Sunday Washington globe., 1901-12-22

the additional outrage of not only being de-
MED thei clemeucy habitually and custo-
marily extended the vilest criminals, but
grossly maiigued by the very board to which
my relatives and kindred appealed for
clemency, some allowance will be made for
my insubordinate conduct as a prisoner
and my intemperate language to such
high official Of the prison as the head phy.
sician Especially win this consideration
be given me when l am compelled to state
in my own behalf that during the eight
years incarceration was never reported for
an infraction of the rules but once. and that
/ was obedient and, in fact a model pris-
oner, particularly respectful to guards in
the presence of other prisoners. The one
infraction OF the rules for which was re.
ported will be here recited as an object
lesson to prison reformers on the inner
workings of a convict prison, where the
hapless prisoners are as absolutely at the
mercy Of some rufian dressed in a little
brief authority, which he outrageously
abuses, as the commonest slave in ante
bellum days. Under Warden James the
Ohio penitentiary was cursed with such
ruffianly blackguard in the person of Owen
Stackhouse, the assistant deputy warden.
Extended mention has been made Of Stack
house in these papers, hence no further
reference to him by way Of biography is
necessary.
This man Stackhouse had promised some
dissolute women in Columbus, with whom
he associated, that he would have Bill
Elliott in the cellar and paddle his naked
-." The information reached the prison,
how il did so / am unable to recall. But |
did not fear Stackhouse while my friend,
the ever to be lamented Mckinley, was
governor of the state. Nevertheless,
thought it possible, urged on by the class Of
people referred to, and who had good cause
to hate me, that he would take chances on
some pretext and get me in the punishment
cellar before my friends could be notified;
hence was unusually wary and observant
Of the rules. Suddenly the guard in the
kitchen was changed and a man named
Hester was substituted. This Hester was a
brother of Urban Hester, whom / had sup
ported and helped TO elect clerk Of the
Supreme Court of Ohio. Urban and I were
friends and when he discovered that his
brother was the disciplinary guard al the
kitchen he called, and bringing his brother
(the guard) intomy Office, he said, address
ing him
Now you are to do everything you can
for the colonel. am under obligations to
him and he refused to take money or other
compensation for his services when / was
elected"
The guard promised and / felt core
spondingly safe from Stackhouse, as the
guard would have to report me for some in
fraction of the rules before Stackhouse
could get me before him in the punishment
cellar. Urban Hester meant well enough
and was sincere in his friendship, but it
was nearly fatal TO me. His brother was
placed in the kitchen on an understanding
with Stackhouse to report me on some
trumped up charge. This brother of Urban
Hester was certainly the vilest and most
degraded human being ever encountered,
convict OF guard. He revelled in torturing
prisoners and sending them to the cellar
for punishment He had to be changed
several times from different prison shops
to save his life Nothing could however,
restrain him from having punishment in
hicted and then gloating over the unfortu-
nate prisoner. He would say to a prisoner
just returned from the cellar after being
padded; 'Well-what kind Of time did
you have7"
If the prisoner answered he reported him
the next morning for insolence; if he did
not answer he reported him for stubborn
ness" In either case the prisoner was
again padded. There were cases among
the kitchen walters where men were pad
died five times in one week and taken to
the hospital, where more than one death
occurred from the fearful brutality in
lcted.
Being book-keeper of the subsistence
department of the prison endowed me with
fe1t al.
special one of smoking in MY office by
direct permission of Warden James Hester,
unable to find anything to report and send
me to the cellar and to Stackhouse decided
to report me for smo king in the bake shop.
adjoining my Office. This ! had been ac-
customed to do for months and correctly
surmised that the warden's permission
carried with it not only the office of the
kitchen, but the bake shop store room,
basement, etc.
Hence one morning after an unusually
friendly chat with Hester, who in personal
appearance resembled a combination wild
cat and hyena he gave my name to tile
patrol guard passing through the kitchen
with delinquents for the cellar The patrol
guard, who was a personal friend, entered
the Office and informed me of what the
Hester had done and the conspiracy to
land me in the cellar. Thus forewarned, l
Immediately started Superintendent Mum
shower for the front office TO see James, the
warden and inform him that was reported
for smoking | then accompanied the
guard and my fellow cuprits to the pun
ishment cellar underneath the chapel
/ knew the summary character Of Stack
houses court. In the presence of the nude
and blindfolded prisoner he read the report
made by the guard and before the unfortu-
nate wretch could frame a reply in defence
he was bent over bath tub by stalwart
(prisoner) assistants, and in that position
padded until the blood ran down his legs
This was often varied by facetous remarks
BY Stackhouse on The prisoners personal
appearance IN THE NUDE. had deter
mined if ever subjected to this Infamous
humiliation TO sacrifice myself in the in
terests OF humanity and put stop forever
to this method of manufacturing hends
On the morning in question when entered
the cellar there were about a dozen nude
prisoners sitting on benches awaiting their