The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1907-09-19
STRUNG UP BY The
WRISTS AND Beaten
SAYS AN EX-C0NvICT
Ugly Charges Against Warden
of Sioux Falls Penitentlary
to Be Investigated.

Sioux Falls, S. D.. Sept. 16.-The
publication by a weekly
published in this city Of a series Oh
Charges against the management OF 1he
Sioux Falls penitentiary has created a
genuine sensation, which has now been
added to by the demand of Warden
iParmley that the charges be investl-
gated.
No particular attention was paid to
the charges when they were first made,
but as they have been repeated at IN
~,tervals since the original publication.
Warden Parmley of the pen!tent1ary
finally has demanded an investigation
lin order that he might be exonerated.
Il court a full and complete investl-
CATION said he in speaking OF the
charges. IF there is anything wrong
with the running of the penitentlary
want to know 1T, and l believe the pup
lie should know it."
Bob Adams, recently released from
the penitentiary after serving a term
of seven years for killing a hald-breed
Mexican in a pistol duel, was the maker
of the original charges against Warden
Parmley.
Adams claims that many prisoners
are being treated in an inhuman man
ner, and that the dungeon is being used
too much; hat the penitentiary has es-
tablished the whipping post as a means
of punishment, although a state law
prohibits such punishment. He also
states that Ed Wilson, who some weeks
ago tried to ESCAPE from the prison
hospital, but who was too weak to
climb the plank he had placed against
the outside wall, has since been con-
fined to his cell, where he is dying by
inches and receiving practically nc
care"
1t is further charged by Adams that
Frank Smith, a prisoner who jumped
from the third gallery to the cement
floor in an effort to commit suicide,
did this because of a severe whipping
he was given with the straps, after
which he was confined In the dungeon
for the limit. and two days after COM
ing out made the attempt at suicide.
Adams charges that Smith now is q
Iaving maniac and confined in his
cell.
Adams also cites the alleged case Of
a conyic who was sent to the State
hospital for the insane at Yankton,
and charges that two of the guards
beat the man with brass knuckles and
left great scars on his head. He says
there are many instances of the straps
being used to beat convicts after an
infraction of some rule, the men, is
is alleged, being strung up by the
wrists while the beating is going on.
The ex-employe who s~ubstantiated
the charges of Adams Is Henry Neter4
son. formerly deputy warden Of the
penitentiary and later a deputy sheriff
in Minnehaha county. Peterson was
thus quoted by the weekly paper:
Your interview with Bob Adams
relative to the present penitentiary
force whipping convicts contrary to
the law Of the state is absolutely true.
But that is not all that could be told
about the place. To my knowledge
( the convicts are being used to make
tools, furniture and window screens
Cor employees and wood and coal goes
from the place for some Of them. I
am satisfied groceries are also being
taken by employees. Altogether there is
90 system to the place or organiza-
ton.
II doubt IL Warden Parmley knows
anything that Is going on, or wants to
Know anything. When convicts come
to him with complaints they do not get
a reasonable hearing.
Every time they get afraid Of a con-
gict nowadays he is locked up in his
cell and declared to be crazy, and If
ne is not crazy when put in the cell
the n are he Mill be before he
gets out Of It,"
The friends Of Warden Parmley are
confident he will be able to disprove
the serious charges which have been
made by Messrs. Peterson and Adams
when the state board of charities and
corrections makes its Investigations.