The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-26
PROTEST MADE AGAINST
SWEATING" M0RTENSER
CONTINUED from Page u
to see if brutality was being pracuced
upon prisoners"
ONLY Cell Available

It was explained to the governor thar
the insane man was brought in unex-
pectedly, and that. while he had been
put in the only cell fit for an insane
man, on the floor below that where
Mortensen was confined, yet his rawlings
were such that every other prisoner
and the sheriff's family were tortu e1
all night, and the rawlings could be
heard out in the street all night.
Why wasn't the man taken TO the
insane asylum asked the governor.
1t was explained to him that the
prisoner was quiet when brought in
Tuesday evening. and his rawlings did
not even begin until nearly midnight.
| The sheriff. who was forced to keep
him, had no place in which to confine
MN where his rawlings could not be
heard by every other prisoner in the
jail, as well as Mortensen.
viii Be No Investigation.
Il am glad" said the governor. TO
hear that explanation of the affair. or
course the matter has been miscOn-
strued by many ana the impression haA
been gained that the man has been put
through actual sweating processes an
lnhumanly treated in an attempt TO
force him to break down and tell Wha
he knows. I didn't believe that Sheriff
Naylor would permit any cruelty to any
prisoner in his charge, and 1 wish that
you would make this matter perfectly
clear"
The governor expressed himself as be-
ing thoroughly satisfied that the az
fair of the mad man was an unfortu-
nate occurrence which. under the cir
cumstances, could not have been
avoided, and called for an investiga.
ton.
Mr.. Lowe Interested.
Mr.. George Lowe, when seen about
the matter last night, said: When /
first learned Of the rawlings Of the mad
man within hearing of MOrtensen's cell,
l thought he had been put there for
the purpose of driving the prisoner to
confession, and that the authorities
Of the jail had stood around to watch
the effect of the terrible torture upon
the prisoner. 1 thought it was brutal
and inhuman. A man is presumed to
be innocent until he is proven guilty
even though he be guilty he has Ger
tain rights which should be respected.
and 1 thought an investigation OF the
affairs at the county Jail should be
made to see whether or not brutal
treatment was being imposed to extract
a confession.
Notified the Governor.
4 notified the governor and sug-
gested that an investigation should be
made, then 1 went to the county jail
to look into the affair myself. The
sherif's explanation satisfied me that
what happened could not have been
prevented under the circumstances, and
know now that the prisoner has had
the best Of treatment from the officers
that it was possible to give him.
h. eF-
Jensen himself and asked him how he
was being treated by the officers. He
replied to me that the officers at the
jail had given him every attention and
treated him with as much considera-
ton as was possible.
Sheriff Could Not Help It.
Il am certain that Sheriff Naylor lid
not and would not permit any i'll treat
ment Of any Of his prisoners, if he
could possibly prevent it, and it is an
injustice to the sheriff for any one to /
think that he would have permitted
Mortensen to undergo any suCh hOr-
rors as he must have undergone last !
night, if the sheriff could have had it l
otherwise.
''The people have gained the idea thar /
MortenSen has been put in a little box |
and sweaSed, i'll treated, and that ev-
cry influence has been brought 70 bear /
upon him to force him into such !
condition that he would have to break I
down and tell all. For the sake of she |
sheriff's force and on account of the |
reputation that may spread abrOa1, /
these false Impressions should be /
cleared up
In reply to a question, Mr.. Lowe said /
that personal investigation had sas:s-
fed him there was no necessity for any
by the grand jury into
The affairs at the county jail, and TIA.
none would be made.