The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-03-22
FormsT California Convict Tells
a Fearful Story.
SOME DREADFUL PUNlsHMENTs
Brutality PrsviIls, end Tho Slightest
0tfsases Call for The lnilIctlua Of
Celd-b|uedst Torture

Folsom prison in California is a place
where all the tortures of tho inqusition
are practiced. am not surprised to read
that prisoner died there few days
ago while being disciplined
IL was a tall, od-loking fellow who
spoko-a man in the early SOS. whose
face. still young and frank In expression,
bore traces OF suffering. lie gave his
name as Thomas Barry.
He was sitting In the lobby OF one OF
the down town hotels when he spoke,
and he made a place beside him for a
newspaper man who happened 10 over
hear his remark. the conversation being
started by the discussion OF news dis
patch telling how a convict named Dear
had been tortured TO death In the prison
at Folsom, California.
II know all about Folsom prison."
Barry said TO an Jnter-Ocean reporter
Jie paused moment, and added: II
spent IL years there 1 was sent 20
the penitentiary on an 1s-yesr sentence
and IL was only few months ago that
the doors of the horrible place opened
10 give me back my liberty.
1T Is not a pleasant thing for me TO
refer To tho fact that l was formerly
Il
my voice against those who are RESPONSE
bile for the crimes daily being committed
in the California prisons.
I'm California court / was called to
answer 10 the charge or robbery, Jan 3
JSse. / was told by court officials that
II pleaded guilty a sentence not TO ex-
cecd four years would he given me
was not I'm position TO fight my case.
and took the advice that was offered
To me.
The judge sentenced me 10 IS years
instead OF four years in the Folsom
prison. 1 was taken there on Jan. Z 1883
Hardly had my name had "A chance 10
dry on the record books when / was taken
10 the torture chamber. Prison guards
stripped me. and. binding my hands with
leather thongs. hanged me by the wrists
for two hours
II was told that I was 10 undergo the
same punishment four hours a day for
30 days, and that FOR the same length of
time l would be bucked and gagged two
hours day. Bread and water I was
Informed. would be my diet during this
period
ADVICE FROM THE WARDEN.
After II days of the most dreadful
suffering 7 was sent for by the warden.
When I was taken before him In his
luxurious office he said TO me:
Il
You have been punished for very grave
offence-insubordnati 10 one of the
keepers. / desire that you leave this
office with the feeling that you have
atoned for the offence committed.
"'And just here permit me to give you
piece of advice. Don't try TO escape.
ANY attempt you make TO gain your
freedom will result only in your own de-
struction.
"As 1 had been hanged by the wrists
for IS hours and bucksd and gagged for
"a hours, 1 felt that had stoned for
almost any crime. I was faint from
starvation. bruised and stiff. and during
all my torture could not understand
why / had been singled out for such
cruel treatment.
Later i discovered that had Offend
cd the captain of the guard ten minutes
after my arrival at the prison. / had
reported to him. and he had asked me
what vocation I had followed. l said
had been connected with hotels all my
life
well. sir, you win not find Folsom a
hotel he said, with sneer. and by the
time you finish your is years I'm prison
you'll have forgotten about the places
where II takes small fortune TO buy
bed and n meal
'In reply had declared that no one
would take Folsom for a hotel, or for
and luxuries. For that remark, I suf-
fered the IL days OF torture in the cham
Der. where other men besides Convict
Dear who died this week, have been
murdered. and. worse still. robbed Of
their reason.
Three years later found myself again
In the torture chamber. this time for
having struck fellow convict with my
fist. Violence was used in this instance
TO such a degree that felt was becom-
ing insane. The torture was so intense
that 1 tainted three or four times day
''on every occasion when my senses
were restored fouad the cowardly
wretches who were infiicting the tortures
standing over my almost lifeless body.
laughing and mocking at my frightful
condition.
CONVICT SEIZED A KNIFE.
After the tortures had been repeated
for number OF days, I felt that my
mind was giving way under the mental
and physical strain. I determined 10 sell
my life, and to do 1t as dearly as pos
sible. a.
Years OF my sentence yet remained 20
be served. and l preferred death to hope
less idiocy. Next day, when my chief
torturer attempted TO strap mo up
stepped aside, caught up a knife that lay
near, and approached him. lie raised
an iron bar and shouted:
Put down that knife. or will kill
you clinched with the cowardly cur
and with the strength OF madman
struck him again and again. I thank
God that assistance arrived before I had
murdered the man.
'Because l was driven 10 desperation
ny tortures. | was sentenced TO two years
IN the dark cell. For rs months l was
kcpt in total darkness l lived I'm an
eternal night do not know how I sur
Nived or why the long hours without a
ray ~ light did not drive me mad
But you see I am we'll, and that
have lived 20 tell OF what 1 suffered III
can awaken the California authorities
90 a knowledge OF the terrible crimes