The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-10-08
Declares He Resigned Because He
Could Not Stand Treatment
of Chester Convicts.
STORIES OF INHUMAN DEEDS.
Warden Tanner Makes a State
ment in Which He Denies All
of the Allegations of
the Former Keeper.
RrrInrIc SPECIAL.

RTFUBLIC SPECIAL.
Chester. III. Oct T-R. J. Wilson. the
keeper at the southern Illinois Penitendary.
who says that he resigned rather than be
party 20 inhuman punishment inflicted on
conyicts. Vas interviewed to-day by The
Republic correspondent by telephone at his
home IN Marissa. IL He confirmed in de-
tall the special dispatch printed in yester-
DAYS Republic
Mr.. Wilson stated 10 the correspondent
that he resigned because he was dlsguested
with the way convicts were shamefllly
overwOrked at the prison.
ReaEdon and Rose were not the first men.
said Mr.. Wilson. who have been driven TO
desperation by being Overworked. he says
that his conscience would not allow him to
longer be party 10 such cruelty. so he
quit.
Mr.. Wilson's statements are confirmed by
the statement made 20 the correspondent
yesterday by a paroled convict. This man
refused to allow his name to be used for
publication for the reason that his time
has not yet expired and II Il should come 70
the ears cf the prison officials that he had
civulged anything In regard 10 the prison
his parole would be forfeited and he would
De reincarcerated IN and punished besidts.
This man said that about six months ago
he had sc-n convict deliberately walk up
TO a raSIdiy revolving machine in the prison
foundry uEJ have one OF his hands torn OF.
What caused the poor fellow to 10 it,
asked the correspondent
He had been worked nearly to dea.b in
The foundry" said the convict. "and pre-
ferred beins MANNED for life than sure
death In the foundry. could tell a whole
lot more if wanted to- he added.
80 dgeaced is the work in the foundry that
Is referred 90 10y the prisoners as the
Reil Keeper. Wrscn further said. when
asked by the correspondent n prisoners
We're usually punished by confinement IN
solitary cells FOR a failure TO perform their
tasks said that il was 81 daily occurrence.
The Republic correspondent caHed on
Warden J. u. Tanner al the prison this
evening. lie was. told it had been reported
that he denied the truth Of the reports in
circulation that prisoners had teen over
worked. The correspondent told him that
The Republic was desirons CT publishing
nothing but the trrth in regard to the mat
ter. ana desired statement from him.
TANNERS STATEMENT.
Tanner made fun statement CT the affair
saying he was ready and wlIlins for rnv
iny,-tiEation the press OF State officials
demand lie Fays he has nothing 10 con-
ceaL
In the first p!ase.- said Warden Tanner.
no such methods as 'ducKins' or .foggins'
are known in this prison. these punishments
having been abolished years ago as bsr-
harous. Neither are there any conviets
worked in chain gangs or in chains.
In reference to the work of the conyicts
employed In the foundry fully one-third Of
them make overtime. They are employed
on the pIcce-price plan and when the num-
ter Of pieces allotted as task are com
pleied they are permitted 20 quit work or
receive cash pay fOr the additional number
made.
IN reference to Yegdon and Rose. who
mutiiated their hands. Yegdon was the In
s;iEator OF the act. The men were in the
same cell and Rose was Influenced by the.
more desperate man. Roy Hedrick. alias
John Yegdon was received at the prison
October =. 1887. coming from Pulaski Coun-
ty for burglary he is = native or Spring
field. NO. He also did time in the Boon
willie Reformatory. he was paroled from
the Southern Illinois Penitentiary April 2s.
ls0i. violated his parole and was arrested in
Kansas City He was again paroled March
q. 1so2. to East 81. Louis violated parole.
was dubbed by the police and returned He
was put back In the foundry. where he had
been doing his task and At times making
overtime. During his term he spent two
terms OF four days each In solitary con-
hnement. once for builing and once for
failure TO do his task.
INVITES INSPECTION.
George Rose tramped into. Cas- County,
EAs arrested FOR Srand larceny. DID Jan
S--tssoa Iowa. ona n taa Roztiaa Re-