Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1907-06-14
Dr.. David Knapp, Former Prison Physi-
clan, on Stand.-- Tells Of Convict
Being Strung up Four and One Half
Days After Ordered Taken Down :.
Was Morphine Fiend and Had Bad
Heart.

More sensational evidence was dis
closed today relative to cruel treat
ment of conyicts at the Territorial
penitentiary which has been connten-
anced by Superintendent Arthur Tfel,
ford Attorney General Prichard re-
sumed the investigation this afternoon
at o'clock when Dr.. David Knapp OF
this city, who was formerly the prison
physician, was placed upon the wit
ness stand
| DR. Knapp told of the case Of cor
vict who had been strung up in one
of the cells and who was punished in
that way even after he had ordered
the man taken down. He stated that
he examined the convict and found
the latter to be in poor physical con-
dition, whereupon he gave instructions
to have the punishment discontinued.
The doctor said he feared that IL the
punishment was continued the convict
: was liable to die because OF the fact
that the prisoner had a weak heart
Notwithstanding his orders, the physl-
clan declared that the convict was not
) taken down until four and one-halt
days later
DR.. Knapp was the only witness ex
l amined at the investigation today and
he was on the stand for about three
, quarters of an hour. The officia
, probing into the charges OF mistreat
, ment of convict will be resumed TO
t morrow when it is expected that the
/ testimony of two more witnesses vii
: be taken
Or. Knapp's Testimony.
"Now what were your duties as
t physician connected with the instltr
d tion?" inquired Attorney Genera
e Prichard after the witness had state
nj his name, and answered other ~
r functory questions.
d "To take care of sick ccnvicts,
s was the reply.
S @. DO you remember whether o.
r, any particular occasion it becam
t. necessary for you to administer
the sickness of convict by the nam
n of Bailey Brown?
n A. I do.
,r G. When was that?
Isl A. As near as can remember
is was in May, 1906.
,rl O. Did you visit the convict wit
Y reference TO this sickness You spea
IS of!
IS A. The man that have rererenc
IS to was undergoing punishment.
asl @. You can make any statemeI
is you want to.
I'd A. This man was morphine f1en
" and he was not in good physical Co
dition naturally. He was undergoir
punishment. / ordered him down b
cause he had weak heart and inte
mittent pulse which was running b
tween forty and fifty l thought !
had been punished as much as
could stand. On my appearance tV
/ days afterwards he was still up.
| wrote an order, ordering him dow
] and when I returned again two da,
afterwards he was still up. There WI
no attention paid to any of my order
!. @. State what you mean by his /
ing up.
!, A. He was strung up to door.
@. Where was he strung up?
A. Right in one of the cells.
think it was the last cell in the IL
lower tier.
@. Now was that the attitude tn
/ he was in when you first visited hi1
/ A. Yes.
@. When you first visited him {
YOU make any examination of t
man?
l. A. Yes.
@. What examination did you ma
of him?
A. | examined his heart and int
an. nal condition.
ev @. What conclusion did you COZ
his to as to his condition?
on. A. | found he was very weak az
nal say he had intermittent pulse skipp
nm. beats occasionally and was weak.
nts @. What did you do, if anythil
um in pursuance of that examination?
at A. I ordered him down.
the @. Why did you order him doV
the doctor?
ore A. thought his physical conditl
an was in such shape that the punl
Off ment would be dangerous to
aw health,
@. Now when was it that you n
was visited this convict?
dge A. Two days afterwards.
ost- @. Where did you find him on
the day?
re- A. He was still strung up
en-. @. In the same place or in anot
ould place?
A. The same place.