Sunday Washington globe., 1902-01-05
CURTIS CASE.
Aud That Of All Others Sentenced to
Lingering Death by Tuberculosis
i'm the District Jail.

Lingering Death by Tuberculosis
i'm the District Jail
Editor Sunday Globe:
In the daily papers we read of the pardon
of Water Curtis by the President
This is the young man referred to on page
AZ of my book, and in SUNDAY GLOBE of
November II last. After being searched,
etc, in the Jail rotuuda 7 was taken to the
bath by Curtis He was in charge OF the
lower tier and had other duties which often
brought him to top tier. He understood
my cause of imprisonment" and often
managed" to hold conversations with me.
He is we'll educated, refined in conversation
and manners, and it was evident that his
life up to his twentieth year was under ex-
ceptiOuallY good conditions. In confidence
he gave me his life history, and 1 firmly
believe he was peniteut and would have
lived an honest life hereafter From the
warden to the lowest employe he was liked
and they made il as easy as possible for him
behind the bars" but rules are rigid1y en-
forced. The personal part" of conditions
of this propagating plant resulted in tnber-
culosis. Dr. Shute did all he could for him,
but his medicines cannot win under such
conditions.
Warden Harris, the Rev J. J. Mcguire,
and at least one of our detectives believed
in his reformation. This detective is "hu-
name" He would put away and save Sun
day papers, magazines, ETC., and send them
to him. He would also put his hand in his
pocket and buy him soap, stamps and what
ever was allowed, This was after Curtis
had mode confession of everything. 1t was
not policy. The New York people had
been here talking to Curtis, and he we'll
knew ne was togo there when this time was
out. The humanity of Detective - was
from the heart, aud he kept it up. The
keepers also befriended him, but, as / said
in the book, "he could not live his time
out" under such conditions Fifteen
months-45o days-in the propagating plant
was the sentence. am not in any sense
of the word, taking Curtis's part. ] want
every thief and law breaker to be punished.
and would assist to the best of my ability to
apprehend and convict them, but where the
law does not call for slow lingering (tu-
berculosis) death" as punishment il should
not be inflicted. There is an assertion in
my book in reference to this case. viz,
Died in Jail from natural causes" " that can
not now come to pass; Magill cannot say II
told you So" He was pardoned when his
condition became critical and there are no
facilities for such in that plant" was
plainly published in all the daily papers.
It isn't needed when it comes to that have
them pardoned, let them die elsewhere, and
then the record of the plant will be healthy
institution facilities for critical cases not
wanted.
In conclusion will state for the benefit of
your readers to ease their minds in one re-
spect Curtis did not get tuberculosis from
drinking milk not containing 3.S per cent
fat, he got no milk he got his disease from
other causes. The book discloses facts the
visit of the editor Of the GLOBE, as per
| SUNDAY GLOBE November 10, to the Jail
corroborated and the daily press tell the
humane citizen" that the Jail authorities
! acquaint the Government authorities Of the
/ fact of mo facilities" for the sick, hence
they apply for pardon in critical cases We
| have Humane Society for horses, dogs,
/ cats, etc. We have veterinary hospitals. We
/ have dog hospitals, but we have no "facili-
ties for critical cases" at the Jail In the Ma
/ tions Capital city" Prisoners are doctored
/ in their cells Curtis told the reporter he
was glad to go to New York. he could get
/ change of air aud treatment" glad to go
to penitentiary to get away from the Dis
trict of Columbia Jail; he had been there
before and knew the difference. Is not
this condition of affairs enough to start the
humane, or do the people of Washington
class these unfortunates below the dog.
Let them remember innocent people have
been there, and it may be their turn
sometime, although innocent, to occupy
one Of those cells. was innocent, unjustly
convicted, and punished worse than the
states iuilict on the burglars murderers, etc.
in their penitentaries. it is possible that
have some Of those germs in me, my bread
was handled by those no-soap hands. AL
persons held in the Jail as witnesses have K
eat from those hands and our health depart
ment says keep clean" They are no
criminals; should they be started for th'
lingering tuberculosis death because theI
accidentally saw a crime committed. VIII
should any human being whether witness
suspect or convicted felon, be locked up II
a cell with an open tub and no soap. Wh'
is to blame for this? Give them anothe
like last Sundays blast.
CHARLES J. MAGILL