El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-02-26

nunciatiOn Of the honor system He
was a little too positive in his state
ments to be regarded as a good witness
Sinnott testified that the sheriff s
office had never been officially nOti-
fled Of escapes from the penitentiary
or the road camps. though he admitted
that Warden r B. Sims had several
tunes notified the sheriff in person.
He said that if he met a man sent up
from his own county he would not
know whether he were an honor man
or an escaped convict He had no OBJ
lection to the cOnyicts being worked
outside the prison provided they were
properly guarded
When asked il he had ever heard of
unbecOming conduct on the part OF a
convict while unguarded on the Flor
ence streets, SinnOtt replied that the
driver of the prison automobile ran It
through the town one night without
any lights He had seen convicts talk
ing. with young boys but never with
girls.
SinnOtt told Of seeing Bob Anderson
go out Of a barrOom with six bottles of
beer. The bartender stated immedi-
ately afterward that he did not know
his customer to be a convict
Murderer at AWild Vest show.
At Kit CarsOn's wild west show Sin
mott saw Jack Monroe, sent up for
a murder committed near Superior.
Monroe had Warden Sims little boy by
the hand and no guard was near Ac-
cOrding to SinnOEt, Monroe tried to
shake hands with him. but the officer
Pretty soft for you" Sinnott said.
Yes, this game is easy laughed
The witness stated that he had seen
as many as three honor men at one
time on the streets of Florence, IN
guarded
Convict At a Dance.
Troxel declared that Walter Gaynor
had tried to buy liquor at the saloon
where he tends bar, but had been re-
fused TrOxel said that had he not
been personally acquainted with him
he never would have taken him to be
a convict All the honor men were well
dressed, he said.
Once Gaynor attended a dance where
TrOXel was floor manager. He danced
four times, TrOxel did not say with
whom Then he asked to be introduced
to four women whom TrOxel regarded
as his friends and the floor manager |
ordered him out of the place.
TrOXel said that he did not trust the |
present prison administration but he
paid a high compliment, in his rather
vigorous language, to Captain Thorn
as h Rynning, the former superin-
tendent. under whom he worked.
Little Love For COnytets.
W. Y Price, president Of the Flor |
ence Commercial company, was asked |
would you like to see the prison
moved away?" Senator Cunnfff asked /
the question
7 would" replied the witness. after (
q moments hesitation.
When asked regarding his views on /
prison reform, Mr. Price replied: That :
is a question that have never studied /
but / am opposed to it"
Price hadn't much faith in the ability !
Of convict to reform and was rafbar /
inclined 10 the theory that when a. man 4
is once criminal he always remains !
one Moreover he thought thai the /
roads and bridges built BY convfcts !
in this state would have cost less If 4
built by Tree labor under contract. |
IL hay a #hnaA
dollars were spent in pursuing escaDe5
All the witnesses were asked WHY
40 steps were taken to protest regard
ing what was going on in FLORENCE /
until the recent petitions we've fiIe5 i
with the legislature. Price had fbe 1
most Satisfactory answer. He said i
hat the citizens had ben CONSIDERING /
the matter for a long time but did NOT !
think that it would do anv e-oo5 - 4
complain to warden Sims to the GOV
ernor or any member of the board of 4
control Ihey decided to take their /
troubles direct to the legislature.
COnvfets Mistaken For DrUn,-,'..
c q. Powell member Of the citv 4
council of Florence and mercbs1f }
OF the loM n; SAID that he had mistaken /
we'll dressed convicts for TRAVELLING /
men, He ha0 never heard that the Deo- i
pie OF floIence were talking Of arm /
ING themselves to defend them /
selves, from PM tne convicts. but he sug- /
sested a law requiring cOnvicts to be |
kept within prison walls. unless closely
guarded
senator Cqnniff asked all the wit
leSses what legislation they would sue--
sest as a remedy for the conditions
hey alleged to exist All replied alone
he same general lines-keeD them f1
he prison and not let them out except
Warden's Statement.
Warden Sims filed q statement pre- .