The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-05-28
ALL PRAY FOR WORK,
Convicts Tell Governor Tooie Of Ter.
rors Of Confinement.

rorS OF Confnement.
COnvicts in the state penitentiary
beg for outdoor work on the ranch
operated in connection with the insti-
tuition by Conley & McTague, the
prison contractors. They detest the
idleness of life within the prison
walls. and even complain when they
think they are not given their share
of the ranch work.
This was one of the conditions
found to exist by Governor Toole.
Secretary of State Hays and Attor-
ney General Donovan on their recent
visit to the institution at Deer Lodge,
in company with S. G. Ashby. clerk
of the board Of prison commission
ers. The party spent four hours in
hearing statements of the prisoners.
Governor Toole heard SO of the con-
victs.
Almost every man who spoke to the
governor and other members Of the
board asked for more outdoor work
AS rule they complained that the
confinement behind stone walls, in
idleness, was terrible punishment
Every one Of them insisted that he
would do the hardest kind of manual
labor in the open fields rather than
be locked in cell house, and only be
given the systematic exercise of the
prison yard.
But very few OF the prisoners COM
planned OF the treatment and food In
most OF the cases, the board found
that they were making an effort to
create trouble for the contractors, be-
cause of being disciplined for an in
fraction Of the rules.
Notes on what the prisoners had to
say were taken for the governor. They
will be Transcribed, and in such cases
as he sees fit there will be some &C.
ton. These notes include the pleas
of number OF men who ask the gov
ernOr to exercise clemency in their
NooSO, oOluC VI WAASA AdNC UCCA pldC"
ed in his hands on petitions for par.
dons. The governor promised them
tnat he would act as quickly as poss,-
BILE.
An instance of an effort of a con-
vict to create trouble was furnished
by man whose name is withheld.
This man complained to the governor
that one of the contractors is of Can
adian descent and that he favors men
of that race in granting outdoor work.
When he was pinned down by ques-
tons the man admitted that he had
not done his outdoor term, because
he was in a dungeon at the time for
serious infraction of the rules.
Little Whirlwind, the Indian in
whose behalf many Eastern societies
and people have petitioned the COVER
nor for pardon, was before the board.
He spoke as much as he could in his
own behalf, reiterating that he was
innocent of the murder for which he
is serving life sentence.
Another Indian, who is 81 years of
age, was before the board, and ques-
toned each member eagerly as to
why he was kept in the big stone to-
pee. He seemed to be ignorant of the
cause of his Imprisonment, but very
anxious to learn what kept him there.
The old Indian said he had no COM
plant to make other than one re-
garding his family. He could not be
made to understand why he should be
kept there without his family being
with him.
Now there are about $50 prisoners.
Those who are in for short terms are
favored in the outdoor work, for the
reason that they are less prone to at
| tempt to escape. The contractors in
formed members of the board that
but few attempts to get away had
been made, and that. on the whole,
the conductof the prisoners was ex-
cellent.-Helena Record.
/