The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-14
The GRIPPING
OF CONNECTS
CALIFORNIA; Legislative Committee
Finds Various Forms of
Torture Used.
Some Convicts Permanently Crippled
Others Are Killed by the
Terrible Ordeal.

San Francisco, Cal. Feb. 1A-The as
Uennb1y committee on prisons has made q
report ON It's investigation Of cruel pun
ashrnant In the San Quentin and Folsom
state prisons. They find that the straight
Jacket and other methods Of torture are
tn use at both Institutions. though the
results are more disastrous at Folsom
than at San Quentin. The committee
listened to many convtcts and made the
following report: Hf
'.At Folsom we found that one convict,
Robert Smith, had been permanently
frappled in his right arm and hand and
had sustained other injuries. In the case
OF Morris Weiss, alias Weitz. who was a
tailor and worked at the same up to the
time he waS put in the straight Jacket,
we find no sustained such injuries to his
hands and arms as result Of the pun.
ashment that In all probability he will
newer be able to work at his trade again.
I'm the case Of James Deare we learned
That no was found dead In his cell within
fweny-four hours after being released
from ths straight jacket"
Senator Williams CT the committee has
received a letter from a trustworthy
source giving information which, he says.
he verified. Parts of this letter, which
win be made the basis fer further in
.Quiry are as follows:
warden Williamson was the first to
Introduce the jacket at Folsom. The
prisoner is brought in and the jacket
placed upon him. Sometimes small
Jacket or vest is placed ol first. This is
composed Of hair. This causes profuse
perspiration. the straight jacket proper
being placed on over it. The man is now
in a standing position, the Jacket being
placed as tight a S possible.
THE prisoner is then placed on his
back, the guards kneeling on him SO as
to bring the edges OF the jacket tighter
across his back. He is then laid in his
fcel! Should they wish to extract a con-
fessun a short stick three feet long is
used. it being inserted in The ldcing and
worked OH the principle Of the Spanish
winlass. The acings thus become as
i taut as ingenuity can make them.
THE first serious case was that of
Brock Smith, serving twenty years. This
man is big, stout. and healthy, and has
lost the use of his right hand.
The next case was the killing Of James
'Deare. the coroner's jury bringing in a
verdict of death while undergoing pun
ishment in a straight jacket.
GAS the cries of the prisoners punished
kept the convicts awake at night they
are placed in the dungeons where execu-
tions take place. Frank Howard was ir
there while Deare was being punished
Deare during the night told Howard he
was dying and that he had seen his
mother, The mans mind was weakened
When he was taken out the next day hi
aas unable to wash himself He died ii
ais cell during the next night.
1.-THE next case is a boy, IS or 10 years
H age, haf-witted, woman's tailor By
trade. who is thoroughly cowed by thu
treatment he received and he may be in
about his case. Examine him and yol
win see both hands are crippled. He re-
fused to sew for the warden's daugh
Aers,'s' 90 ...-..