The Hartford republican., 1913-12-19
der IS TROUBLE
IN De LAM
Charges Against warden
Wells at Frankfort.
Deputy Warden White Charges
Use Of Public Money For Per-
sonal Ends.

SOu6l Eu0Ss
Factions in the Frankfort .Refoma
tory which has been rumored evel
since Warden A. J. G.. Wehls tool
charge cropped out recently in the
filing with Gov. McCreary of charges
against Wells covering forty-si,
pages by former Assistant Deputy
Warden r. l.. hite, who served in
that capacity in the Reformatory un-
der the former board, but was REFUSE
reappointment by the present com.
missloners.
Mr.. White charges seriatim that
Warden Wells is conducting a board
ing house in the warden's residence,
furnished by the State; that a SIS
range was installed in the kitchen
at the expense OF the State and that
an ice chest was built in the house
with convict labor with material fur
nished by the State. and has the coal
for the house is furnished at the ex-
pense of the State. He also charges
that the warden has three prisoners
working around the house and one
around his stable. He declares that
discipline is bad in the prison.
THE discipline" he said. is what
the conviots see fit to maintain, due
to the attempt to conduct the prison
on the so-called Sunday-school plan.'
He said "the warden details convicts
to pry on guards and inferior Off
GERS; allows his staff OF convict
SWITCHES to violate rules with i'm
pun.ty and huniltates guards by per
convicts reported for infrac-
tions to, brand. Them as LARS ssa.-
Referring to Warden Wells abol-
ition Of the whip. he says:
"The present warden has added fea-
tures that make SOLITARY confinement
at the Rsformatory q living hell"
He charges gross cruelty in sys-
tenn by which prisoners are suspend
cd In handouts from chains fasten-
cd insthe ceiling of the solitary cell.
This. he says, Is called swinging
them up high" When this order is
given a rumor is sent In haste to no.
tify the doctor OF what Is going on
that he may remain close at hand
and be ready for emergencies. and a
convict o. the cell captain is station
I'd within hearing distance of the SOL
tary with keys ready to make a
rush as soon as the convict cries out,
but Notwithstanding these precautions
/ number have been found APPARENT
y flfeiSes when relief reached them.
4 negro, called Spokane" was re-
,ently found in this condition and
vas taken down. and carried into the
corridor and the doctor and Acting
Warden Lykens notified. the report
'eing to the effect that the nesro
vas dead.
white said the doctor thought him
nalingerins and touched lighted
igar to his flesh whereupon the ne
TO flinched and was chained up
gain"
He says that on September 23 AL
ert Kelly was subjected to this pun
shment and as a result was confined
o the hospital. He said women. too,
re chained up.
"The conwicts have horror of this
he adds. He said this
has increased since Au-
ust when the contractors threat
ned to withdraw and sue the State
ecause convicts were not perform
ig their tasks. and the board order
the oonvicts made to perform thei
asks. 1,"
He says the bedding is full Of ver-
lin. the food not as good as It used
, be and the nighsschool "a howl
lg farce" In this connection he
lid he instituted the nisht school.
! which he was acting as supt. draw
lg s25 a month for that work.
'hite said he ask the board to Great
10 office Of superintendent and ap-
lint him. but the board refused. He
70 charges that the miak depot,
hach was instituted when the pris-
ners were allowed per cent. OF
'eir earnings for the purpose OF sell
nc milk at cost. has been making q
pofit on milk and Vegetables and frui
I'd he demands that this be tnves-
gated. . 49,, II
lie said tho prison barber shop
aarges guards nifty cents month