The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1909-06-12

The sessions of the committee were at :,
tended regularly by ex-Representative
Gordon whose campaign slogan two
years ago was vote for Gordon and
new warden He was not reelected.
The list of witnesses called before
the committee was largely made up OF
perons who had personal grievance
against the warden.
Particular stress is laid on the retus'
al Of the committee TO hear Warden
Russell and the statements to him by
two members Of the. COMMITTEE that he
had no need Of hearing. Taking up
the charges.of cruelty to inmates Sec
rotary Murray refers to the statements {
in the report with regard to Convict
Johsonn He quotes from the report,
which states that johnson was abused
after the committee first visit because
he had testified to certain things and
that he was sentenced by the warden
to be strung mp sixteen hours for pas
sing a letter to another convict and
that he fell insensible when released.
Murray states that Warden Russell
was not in Marquette at the time this
cenycit was punished but was in Lans
ing, further IL was for another offense
that he was ordered strung up and then
only ten instead OF sixteen hours. The
prison. records are quoted from to show
that johnson frequently broke the rules
OF the prison and that instead OF being
| i'll and confined TO the hospital as the
Legislators stated, he was at his work
the next day except one, which was a
holiday, and quotes the testimony OF
the prison doctor as to Johnson's con-
dition. Murray further says that the
committee might have obtained these
facts and they asked for the prison re-
cords.
Taxing up the legislative commit
tees report with reIerence.to W. h.
Van Gorder, paroled convict, Mr.
Murray quoted from the report to show
that Van Gorder is said by the com
mittee to have had 81, 600 when he
came to the prison. Evan Gorder, "
says the committee. received part Of
the money back when he was released,
but the committee believes the money
should not be held back. but should be
paid over promptly and recommend
tk.t tka ,x,awdon oouara mn tha Van
Gorder account paying over at once
any money due him Murray says
Van Gorder tells him he stated TO the
committee that the warden did not
owe him any money. Murray says
that Van Gorder was once called In by
the committee and the stenographer
excused, although Representative
Gordon was allowed 10. remain during
the-interview. The secretary further
says thar the receipt secured by War
den Russell for money turned over to
Van Gorder when he was released is
on file in the office and further asserts
that there is nothing in the testimony
taken by the committee TO show how
much 10 was Van Gorder was alleged
TO have said the warden owed him.
He also quotes Justice elect Stone OF
Marquette as saying. 81 had personal
knowledge OF Van Gorder's financial
> condition and am sure Mr.. Russell g
3 az tion In regard TO Van Gorder g
1 money matters was beyond suspicion.
Taking up the purchase OF n team
= of horses for the prison, which was the
3 subject OF comment by the committee
a Murray refers 10 the statement In the
Q report that $500 was paid 10 Russell =
brother for the team which was said TO
- bee exorbitant and the committe recon
I mended that the money be refunded TO
= the state by the warden Murray says
there Is no basis for the statement that
= the team cost the state $500. bit that
= the committee was positively informed
. the psice was $3.50, and Warden Rms.
+. sell claimed the horses can be sold for
= $500.
e Taking up the committees insinua-
B. tiou that Warden Rnssell'a brother ~
\ official Of the prison, received pay
i from the contractor, Murray says the
( facts are that Warden Russell pay the
|. additional salary himself and there