The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-25
He Applies to Supreme Court for
Writ of Habeas Corpus to Sc
cure Release.
GRIEVANCES AGAINST BOARD
PRESENT IMPRISONMENT, HE DE-
CLAREs, Is UNLAWFUL.
He Has Obeyed All Rules, He Main
tains, but Punishment Has Not
Been Withheld.


the Indiana Reformatory at Jacksonville.
thinks he has been cruelty used by the
board of managers and Superintendent By
ers. Through his attorneys he applied to
the Supreme Court yesterday for a writ of
habeas corpus to secure his immediate re-
lease from prison. In his petition he recites
at length complaints against the manage
ment of the institution.
Terry was sent up from Allen county
Jan. 70. 1901. for larceny. He was given an
indeterminate sentence of from one to four
teen years and has been behind the bars
now for over two years. He contends that
he has been a model prisoner and has faith
fully observed all the rules OF the Reform
atory and that he should have been paroled
or released long ago. He says that the
board of managers and Superintendent By
ers have simply paid no attention to him
and have disregarded every request he has
made for a hearing.
Feb. IS last he applied to Judge Morris. of
the Circuit Court of Clark county. for a
writ of habeas corpus. The attorneys for
the superintendent and the board moved
that the action be quashed. and the court
sustained the motion. Terry was not dis
posed to rest quiet and he now appeals to
the Supreme Court.
CHARGES AGAINST BOARD.
He claims that the present restraint under
which he is held is illegal and unlawful.
He has been good. obedient and industri-
Gus. he declares. but that despite his efforts
to live ND to the rules the prison board has
unjustly and falsely charged him with vari-
Gus offenses without giving him a hearing
or a chance to establish his innocence OF
these offenses, he sets out. the board and
superintendent have judged him guilty
from time to time and have prolonged his
Imprisonment accordingly.
He has served two years, he tells the
court. and sees no chance of receiving a
a molder, and sets the value or his daily
services at "a day.
He alleges that he has been repeatedly
tortured by order OF the board OF managers
and the superintendent and has been kept
in dungeon without authority of law. One
specific charge made is that he was sus-
through two holes In the door, manacles
being placed on his wrists outside the door.
He was required to endure this form Of
of Of tWe TIVE for seven Consecutive days.
During that week. he charges, he was
given hardly enough food to keep body
and soul together. The only nourishment
given him. he says. was one pound OF un-
bolted cornmeal and a half pint of water
twice every twenty-four hours.
HAS DEMANDED TRIAL.
He has frequently demanded trial before
the board. he claims, for offenses charged
against him. but every request has been de-
MED and no credits have been allowed him.
He says that his educational training
has been neglected and that the only school
ing the board would allow him was three
months of night school during 1901 and 1902,
and only two hours each night
He declares he has tried hard to keep
within the rules and that he has obeyed
every one of them. He believes his incar-
ceration is due not from disobedience, but
from a desire OF the board TO work out a
form of malice upon him.
With the petition is a long list of the rules
of the Reformatory, which, he says, have
been used against him.
John G.. williams, the only member of
the Reformatory board who lives in Indi-
annapolis, was out of the city last night. 1t
was said at the Statehouse yesterday even
ing that Terry has overdrawn his case and
that he had been forced to undergo moth
ing but the usual restrictions OF the insti-
tuition.