The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-04-15
WANTS CITIZENS
TO PROBE PRISON

LANSING, Mich, April l5.-Those
who expected militant message from
the house to the governor, demanding
action on the report condemning War
den Russell of Marquette, and cor
poral punishment, were disappointed
Yesterday, when the resolution was
sent TO the desk by Rep. Straight OF
the minority Of the Marquette IN
vestigating committee.
The resolution merely instructed
the clerk to transmit 10 the governor
the report, together with a message
stating the vote of the house Inc
resolution was adopted.
Warden Russell sent TO the govern
or Yesterday afternoon, communities
ton asking for another lnvestisa'ion
to be conducted by citizens Oh lne
state Of such high standing tnat tnsre
could be no suspicion or pohucai oI
other influence. The communication
reads: 90,
Hon. Chase S. sborn,
Governor OF Michigan,
I Executive Ofnce,
Lansing Michigan.
MY Dear Sir--Two years ago Iss.s
lative committee OF the sIus 40 Marauette.
OF which / am warden. and TWO inonths
after the investigation was maue
the very close OF the session, prouBh'
In report wnicn srpssg r,snn ana
lodged against me charges that are
utterly without foundation, ana aoso-
Iutely unsubstantiated even by the YES
timony given 81 eab,Ds Ds ciosed ione doors copy
OF which testimony Will be suoHitteu
for your inspection. 49,
The house OF representatives OF the
present Legislature recently oirec.eo
a committee or five members appointed
for the purpose, which committee mas
submitted majority and minority re-
ports. the contents ana na'1r ,.oS, VI
At the sitting OF the 67th day OF the
session of the house the minority re-
port bringing against me grave charses
OF the brutal treatment OF prison srt as
warden, was adopted as a SUBSTITUTE
for the majority report by vote OF
So to 20.
the statement of convicts connned III
the prison, most of whom were serV-
ing under third and fourth convictions,
but whose testimony was accepted py
the minority OF the committee as CON
/ do not care TO stand under the I'M
putations cast upon my conduct as
warden by the minority report, ana as
il is evident to me that cannot expect
fair treatment from the house OF rep
resentatives under existing polticai
conditions In this state, i appeal 10 you
10 name a commission composed OF
citizens OF the state or the hlghest
class who are interested In politics
only through sense or civic duty.
and not through desire for office or
power, to make thorough inVestiBa-
ton OF the conditions at my prison, ana
make q report OF their findings TO you
and to the people OF the state OF Michi-
gan.
of this great state as measure or SIM
pie Justice, and in order that the truth
may be placed before the people OF
Michigan regarding my administration
OF affairs OF the branch prison at Mar
quette.
(Signed) JAS. RUSSELL.
Warden.
Gov. Osborn will not remove War
den Russell He says:
Il have known Russell for 20 years
and members of the board tor nearly
as long a time" said the governor Il
have visited the prison many times,
sometimes spending two or three days
there, and am In a position TO know
conditions as well as the members OF
this committee who were there only
a week. will back Warden Russell,
for think him a capable man for the
position. With the class OF convicts
who have been consigned to him, | do
not believe any one could have done
otherwise and kept control of the
prisoners.
II am in favor Of the majority re-
port" said the governor emphatically
But the majority report states that
the punishment of prisoners. has at
times been overdone," was suggested.
1T may have in some instances. be.
cause no one is perfect, but not In a
degree to demand condemnation OF
RUSSELL" said the governor.
Russell wishes the appointment OF
a commission OF nine or 10 unbiased
men TO make another investigation.
lie has named in Ne list Milton A.
McRae, Abner +. Larned. f. II. Doyle,
J. L. Hudson. Rev. Myron Adams and
Ben 8. Hanchett.
II do not think that 3uch an in.
vestigation Is necessary, but IL Rus.
sell makes the request directly 10
me, I suppose that | shall grant II, "
said the governor.
Express waEons-Msin OF Chy-i1