Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-18
GOVERNOR TAKES
up HALEY'S CASE
Iowa Chief Executive Replies to
An Inquiry by the Humane
Organization.
EXPECTS A CHANGE SOON
Confident Legislature VIII Provide
Complete Reform of State
Penal System.

Des Moines, Iowa. March IS. - In .
response TO the demand made b. the .
Iowa Humane society. Governor George /
W Clarke has made personal investi- .
cation in behalf of Leonard W. Haley. F.
the man Of mystery who is a prisoner /
in & solitary cell al the Fort Madison
penitentiary.
Aroused by the published statements
OF the solitary cell confinement meted
out 10 Haley as punishment for his
refusal 20 work under the prison con
Cracr labor system, the president OF
the Iowa Humane society, Thomas A
Mansfield. wrote Governor Clarke a
letter couched in strong language de-
manding that he Immediately do all in
his power to stop the cruel treatment.
The opening sentence Of the letter ad-
dressed to Governor Clarke reads:
Dear Sir: The Iowa Humane so
ciety demands that you with as little
delay as possible do all that is within
your power TO put a stop TO the cruel
treatment Of a prisoner named Haley
now confined in a solitary cell al Fort
Madison"
EXPECTS LEGISLATIVE ACTION.
In response 10 Nj Mansfelds letter,
Governor Clarke has written the hui
name society that he conferred with
the warden of the Fort Madison peni-
/ Tertiary and the state board Of con-
/ troll relative TO the Haley case. adding
( that he called a conference Of legisla-
4 tors a few nights ago and discussed
/ the entire matter with them.
AS the outcome Of this conference,
/ Governor Clarke says that he believes
/ that legislation will be enacted which
will mean the adjustment Of the old
solitary cell system and a reorganiza-
ton of the penal system in Iowa Mr.
Mansfield yesterday replied 10 Cover
nor Clarke. thanking him for his inter
est in the prisoner, whose identity has
been established after 20 years of Sc
crecy as Leon ". Hardy Of Rock Is
land H.
Governor Clarke in his letter to Mr..
Mansfield says.
There are two sides to Mt Haley's
case You know it is fact that there
are generally two sides to every ques-
ton. The people as a rule. have only
been hearing one side. Haleys is one
OF the most remarkable cases that has
ever been brought TO my attention.
The pecuiiarities and disposition of
the man are very unusual. This, how
ever, does not prevent the case from
being very unfortunate one. indeed
Il IS so recognized by the board of
control and by the warden. + is hard
" as bad as has been pictured and II is
pretty hard 70 say what can be done 20
change very much the conditions
HALEY UNMANAGEABLE.
Haley is absolutely iucorrfgible. He
. has no regard at all for the discipline
Of the prison At any rate, this is the
Information that have The cells at
Fort Madison are Anticipated. and one
must admit that they are not the kind
thar persons ought TO he confined in
but there are no others The new cell
house is not completed and cannot be
o used As soon as il is completed there
: will be a different condition. ! have
not yet been at Fort Madison. and
cannot speak from personal knowl
edge
q called a conference Of the Iegis
larIve members q few nights ago and
talked over the whole matter with
them I think We shall succeed before
e the close Of this session in enacting
legislation that VIII put our prisons
and the mauagerueu- Of Ovr prisoners