matte Rich, who is in the
lpenitentiary in chihuahua for the
murder of her husband, is now very
low with paralysis. A Herald report
er called on her Monday but she was
too ill to talk long.
She has cold damp room in the
prison with no light except the door
and the nights are so cold she has to
keep the door closed. No fire is fur
nished the prisoners and the cold win
ter has affected her seriously since
she has had paralysis. Mrs. Rich has
been working very hard this winter
which probably made her complaints
worse. She takes washing. from the
American ladies In Chihuahua to pro-
cure funds with which to buy her pro-
visions. The government furnishes
good meals of the kind but no deli
cacies are included in the bill of fare
and in her weak condition she is un-
able to eat the rough fare.
There is little question but that she
is deranged. She talks constantly of
her condition. and says that her hus-
band, whom she murdered. directs her
movements and tells her what to 10.
She often talks of the death of her
husband and says that she had moth
ing whatever to do with his death. She
contends that the newspapers of FL
Paso caused her conviction and that
but for the papers she would not nave
been accused of the crime.
Mrs. Rich never complains at her
keepers there and only complains of
the fare in the Jail. She cooks her
own provisions when she is physically
able to do so and has made some mon
ey working for outsiders. Her clothes
are very bad and she now has nothing
to wear except the thin cotton dresses.
given her by the state. She has good
clothes in Juarez but no one will paw
the free zone duties and she cannot
get them.
The poor woman was delirious Sun
day and talked constantly She said
she was not going to stay there long
for the officials knew she was not gull
ty of the crime with which she was ac-
cused. and t..ey would let her out. Mac
Stewart. who is in the male wards,
sends her papers to read every day bu.
she seldom reads them. Her eyes are
bad and since paralysis had afflicIei
her she spends most of her time in bed.
The matron of the Jail is a geod old
woman and assists Mrs. Rich as much
as she can but Is not able to t,ly
clothes for her. She has been diseased
for years and has taken SO much mer.
curry that her face is far more Giis6g- :
ured than it was when she was here
The penitentiary officials seem to
regard her with pity and all consider
that she is insane. 1t is not imprOb-
able that she will soon be transferred
% the hospital and later, pardoned if
her conditions is not improved.
Mrs. Rich has no complaint at the
Mexican officials for she is really treat
ID better than any of the native pris-
,ners. The fare is hard of course as
[ is in all jails but as to other trea.-
nent she seems to be a favorite with
very officer of the prison. The san
tary condition of tae prison is the
worst thing about the place and the
tate is to be criticised for this state
# affairs. The state physician, it is
Understood. has asked for appropria-
ions for this improvement but as vet
lothing has been done. The American
olony in chihuahua have nothing to
ay of Mrs. Richs guilt nor her treat
nent in Jail but she has the sympathy
4 every one. All consider that she
8 insane but consider that she became
o after long confinement in the prison.