Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-01-25
Frank Hobart, a Former Inmate
Of House Of Correction, Tells
Sensational Story.
SUPT. MORGAN CONTINUES.
Tells Of Business with Lincoln Iron
Works and Boarding of Prisoners
More Cells Arc Nccdcd-Hend Of
Marble shop Approves Of
Present System.

Rutland, Jan. ia feature Of to.dav,s
session of the investigating commission
at tho House Of Correction was the tos,i-
mony of Frank Hobart Of ST. Albsns
who served a sentence of 115 dave. frcu,
April TO August. 1905 lie is a cne-
sided man and he told several things
about his treatment while serving his sen .
tence He said he was made to stand at
a rubbing bed and polish marble for 70
hours every day with his one arm the
other prisoners having. of course, a
chance to rest one arm by using the other
lie said he weighed 145- pounds when he
entered the place and when he cam, ont
he had lost eight pounds. He thought he
could not have weighed over 10 pounds
at one time The meat, some times served
he said, was in his estimation rotten, and
unfit for any person to eat. He had fresh
Vegetables not moro than once or twice
while incarcerated
He suffered from a floating kidney and
brought to the institution Il letter from
physician to that effect but when he
WAS in a serious condition he was often
refused permission to remain in his coll.
bic was put on tho sick list but durirg
hat time was made to work on tho cdrnl.
PIE said that vegetables were allowed TO
spoil in the garden instead OF being gwen
to the prisoners. He said he was givcu
he choice Of going to work on tho rub
bling beds when he was sick in his cell or
going to the dungeon. Hobart testified
that in order to keep alive it was ncccs
eary to purchase practically every day
milk and butter.
The entire day was taken m with tho
learing Of evidence bcaVng upon several
phases OF the workings Of the institu-
ion. Superintendent d. l.. Morgan. the
keepers, the manager of the Marble
works John \. Woodhn. chairman of
he board of prison directors, one in
mate and a former prisoncf made UP
he list of those examined to-day.
After tomorrow mornings session,
he commission will take a recess of
wo weeks.
SUPT. MORGAN CONTINUES.
Superintendent Morgan was put on the
stand at the opening of this mornings
session. His first testimony WAS rcla-
i've to the business relations of the in
titution with the Lincoln Iron Works
from October. 1900 to January II, 1906
127S had been paid to that company.
This included all repairs which were
made during that time and the fact was
Emphasized that the rates that were
laid for the goods were lower than could
ave been obtained elsewhere.
In regard to the farm work Mr.. Nor
AN said the net profits for the past
car were s9ol.45. There are seven acres
{ land under cultivation.
The whole number of days of board
harged to the prisoners according to
Ir. Morgans last report, for 1903 and
FN. was 1l,GG2, and that of the house
t72 days, making the total cost of board
80, 1920, or an average of SO 10 cents
Yer prisoner per day The Jail prisoners
q not work and cost the institution
bout SO cents per day for board but for
his 80 cents per day is allowed by the
ounty so the State is really ahead on
nat part of the deal. There arc at pres
Mt three federal prisoners, who are
boarded at the same rate as the coun-
prisoners.
In regard to the crowded condition Mr.
iorgan said that in 40 of the cells there
;ere now two prisoners each. lie
hought something should he done to re-
eve this state of affairs and suggested
hat building he erected between tho
hapcl and the present building known
s the cell block, which would make
DOM for % more cells and q detention
DOM for prisoners coming in the night.
lie said that from co to "a cells should
e built, but If there was convenient
lace for building them % more would
atisfy the present needs.
THE MARBLE SHOP.
Merritt r. Brown. who since 1879 had
onducted the marble shops, testified as
the business end of his department.
that year he and l.. G. Bagley made
contract with the State to use the