Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-09-26
STRUNG UP BY THE
WRISTS AND BEATEN
SAYS AN X-CoNV|CT
Ugly Charges Against Warden
Of Sioux Falls Penitentiary
to Be Investigated.

Sioux Falls, S. D.. Sept. 16.-The
publication by a weekly newspaper
published in this city OF a series Of
charges against the management of the
Sioux Falls penitentiary has created a
genuine sensation. which has now been
added to by the demand OF Warden
iParmley that the charges be investi-
gated. q
(! 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.
finally has demanded an investigation
in order that he might be exonerated.
Il III a full and complete investt-
CATION" said he in speaking OF the
charges. If there Is anything wrong
with the running of the ~penitentiary 1
want to know 1t, and l believe the pub,
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, n that the dungeon is being used
too much; that the penitentiary has es-
tablished the whipping post as a means
iof 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
h outside wall. has since been con-
fined to his cell. where he is dying by
inches and receiving practically no
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 GU made h attempt at suicide.
Adams charges that Smith now is q
raving maniac and confined in his
cell.
Adams also cites the alleged ease OF
a convict 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 or his head. He says
there are many instances of the straps
being used to beat %convicts after an
infraction OF some rule, the men, 1t
Is alleged. being strung up by the
wrists while the beating is going on.
The ex-employe who ~substantiated
the charges of Adams is Henry Peter
son. formerly deputy warden Of the
PSHASGutAdIS anu ISlcT q uepUly SncrlH
in Minnehaha county. Peterson was
thus quoted by the weekly paper:
Your interview with Bob Adams
relative to the present penitentiary
force whipping convi,:s contrary to
the law of the state is absolutely true.
But that is not all that could b. told
about the place. To my knowledge
the convicts are being used to make
tools, furniture and window screens
for employees and wood and coal goes
from h place for some or them. I
am satisfied groceries are also being
taken by employees. Altogether there is
no system to the place or organiza-
ton.
Il 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 Set
q reasonable hearing.
Every time they get afraid of a con-
Wet nowadays he is locked up in his
cell and declared to be crazy, and if
he is not crazy when put in the cell
the chances are he Will be before he,
gets out Of it."
The friends of Warden Parmley are.
confident he will be able to disproye
the serious charges which have been
made by Messrs. Peterson and Adams
when the state board OF charities and
corrections makes its Investigations.