Atlanta Georgian., 1913-10-20
BUILDER OF
DUNGEON
CALLS|T
CRUEL
Blacksmith Tells How Prisoners
Are Chained Up by Hands in
"Torture Chamber"

Negro bosses over white convicts
is one of the sensational charges
made against Warden william H.
Meyer, of the Federal prison, by B. b.
Rich. who for nine and one-half years
was employed as foreman of the
blacksmith shop there, He declares
that one-tenth OF the abuse Of con-
victs at the prison has never been
told. and that the charges of Julian
Hawthorne and Or. Morton, whose
arraignment Of the prison administra-
tion created a sensation following
their discharge from the penitentiary
three days ago, are true in every par
tlcuiar.
Confinement in the hole is com
mon" he said. Il built the two cells
In the basement which are thus
named and was often called upon
to rivet the chains on the prisoners
confined there. They were chained
to the door hanging by their hands
Sometimes they were kept this way
for "a hours. 1t was not uncommon
for them to be chained up this way
all day, have the chains loo5ened at
night and have a blanket hand
ed them in which they could roll up
and sleep on the hard floor. There
were no cots in the cells when ! left
there two years ago.
Prisoners confined there were given
nothing but bread and water. Some
times they were given two slices or
bread day, but as rule they were
allowed but one, with one glass OF
water | have known of men to be
kept there for two weeks and come
out so pallS and weak they could
hardly walk, and almost blind from
confinement in the darkness.
Says Convicts Are Starved.
The charges of starving the pris-
oners are absolutely true. 7 had 4e
men in my squad and they were hun
cry all the time They would take
the scraps from my lunch and raven
ously eat them The lack of food
made rogues Of them. When the
guards backs We're turned l have
seen them ravenously eating pieces of
pie, ham and eggs and other food
which the cooks mad stolen from the
kitchens Of the warden and officers
They begged me to bring them food.
and my lunch basket contained moro
than l could have eaten.
"A peculiar system is that some OF
the work demands that a number OF
the convlcts continue at work during
the noon hour for lunch. They are
compelled to wait and ii was the
usual thing for the men who worked
through the noon hour to get a bet
ter meal than those who ate at the
regular time. The men in my squad
begged to be allowed to work during
this time In order that they might
obtain the better food.
There were many forms of punish
ment and If the men employed at the
penitentiary are assured that they
will not lose their positions they win
reveal a state OF conditions that will
cause everyone TO shudder"
Mr. Rich took exception to the de-
tense of Warden Meyer made BY
Thomas c. Bran who recently was
paroled.
MIR. Brsm IS under parole and can
not afford 10 talk. for he is still
within the Jurisdiction Of the officers
Of the penitentisry,' said Rich Then
he was not in position to really ob
serve that the convicts were being
starved as he was cook. He was
fed plenty. and the food cooked BY
him was apuetizlng. The objection
lies in the small amount served to
each convict
There Is negro engineer at the
prison now AZ wage OF 800 pAx