The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-03-01
HUMANE WARDEN
Is PROSECUTED
OPINION OF PROBATION OFFICER
OF DETROIT OF CHARGES
AGAINST MARQUETTE
PRISON.

symposium on corporal PUNISHMENT
in Prisons" to which a number of De-
troit clergymen, a circuit judge and
others engaged i'm humanitarian work
contribute The opinions evidently
were written after having read the
Huntley and Hill stories published in
the Detroit Journal. Some Of the writ
ers are opposed to corporal punish
nent, while others favor, but all agree
that the question is one worthy of
study and research before expressing
any opinions.
| OF all the contributors TO the SYM
sonal knowledge of the Marquette
prison and its management is MILAN
Fl. Venn, probation officer of the city
of Detroit, among whose duties is to
assist paroled men to keep in the
straight and narrow path. Several of
the contributors preface their opinions
with the statement. "if these charges
Of cruelty are true" etc, but Mr.. Venn
knows from personal observation and
investigation of what he speaks. He
writes as follows:
Il am pleased to respond to your re-
quest for an opinion regarding the
question of punishment at Marquette
prison, inasmuch as | have been forced
to the conclusion that good man and
a humane warden is being prosecuted,
either Intentionally or unwittingly.
have been through the prison, and have
been given the privilege of speaking
freely with numerous inmates with
whom l had personal acquaintance,
and these prisoners have unhesitating-
ly borne testimony to the kind treat
ment accorded them. In addition to
this fact, have been first friend to
five men coming from the branch
prison at Marquette, and since the agi-
tation of this matter of punishment
have spoken to four of them (the fifth
broke his parole by leaving the city,
as to their treatment while under con-
finement. In the parole office, apart
from any prying ears, they have praised
the warden for his fair and manly
treatment of them while in his care.
One of these men, whose parole ex-
to Mr. Russell that he was willing even
to uncover his identity to a reporter
in order that he might speak a true
: word for the warden he felt was being
unjustly treated. / have a fairly large
correspondence with men confined in
Marquette prison, and have numerous
letters which speak of kind treatment
S and Of the enjoyment of privileges not
e accorded in other penal institutions.
$ 1T happened on the occasion of my
= visit TO the prison mentioned above
that two men were confined in the
Y dungeon, and when our party passed
v through the institution we were taker
to the dungeon and observed the treat
ment accorded incorrigibles-at least
to those who were unruly enough L
: merit the dungeon" experience. on
man was reclining on his bed in the
apartment and the other was hand
cuffed to the door i'm a standing posi-
ton. The former certainly was no
. passing through any ordeal, except tina
his fare consisted of bread and waite
until such time as he was willing t
promise amendment. AS to the latter
{ the hands were fastened to the bars o
. the door i'm such a manner that his ell
bows rested on the transverse bar
while his feet found solid footing upol
the floor. 1t was not the most com
&c Portable position, to be sure, but W
g failed to see any evidence of cruelt
II i'm the method employed. These mel
" were in the dungeon only short time
u as they said they would do better AM
were released.
Personally, we hail the advent O
the day when even better condition
:, will prevail in prisons, but there is n
= doubt that at this stage of progress tn
fact that the warden has the authori
~ to administer corporal punishment
i'm extreme cases makes the necessit
for that administration less frequen
than If he were shorn OF this power
When we consider that some of tn
worst characters in other state institu
tons have been sent to the Marquett
prison because they were too unrul
&c and belligerent, it would clearly be a
t. continue to send such men to hir
10 were he to be deprived of means whic
~ have had the effect of restraining thes
'c men who were beyond control in othe
penal institution.
y 1T must not be forgotten that TN
- number of men needing strenuou
y treatment is very small. and that tn
orderly element in the prison must nc
be denied privileges in order to punis
= a few unruly ones. At Marquette tn
- men receive every privilege upon thei
; entrance. which is not true of the othe
prisons, and these privileges are onl
denied when men have proved them
selves unworthy of their enjoyment.
cannot believe, from means at hand 70
information. that the published state
ments concerning punishment at tn
branch prison refer to the present tim
or to Warden Russell.
From my knowledge Of Michigan
penal institutions, were Il necessar
for me to be confined i'm one of then
and were I To be given my choice, bar
ring the distance from home. I shoul
~ | .iao.o the t1rannh nrfonn nj Nor