Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-06-10
SNODGRASS PLEADS
GUILTY TO CHARGE
superintendent of Guards at State Pen.
itentiary Admits He Assaulted
Convict.

F. II. SnOdgrass, the former deputy
warden of the penitentiary and now
superintendent of guards at that in.
stitution, was sentenced to pay a fine
of $50 and costs by Justice of the
Peace Webster yesterday afternoon
after testimony had been received per.
tanning to a charge of assault and bat.
terry preferred against the prison Off
cial by L. H. McMahan as private pros.
ecutor.
During the month of May, Snodgrass
assaulted Jim Davis, prisoner he had
In charge at the corner of Commercial
and Center streets, while awaiting the
arrival of taxicab to take the man in
charge to the penitentiary. The guard
slapped the prisoner through the face
with his open hand, causing the blood
to flow from his nose, and again hit his
charge in the head for the alleged rea
son that Davis cursed the deputy
warden.
Snodgrass pleaded guilty to the
charge last Friday and, upon the sug
gestion of Justice Webster, witnesses
were called upon to testify in order
that the court could determine the pro.
per sentence to be pronounced in the
acse,
l.. H. McMahan, private prosecutor,
and Deputy District Attorney Reyes
appeared in court yesterday afternoon
and the witnesses were called to give
their version of the affair. According
to the testimony, which was undisputed,
Snodgrass did strike the prisoner two
times while he was handcuffed and
waiting for the taxicab to arrive to take
the party to the prison. Dan Truit, a
guard who was along with Snodgrass
at the time testified that the deputy
warden hit Davis in the face two times,
the first blow bringing blood and the
second nearly knocking the handcuffed,
partly drunken prisoner off his feet.
Police Officer Woolery testified that
Snodgrass knocked the prisoner down
after he had been captured and placed
the handcuffs upon him. Davis did
not attempt to escape, said Woolery,
and the officer hit him a blow and the
prisoner fell like log.
Prisoner Called.
Apparently anxious to not say any.
thing against Snodgrass, Jim Davis,
the prisoner who was assaulted, testi.
fled that while he did not want to say
anything against Mr.. Snodgrass' and
Superintendent Lawson, he would tell
the truth, He said that Snodgrass as.
saulted him many times; the first time
knocking him down, and the second and
third times he slapped him in the face
with such force as to cause his nose
and ear to bleed, Davis further testi.
fled that while he and the guards were
on their way to the prison, Snodgrass
beat him up something awful. Upon
arriving at the prison. testified Davis,
his eye was closed shut from a blow
and his lips and face bled freely from
blows struck by Snodgrass. He also
stated in court that Truit jumped in the
rear end of the taxi before the prison
was reached and advised Snodgrass to
cease hitting him,
Violated Rules.
According to Superintendent Lawson,
who was called to testify, Snodgrass
committed a flagrant violation of the
prison rules. The superintendent of
the institution declared that the guards
were given the privilege of placing
handouts upon a prisoner, but they
were not allowed to in any way mis-.
treat a charge unless an attempt to
escape was made. Superintendent Law.
son was very frank in explaining the
rules of the prison and not at any time
did he attempt to shield Snodgrass,
He gave his personal view Of the case
~s.a.ul.
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