The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-12
TURN ON The LIGHT
Warden Haskell Takes Lead for
Investigation.
Introduces a Resolution in the
Senate.
GRIGSBY DISSATISFIED
Author of Charges Wants Hoch
to Investigate.
j. S. McEadden. Another EX. EN-.
GRIGSBY DISSATISFIED
j. s. McFadden, Another Ex- En-
ploye, Makes Statement.

w. H. Haskell. the warden of the
state penitentiary, is also state sena-
tor and as soon as the afternoon pa
pers appeared yesterday afternoon
containing the charges made by DR..
Grigsby of the cruel and inhuman
treatment of prisoners in that institu-
ton, Senator Haskell was on his feet
with a resolution demanding a legisla-
tive investigation of these charges.
His resolution follows:
''Wh ereas, An article has been pub
lished in a Topeka paper, charging
cruel and inhuman treatment by the
wardens and officials toward inmates
of the Kansas state penitentiary, be it
Resolved, That a committee be ap-
pointed by the president of the senate
to investigate the charges and report
to this BODY
The resolution was adopted without
discussion or debate.
Grigsby Says Whitewash.
Dr. Grigsby said: "This investiga-
ton which Haskell has demanded is
intended to be a whitewash. and 1T Will
be a whitewash if conducted on the
lines Haskell proposes. A committee
of senators will be appointed 10 go up
there to the prison, and smooth every
thing over, and they will do the job.
What L demand is an investigation
through the office of Governor Hocn;
Those officers at the prison won't tell
what has been going on unless they
are absolutely sure that they VIII not
lose their jobs by SO doing. The gov
ernor must give them aDsolute aSsur-
ance of that, and then he will have
no trouble in getting all the evidence
he wants.
81 wish to make one correction on
NV statement printed yesterday; the
name of the prisoner who had
hemorrhage from being hung up Dy
the wrists was Yates, and not Gray.
Gray was hung up for curslng me
warden but Yates was the one VINO
had the hemorrhage. Yates was
hung up because he couldn't turn out
the required number of table legs per
day in the factory. He was hung up
every day during working noufs -Aot
ten or fifteen days.
sFurther. ] desire to state that so
far as know, T.. c. Balfinger ana
John Seaton had nothing Whatever 10
the matter of the campaign assess
ment. That was all done through
William Biddle of Leavenworth anu
Warden Haskell"
as he had asked for an investigation
of the charges made by Dr. Grlgsby
it would not be proper for him to make
an extended statement
s.Jt is quite true" said Senator Has
keu that prisoners have been pun
.ished at the penitentiary and others
will be punished who break the rules
and deserve punishment L do deny,
however, that there have been acts OF
cruelty as stated by DR.. Grigsby;
shortly after DR. Grigsby's dismissal
from the penitentiary he came to me
and said that unless he was relnstateo
he would make my face burn. My
decision to refuse his reinstatement
was taken immediately
lieutenant Governor Fitzgerald did
not appoint the committee called for
Id 10 h0 aaf
as his attention was caIled 10 tne IaGt
that the resolution was defective. 1t
should be of the concurrent order and
also give the investigating committee
some powers and the wherew1thal to
carry on the investigation
Senator Haskell will recall the reso,
luton put through by him and will
substitute proper one for it.
Confirms Grigsby's Statements.
T. S McFadden, formerly of Wyan-
dotte county but now living at Waver-
ly has come to Topeka to confirm the
statements printed by DR.. Grigsby
Mr. McFadden was employed at the
prison from 1905 until last october,
and has letters of highest commenda-
ton from Warden Jewett and others.
He resigned voluntarily from the
prison because he did not approve of
warden Haskell's methods. Mr.. Nc
Fadden makes this statement:
ssHaving read your article in yester-
DAVIS issue, concerning DR.. Grigsby and
the present management of the Kansas
state penitentiary. I ask you to kindly
grant space to one VINO mas oeen con.
the time for the past II years.
"I commenced work at the prison as
a subordinate officer in June, 1895, and
have remained there conttnuously-save
for a part of Warden Lands term
until last October. at which time l
voluntarily severed my connection with
the prison.
II know nothing about the truth or
falsity Of the charges said to have been
filed against DR.. Grigsby, but his dis
charge occasions no surprise to those
who, like the writer know the attitude
assumed by the doctor and many other
officers of the prison toward the means
employed by Warden Haskell to force
a Z per cent assessment for political
nurnoses during the last campaign.
The doctor was simply one of num-
ber of officers that We're outspoken in
their opposition to the unlawful meth
DDS of the warden In respect to the
campaign assessment. No doubt these
officers were listed for dismissal as
soon as some trivial pretext offered.
This per cent assessment had its
inception in the strenuous campaign of
1896 and having once established a pre-
cedent the state central committee con-
tinued each campaign year to demand
and to receive the same.
almost without exception the officers
of the prison looked upon this assess
ment as excessive, since each man was
expected to keep in good standing in
his home county from where he receiv-
ed his appointment and where his
friends and supporters lived,-however
they all realized that 1t was political
influence of friends that secured and
held their positions. and accordingly
contributed more or less cheerfully,
looking at the matter in the light of a
necessary evil.
Haskell Called Law Fraud.
After the legislature of 1905 placed
the state institutions under civil service