Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-04-11
FACTS BROUGHT OUT SHOW
PRISONER Is NOT CONFINED
IN SOLITARY CELL.
TREATMENT SAME ACCORDED
TO OTHER PRISONERS
Given Same Food as Other Prisoners,
Has Electric Light and Fan-venti-
lated Coll Like All Other Prisoners,
and Has Not Been Punished for His
"Strke-Ready to Obey Rules.

DeS MONIES, April 11.-Ine Haley
case and the alleged terrible torture"
of great "hero" continues to bob up
serenely every other day in news
papers that stand for convict mutiny
and rebellion. But these facts seem
! now to have been fully established as
to the case:
| Haley is simply smart lifer who
/ believes he can force the state of Iowa
/! to give him treat ment better than 9TH
er criminals. "@t
| Haley is not in the solitary and new
er has been, but occupies the same
kind of a cell as hundreds Of others.
| and gets the same food and light and
| good care.
| Haley would have gone to work and
abandoned his strike long ago but
| for the encouragement he has received
! from the outside.
| The other day the dean Of the law
| department of Drake University. E. B.
| Evans, caused to be published here an
article passing judgment of condem-
nation on state officials for their al
legged discrimination against and mis-
| treatment Of Haley.
| Communications in regard TO the
! Haley case which have appeared from
| time to time in a local paper" said
| Judge G. S. Robinson, chairman Of the
! board of control illustrate the cl':
(! adage that "a lie will travel around
the world while truth is putting on its
boots also the cynical saying that "a
! lie we'll stuck to is as good as the
| = oil he nr'f II
regard to this case have been founded
| upon misconception or misrepresen-
ta1ion of facts. The latest is the article
from Dean Evans, which is important
because of the official connection of
| the writer but like other criticisms is
not founded on facts.
1T is true" continued The chairman.
there is prisoner called Haley who
is confined in the penitentiary at Fort
Madison, but it is not true that he is
confined in a damp cell, nor in & cell
| lacking III ventilation nor that his
health is undermined, nor so far as IS
known that he is likely to become in
sane, nor that he is confined as a pun
1 ishment. nor that he is being tortured.
All charges to that effect are base
less.
Never IN SOLITARY.
THE facts are that the man was
given place of honor and trust In the
prison library, that he violated the
rules of the prison and grossly abused
the trust imposed in him. end was re-
moved from the library because his po-
sition there gave him great opportun-
tiles for unlawful communication with
persons inside and outside the prison.
He was directed to do work of light
nature on a contract but refused to do
it without giving any reason for his
refusal, altho later he said ne was
opposed to prison contracts. He was
then placed in q cell on the ground
floor of the cell house, which he con-
tinues to occupy. He was rot placed
in the solitary but in a eel IL, all re-
spects like nearly 400 other cells, diff
fering only as to location.
The cell bank extends from east to
west and his cell fronts north, as do
one-half of the 512 cells. L. is true
the direct rays Of the sun do not pene
trate the cell and the same is true of
nearly 300 other cells, but it is not true
that sunlight does not penetrate H.
Excepting two or three days each year
it is dry. and it at all times clean and
well ventilated by a large electric far.
1t is lighted at night by an electric
light in the cell, and is warm in cold
weather and as cool in warm weather
as it can be made.
1.-The man has never been reduced
in grade but wears the first grade
clothing and is given the same food
other prisoners have. and that is
abundant and good. He is exercised IN
the cell house daily and goes to the
toilet cell whenever there is need.
No Effort to Punish.
"Soon after he was placed in the cell
some question was raised as to his
mental condition and for several
months he was kept under OBSERVE
ton and finally examined by two
skilled alienists. They pronounced him
sane, but he was not punished except
by being kept in his cell. If there was
any purpose to punish him at first II
was abandoned when the question OF
his sanity was made and has never
been put in force since that question
was decided.
Haley has taken excellent care OF
himself by daily sponge baths and
physical exercises and is reported to
be in good condition. He has been
offered different kinds Of employment
but has refused all offers. In short, ne
will do nothing except what he choos-
es to do. He knows that he can leave
his cell at any time on any week day
by merely saying he is ready to ooey
the rules of the prison and do Worn
assigned which he is able to do. II
there be any punishment it is self iiu-
posed If there be any torture 1t Is
self inflicted. In fact there is neither
at would be helpful to the authori-
ties in charge of Haley If the critics
would suggest some practical treat
ment for q sane and intelligent mar
who defies all authority and refuses t.
obey the reasonable regulations Of thu
prison, rather than to belabor a Great
ure of straw Of their own making.
Haley will not work-not so long a!
he thinks any one is trying to make 6
hero or martyr of him, and the ques
ton is, what should be done with him
"He objects to going to the hospita
where light and air are abundant, be-
cause 1t is depressing. II he is no
kept in his cell he must be allowed t
roam at will thru the prison or be fur
inished with special guard. Mos