The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-08-09
commission Of Three Has Been
Named 70 Look Into the #. MadI-
son Psnitsntlary for Any Nils
management.
WARDEN UNDER CHARGE
iowa CITY Newspaper Editor Has Kept
up Knocking untiI the Doors
Ars TO Be
Opened.

DES MONIES, Aug. g.. The special
committe which will make an investi- /
cation into conditions in the state
penitentiary at TT Madison and into
charges lodged against Warden San
ders Of the institution, has been ap-
pointed by the attorney general
They are Judge M. w. Robert OF
Ottumwa, Hon. Farley Sheldon of
Ames, and Attorney General Cosson.
The latter, as attorney general OF
the state and chief prober, will head
the commission.
The commission will decide upon
course OF action and at what time
i. shall begin. The attorney general
promises that it will start as soon as
possible within few days.
The determination to make an In
vestigation Of the Ft. Madisbn peni-
tertiary was occasioned by charges
made against Warden Sanders by in
mates of the institution.
One OF the most vigorous OF these
complaints was made by Leonard W.
Haley, convict, whose charges have
been taken up by Editor Brant of the
Iowa City Republican The latter has
made repeated attacks upon Governor
Carroll and has been insistent in his
demand that the charges be investi-
gated.
The Haley letter, which Is at the
bottom of the whole affair, was orig
inally sent to the Register and Lead
er and by this paper turned over to
the attorney general
AT first no particular attention was
paid to the matter. but other letters
came SO says the attorney general
and demands for a complete investi-
cation became SO strong that he de-
cided to make the probe.
He made his announcement just a
short time before Governor Carroll
officially directed him to take up thu
affair and investigate all the charges
made.
The governor, who has been an OBJ
Il iect Of attack by Editor Brant in the
and the board Of control, has an es
pecial interest in the investigation.
The commission as appointed by At
torney General Cosson is Composed O
two republicans and one democrat
Farley Sheldon being the democrat
member.
The special committee appointed b.
Attorney General George Cosson tt
Investigate Fort Madison penitentiar.
| ard the caarges lodged against War
den Sanders held its first meetinl
yesterday afternoon.
1t was decided that first of all tn
commission will hold q hearing in De
Moines Following this hearing tn
commission will proceed to the pen
tertiary where it will conduct ful
ther hearing. also investigating priso
conditions as to sanitation and tn
like.
The purpose of the Des Moine
hearing is to give an opportunity t
all persons who do not wish to go a
the way to Fort Madison to tell wha
they know To the c>vnmission
1T Is the desire of the commits
sss'n, said Attorney General Cosso
Yesterday, that everybody who d.
sires tc offer any light whatever u
on the subject, see the commissio
either in Des Moines or at Fort Mad
son. 1t is also the desire of the cor
mission that any person who has an
Information on the subject commun
cate with some member Of the cor
mission
The date for the Des Moines hea
Ing has not been agreed upon as ye
but will be some time before Sept 1
The commission will sit in Fo
Madison Immediately after this.
It has not been decided as y
whether the probe to be conducts
will be open and the public let in {
oil the information. This plan hi
been urged upon the members OF Il
commission.
While a public hearing is usual
the best" said Judge Roberts,
may not be advisable all through tn
case. There may be some people wi
will give us important information
their names do not become public. Y
desire to get all information pc
siblc.
1t is believed, however. that t
commission will open up practical
all evidence to the press and {
oublic.