The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-14
PRISONERS MAKE CHARGES
Inmates of Female WOrkh0use AL
lege Cruel Treatment.
officials Deny an Accusation That
Woman's Arm WINS Broken in 81
Scume with keepers-The Dungeon
for Writing Letters Of Complaint.

A serious revolt broke out on Monday
at the female workhouse as a result of
which several women inmates OF the in
stitution have been confined in the dun
secn. A fight of considerable proportions
is alleged by number of the colored
women prisoners there to have occurred
between Keeper Evans, on one hand and
a number of women inmates on the other.
The stories told by the keepers. by In
tendent Charles Locke, and by the vari-
Gus prisoners, who claim to have witness
ed the affair. do not agree in every par
ticular. Both Intendent Locke and SUI
perintendent Stoutenburgh, however, adj
nit that there was fight at the wcmen's
workhouse on Monday.
A number of the colored women prison.
ers yesterday stated individually to a
Times reporter that one of the women,
who was locked up in the dungeon, re-
ceived a broken arm in the fight. This
is denied by Superintendent Stouten-
burgh, Intendent Locke, and DR. Man
ming. the physician of the Washington
Asylum. The negro women are positive
on the point, and declare that they know
whereof they speak. Superintendent
Stoutenburgh, when questioned about the
matter. said that he would not believe a
complaint of this sort, if made by every
inmate of the female workhouse. The
Times reporter was expected to cast the
same discredit upon the story. which was
told at different times by different wo-
men, but the fact that the same story
was told by at least six women at diff
ferent times seemed to indicate some
basis for IT.
The colored women at the workhouse
told a story yesterday which. if true,
lays bare disgraceful state of affairs
in the management of the workhouse for
women. About los female prisoners are
confined here, few of whom are white.
Liza Gaines, a coIored woman, said yes
terday that the prisoners were frequently
beaten by the keepers for the slightest
offence. She was a witness, she said, to
the fight which occurred yesterday. as a
result of which the arm of one of the
negro women is alleged to have been
broken. The name of the woman whose
arm is alleged to have been broken. ac-
cording to the story told yesterday by
the other women, is Lavinia Thomas.
The women were scrubbing the floor"
said the Gaines woman, and because she
CThomas) didn't get up fast enough the
keeper beat her The keepers beat us
prisoners almost every day and they
curse and swear at u.s.
Ella Han and Mabel Jackson. prisoners,
recited stories of cruelty on the part of
keepers, alleging that the women inmates
of the workhouse were often beaten by
those in authority over them, and sub
the assertions made by many
others, whose names could not be learn
ed.
The trouble occurred on the second
story of the building and the fight con-
tinued for some time before the women
were finally placed under control. When
subdued they were sent to the dungeon.
where they are fed only on bread and
water. The women declared that they
had been confined in the dungeon on that
fare after having worked hard from
o clock in the morning. The women who
were sent to the dungeon are said to be
Mary Contee, Idel johnson. and Lavinia
Thomas.
Intendent Locke denied that anyone of
them was injured in any way. The wo-
men had all been sent there. he said, for
INSTRUMENTATION, and were not sent unless
their actions demanded such extreme
Later on Mr.. Locke said: "One
of the women was sent to the dungeon
side, complaining of the treatment receiv-
ed here"
The Times obtained this letter, dated
Monday. August p With some correc-
lions OF punctuation and spelling, the let
ter is as follows:
Dear Sir: 1 am asking you a favor,
that you will please do something for
the poor prisoners. as they are beat and
knocked about like dogs by Charles
Locke, the keeper, and also the doctor.
This morning about II 30 O'Clock two girls
were put in the dungeon for punishment
for loud talking in the hall this morning.
Mr.. Evans twisted her arm and struck
her in the head and choked her. The
poor prisoners down here work hard from
till Saturday night. and don't
get nothing to eat. The fish that We get
down here has got scales or the back,
as they come out Of the river. Tea and
no sugar. and the bedbugs eating us up.
The meat has maggots in it. We get
called all kinds of names. and we are
work is done MI Perry Tolbert and
Mr.. Gardner is our only protection. The
stands and sees the keep
ers beat the women. Mr.. Evans stands
In the hall and uses bad language TO the
women, and comes in the building drunk
Please do something for my sake
The Times also obt2i ned a second letter.
dated the same day. in which a prisoner
makes the same general statement of CON
diuons at the female workhOuse. The let
ter Is as follows:
Editor of The Times: We poor prison
ers are treated like dogs down here. Mr.
Locke and Mr. Evans beat two women
today, and the riot we had was on his ac-
count. He curses the women, and calls
;nem all kinds Of names. We work hard
and MIR. Locke calls the white women
poor white slaves. ] have been in the
workhouse four months. and / can't find
any luck in this building, for YOU wash
and iron, scrub. sweep. pick chinches.
empty slops. The light Is put out at $
o'eiock. and you can't see no matter what
bites you.
we have four keepers here. one went
on a vacation, but has returned Every
thing was auiet while he was gone. and
went agreeable Now he is back. drinking
his whisky and keeping the workhouse in
He has stopped all baskets
and fruit from coming. Mr. Locke does
this. The only respectable keepers that
We nave got is Mr.. Taibert and Mr. Card
j o'clock Sunday night. and when tie
doctor was called Mr.. Gardner came up
with him. He did not want Mr.. Gard
ner TO light the gas to see what was the
matter with the woman. He cursed and
talked very rough to him, and he did not
want him to send for the doctor. He put
the gas out, and said If she died, she
died i"
or writing these two letters the WON
an was confined In the dungeon Mr.
Locke made this statement yesterday
When Times reporter called for Lizzie