Omaha daily bee., 1912-03-04
"DOpE" INQUIRY AT PRISON
Governor Aldrich Holds Long Con
ference with Warden.
PROTECTIVE MEASURES TAKEN
Life Term Convict nj Head of Hos
pitsl Punished and TRUSTEES De-
prived of Priviiese.-Msy
Bar Mamen Teaehers.
(rrom a Staff Correspondent.


LINCOLN, March S.--(Special Telegram.)
Discovery that convicts Of the state
penitentiary had been dealing extensively
in various forms OF dope" for some time
past led TO a long conference today be-
tween Warden Delahunty and Governor
Aldrich.
Following this the latter issued state
ment in which he said: In the matter
Of getting drugs into the penitentiary, |
desire to say that Warden Delahunty is
facing the same situation that every
prison official has TO fear In the entire
country and will always have TO face.
There Is nothing new or startling In the
discovery and we are very thankful that
one channel at least has been discovered
TO a certainty and II goes without saying
that this particular channel will not be
again opened for the transmission OF
drugs into the Nebraska penitentiary.
Adopt plan of Action.
Warden Delahunty and myself have
gone over the entire matter and are
agreed as TO what ought 10 be done and
/ want 10 say in behalf OF the warden,
that he Is anxious and more than willing
TO cooperate with anyone TO the end
that this nefarious practice be stopped.
He is constantly on the alert to put this
traffic down and has been doing all within
his power 10 accomplish II and from a
careful investigation, made, am satisfied
that the use OF dope has at the present
time been reduced TO a -minlmum. And
1 also want to say for myself as chief
executive Of the state and also In behalf
Of Warden Delahunty that We welcome
any reliable information at any time that
will aid or assist him In making condi-
tIons better at this penal institution.
May Bar Women Teachers.
'.In this connection it is proper for me
To remark that am seriously considering
the advisability OF dispensing with women
teachers In the Sunday school classes at
the penitentiary. Many prisoa men be-
leve that II, is impracticable to have
women mlngle as teachers with this class
Of men. | am not fully advised as to
what ought to be done. and shall make
careful investigation and try TO profit by
the experience Of men who have been at
the head OF penal institutions and ascer-
tain as far as l can what ought TO be
done ia this regard"
The governor also ordered that TRUSTEES
Crawford and Tooman, who were dis
covered in the act OF taking the morphine
from a convict named Burns. who had
only recently been released from the
state penltentlary. would hereafter be cut
from their privileges.
Doctor Prisoner Punished.
Doctor Dlnsmore. serving a life SEN
tence in the penitentiary and who has
been at the head OF the hospital for some
time past VIII hereafter be compelled to
sedye as q common prisoner and will not
handle drugs IN any fashion whatsoever.
Drunken guards will be released from
the employ Of the state and efficient men
will be hired TO take their places. A care
full watch will be kept upon the men and
the state executive will cooperate with
the warden in making vigorous at
tempt to suppress the traffic.
Prison association officials who have
been especially interested in the investi-
cation and who accompanied ex-Convict
Burns TO the prison late Friday night
when the test was made. were Rev. L F.
Roach pastor Of 81. Paurs Methodist
church Of this city; ex-state superin-
tendent ]. L McBrien. Bert Wilson. head
Of the Men and Religion Forward move
ment. and Judge Lincoln Frost. formerly
OF the district bench