Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-01-17
THEY DEFEND The PRISON
Governor White and Warden Had.
dox See Officials.
EXPLANATION OF CONDITION
The 0yercrowding Of the Cells is the Only
Drawback 10 the Health Of Conyicts.

DANftNNNH ~ NRF
Washington, ID. g.. Jan. 12.-Goy-
ernor White Of West Virginia, aud
Warden Haddox, Of the State penilen-
tiary, at Moundsyille, mad q protract-
ed conference with Major Frank
Strong. of the department of Justice,
ia regard to the sanitary conditions
Of the institution. No definite prom
Uses were made, but the understand
ing is that the penitentiary has been
enlarged. as proposed. and some inn
portant repairs have been made, fed
eral prisoners from the District Of
Columbia, viii be sent elsewhere. The
State officials were not summoned here
by Major Strong. but the government
inspector, ~. S Ladow, who visited
the prison in the first Of the week. pre-
sented his report to Major Strong Sat
urday. The officials therefore were
anxious to be on the ground when the
matter was taken mp by the depart-
meut and ~endeavor to have the present
contract, which can be abrogated any
time, continued in force.
Warden Haddox was loaded down
with reports aud official figures to
show his prison is in better condition
from every point OF view than any
penal institution used ibv the govern
ment for the confinement to its prison
ers. He laid beore Major Strong a
| copy of the board of directors annual
report which is just from the press.
He q V him a copy of the prison
physicians report on the health of the
convicts Of the institution, and had a
long conference with him in the after
noon. Just what decision was reached
bv the department of justice was not
given out aud will not be until Major
Strong has fully considered the matter.
It is understood, however. that Inspec-
tor Ladow reported the institution il
good condition from a sanitary point
Of view.
Speaking Of the condition of the
prison Warden Haddox said;
"West Virginia's prison Is not "a
modern Institution, but we think We
conduct it u little better than any sim
liar institutiou. in the country. We
have had only two deaths among the
prisoners sent from the District oil
Columbia on account of tuberculosis
in the past two years, and only forty
deaths from all causes among them in
that time. 1t is tiue, u great many
prisoners are confued two in a cell and
in many cases this is compulsory on
account of the prisoners habits. ]
have been in charge of the prison for
the last two years and in that time
many improvements have been made
and many more under way. We need
more cell room and the State Legisla-
ture, which oonvenes this week. VIII
make ample provision for the institu-
| tion's needs. The report that a Dreva-
lence of consumption exists in the
prison is false. There have been a
number of deaths from hat cause, but
the disease is usually contracted in
jails where prisoners ave Lent await
ing transportation to prison.
eve have received for the board of
fedo "a prisoners. must Of whom are
from the Distvict Of Colombia, S69,
42S. 50, and every cent of this has been
utilized in improving the institution
We compel the prisoners to take plenty
OF exercise and are doing everything
we can TO keep them in good health.
The report OF the unhealthy condition
of our institution emanated from our
biennial report, which has been print
ed recently in which we called atten-
ton to the members OF the Legislature
to cell accommodations. The entire re-
port was submitted to Major Strong"
The department is much impressed
riru ,hs following statement in the
e-ogt of t'e physician in charge:
''Ine caa~o Of tine increase OF tuber-
e-i. be death rate during the
~e p has been to a great extent
50 to fearful over c%fowding of cells.
is ii decided menace to comfort,
lab aud morals to compel two per-
t3 oacuoy from twelve to fourteen
.a- at a time aiN DAVIS 2 week, and
.I..o seventh dav twenty hours, space
a ~-aiI and with q s%lop-bucket in the
o. loe thei use. No amount of care
.4.n aver thesr being offensive and
e|suientjai I'm oyetv way. such con-
ions are now existing and have re-
.ret the Vitality OF every prisoner
DO have t. occupy these cells. 50
tOasE BAD TO BE sBOF.
One 0f the horses belonging 10 Mr..