The Goodland republic., 1907-02-15
IL THE KANSAS PEN
CHARGES or ExTREsrE CRUELTY
AGAINST PRISON HEAD.
Dr. c. H Grigsby, Discharged PhysI-
clan Author Of fhs Unpleasant
Stories About the Pen.

! VINO was recently discharged from his
position as physician at the state pen
itentiary, on the charge OF cruelty, is
in Topeka, and declares that the man
who IS really responsible for crueItfes
at the penitentary IS Warden ". H
Haskell
He says that the water cure for
disOrderly conYicts is constantly re-
sorted to, and that one prisoner from
Oklahoma was almost killed By an ov-
erdose OF the water.
He also says that one prisoner nam
ed Cray who cursed the warden was
hung up by the wrists in a doorway
for such a long time that he had a
hemOrrhage, and was in a serious con-
dition-
He also charges that Warden Has
kell has adopted the plan Of stapling
prisoners to the wall OF the dark cell
by driving q staple through the links
Of the handouts in such a way that
the prisoner is unable to lie down
The water cure and the staple
cure Dr.. Grigsby declares are both
new forms OF punishment at the pris-
on, instituted there by Warden Has
keIL
Grigsby has been collecting evidence
against Warden Haskell for some days
and he has in his possession a num-
Der Of sworn statements from guards
and others relative to the alleged cruel
practices adopted for the government
Of the institution by Warden Haskell.
Indications are that DR.. Grigsby has
been holding these charges over Has
kelIs head for some time, and has
threatened to make use Of them un-
less his discharge from the peniten-
tiary was recalled The charges, it is
said, have been presented to Cover
nor HOch and they may form the ba-
sis Of an investigation by the governor
OF the legislature
This is what Dr. Grigsby says Of the
situation:
Forced TO Contribute Campaign Fund.
My home is at Kingman, Kan.
have served as prison physician for
eight years, under a number Of differ
ent wardens, and have always so far
as know, given satisfaction. This
trouble started during the last cam
paign when the prison officials and
prison board undertook to levy an as
sessment on all the employees Of 5 per
cent OF their annual salary for the re-
publican campaign fund. I thought
that 2 Z per cent was enough, and was
accused by some Of the prison officials
Of organizing a revolt against the 5
per cent rule Most OF the employees
were opposed to the per cent plan,
until Warden Haskell told them they
had better accept it, and then Of
course they fell in line. Since that
time have not been in good stand
ing.
The prison is supposed to be under
civil service but just notice this fact;
the employees OF the prison contributed
S3,7OO to the republican campaign
fund, and the employees Of all the 9TH
er state Institutions together contri-
buted, I am informed, only about
$500 That shows plainly enough what
sort Of pressure was brought to bear
on the penitentiary employees and
what sort Of civil service we have
there.
How Grigsby Was Fired
"a few weeks ago a prisoner named
Tom Ryan from Phillips county was
brought there to the prison, and while
he was being entered, he was cursing
and talking loudly. I tapped him on
the mouth, with two fingers and said
You mustn't do that This action was
witnessed by Deputy Warden James
DObsOn, Sheriff Mckenzie, who had
ard Stewart and Clifford, other en-
plOyes- A letter, anonymous, believe,
and having its origin with a trusty
who disliked me, was written to the
warden, charging me with abusing
this prisoner Ryan. I was suspended
without examination on January 21,
and while under suspension left town
with the understanding that my hear
ing should be on February l. When
I returned for this hearing, I found
that had been summarily dismissed
on January %. That is what I object
to. insist that I should have a hear
ing.
Water Cure for a Crazy Man.
Now about the real cruelty in
handling prisoners. This water cure
consists in tying a prisoner to a post,
and putting a hose into his mouth.
through which water is forced into
the prisoner The Oklahoma man
was brought there last faH, and was
crazy He was laughing and making
a noise, and was ordered to stop.
The warden ordered that he be given
the water. I was not present, though
the rule is that the prison physician
must be present whenever a prisoner
is punished. The unfortunate Okla
nOma man was given such severe
dose OF the water that he Just about
expired I was called in just in time
to save his life The prisoner has since
been taken back TO Oklahoma, as he
was clearly crazy and not a 1T sub
ject for q penitentiary-
This man Gray, who was hung up
BY his wrists until he had a hemOr-
rhage was hung there By the warden's
orders He violated the prison rules
BY cursing the warden, but his punish
ment was 50 severe that it almost cost
him his life
Demands an Investigation.
These are only two Of a great
many instances which might be given
to show who is really guilty OF the
cruelty there at the prison I propose
to present this evidence in the form
OF sworn statements, and I believe.
that there must be an Investigation
held OF course none Of the employees
at the prison would testify about
these cruelties, because il would cost
them their jobs The only evidence
I can present is that OF former en-
ployes Ike myself. But II there is an
Investigation held, and the employees
are pinned right down to the rack, and
forced to give testimony, believe that
the people Of the state viii find out