The Topeka state journal., 1909-01-08
BITTER CHARGES.
Kate Barnard Makes Sensation
al Complaints
Tells the Committee COnvictS
We're Cruelty Treated.
ONE STORY DISPROVEN
Her Witnesses Seem to Have
Been Ex-COnvicts Only.
Oklahoma Trying Hard to Find
a Scandal at Lansing.

worse than I showed in my report"
This was one of many startling
statements made by Kate Barnard
when placed on the witness stand at
the Kansas state prison during the
hearing before a joint committee from
Oklahoma and Kansas.
From present indications the in
vestigation by the joint committee will
last far into next week, although the
Kansas committee has served notice
that it will withdraw at o'clock Sat-
urday if the investigation is not COM
pleted then.
the prison Thursday Attorney General
West of Oklahoma called for Warden
Haskell, who was put on the stand,
and the questioning by Attorney Cen
among those present when the taking
of testimony began, but withdrew in
order that the attorney general might
question the warden concerning i'm
morality in the mine.
Haskell on the Stand.
The examination of the warden con-
tinued far into the afternoon, and he
was questioned very closely along lines
tending to show exactly who is re-
sponsible for any punishment inflicted
in the mine. The warden made an
excellent witness and answered all
questions closely.
He was confronted with a copy of
a speech made before a prison con-
gress recently in which he suggested
that all governments should follow the
example set by the colony of bees in
which the drones are put out of exist
ence. Attorney General West was
rather overbearing in his examination
of the warden and spoke sharply sew
eral times when his questions were an
swered in roundabout way instead of
yes or no.
The warden admitted that it was
difficult to control the men in the
mines but denied that the guards had
an unfair advantage over prisoners in
the mine.
TT is just the contrary" said the
warden. The guards Of the mine are
unarmed and entirely at the mercy of
the prisoners, who outnumber them
twenty-five to one so that it would be
fatal for a guard to be overbearing in
the mine"
During the examination of the war
den, two ex-conVictS. DR.. Brice 1fT1d DR.
Ashley, came into the room, and it was
announced by the attorney general of
Oklahoma that they We're to be wit
nesses for Oklahoma. The warden de-
manded that the eX-conVicts be elected
from the prison grounds. as the prison
rules forbid an ex-convict to come in
side the prison walls. He said he was
willing that they should stay within
call to be brought in when the COM
nlittee was ready. The committee in
victS were sent away.
Water Cure Not Cruel
Warden Haskell declared positively
that the so-ca1led water cure was not
cruel. and denied that guards inflicted
punishments without his consent. At
torney General West was apparently
trying to bring out by the warden'5
testimony a statement that prisoners,
even if punished secretly by a guard,
had no chance to tell their troubles or
seek recourse.
DR. ]. H. Stopher, who claims to be
a noted penologist, appeared at this
hearing and asked permission to go
through the prison with an ex-convict
as a guard. The warden refused this,
but offered the services of a guard. The
doctor insisted on going with the eX-
convict. The warden said he would not
allow the character of his officers to be
assailed by thus implying they would
not permit a fair inspection. Attorney
he didn't know who or what DR..
Stopher was.
'I am sent by the governor of Okla
homa,' said the doctor.
"Well / don't care who sent you, this
committee has nothing to do with you.
The warden can do as he likes" War
den Haskell withdrew with the prison
directors and they returned in few
moments and announced that Stopher
could go ahead with his ex-conVict if
the latter would refrain from talking to
prisoners.
The examination of Warden Haskell
continued awhile after dinner When
pressed as to his views whether the
punishments inflicted were painful or
simply uncomfortable, the warden said
they were uncomfortable; that the
prison was not supposed to be place of
rest and ease.
During the afternoon Deputy Warden
Dobson was put on the stand and ques-
toned closely regarding punishments.
and gave practically the same testimony
as he gave before the Kansas commit
tee, which was to the effect the pun
shments were none of them brutal or
cruel, and that no prisoner had suffered
any bodily injury from punishments
Miss Barnard Bitter.
Late in the afternoon Kate Barnard
the little woman who caused the in
vestigation. was admitted to the room.
She glanced coolly about over the crowd
of men in the room, as she removed her
hat and coat. She has prominent dark
eye -brOWS and large dark eyes, and has
good features.
She carried large package of papers,
which she hugged closely to her side
General West announced that
he would not ask Miss Barnard to testi-
fy, but that she might talk if she wish
I'd to. Senator J. E. Reed. an attorney
who was present to represent the war
len, Immediately commenced question
ing Miss Barnard as to her experience
in prison work.
What experience have you had in
prison work" Senator Reed asked Miss
Barnard.
Il first began my work among the
she said, several years
ago. / organized the United Charities
in Oklahoma City, looking up the home
less and destitute At the St Louis
worlds fair attended conventions be-
cause 1 was interested in sociological |
work.
Later Miss Barnard said that she had |
visited in addition to the Oklahoma /,
City jails, penitentiaries in Richmond, |
Atlanta and Little Rock