The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-08-25

who had been discharged and we're
given letters of recommendation We're
favored mainly at their personal re-
quest. Botkin stated that he wanted
| to be as easy as possible IN the dls
charge of former employees ana that
| if a letter of recommendation would
help a man to get a good POSITION ne
did not want to stand in his way
| "At the time I gave Jones ms let
ter of recommendation, many OF the
things which have since. come TO my
knowledge were not known py me-
said Botkin.
Duped by Convict.
Botkin laughed and admitted that
he had been "duped" by B. j. GlHoro,
former convict. The warden said that
including shrewd bankers = nag
been led to believe the suave, sort
spoken, plausible convict.
Clifford was with me one day when
he told me of depositing draft Tor
ST. goo in a Kansas City bank, tes-
titled Botkin. HE wanted me to go
with him to the bank to transfer the
money"
The warden went with Clifford. Not
only did Clifford fail to show deposit
in the Kansas City bank, but he Pc,
litely walked away from Botkln ana
escaped. Later Clifford was captured
and returned to the prison. His pre-
vious good time was taken away from
him and he was required to serve ms
maximum sentence. He was released
| a few weeks ago, after having been
extended 35 days extra time for work
| ing long hours in the prison tW1ne
plant. That was the story OF the Gil
ford incident Botkin did not try to
conceal the fact that the smooth con-
Wet had worked him.
Minister'S Siren Song.
| With the Clifford matter, Botk1n
also took up the Stalnaker case. j g.
Stalnaker was a former Methodist
minister and was sent to the prison
| for a crime against his niece. One day
a telegram came to the prison stating
that Stalnaker's mother was dying.
The prisoner was granted a temporary
parole and permitted to go to west
| Virginia to return on a certain date.
Stalnaker returned as far as Kansas
City. There the prisoner talked to a
lawyer who told him of the BENEFITS OF
haDeas corpus proceedings 80 Stal-
maker called the warden over the tele-
phone and urged him to come to Kan
sas City. Botlxin went. When he ar
rived he was met by the prisoner and
his lawyer. There ~ summons in
| habeas corpus proceeding was served.
Were YOU in any manner a party
to the suit, or did you agree or con-
sent to go to Kansas City to accept
service?" was asked of Botkin.
IT never did, replied the warden
81 didn't have the slightest knowledge
of the plan when 1 went there at Stall
makers request"
Botkin denied that the giving of
special privileges in the dining room
was under his direction or at his sug-
gestion. Statements to Samuel Clark
that the warden had personally direct
ed the giving of special dining room
privileges, were again denied by the
| warden. 1t was during brief ex-
animation of Botkin on this subject
early in the week that the lie was
| passed between the warden and the
former prison employee.
Lone Wolf $12O Loan.
The Lone Wolf loan of $3.50 was
| taken up by Botkin 81 his direct eX-
animation. He stated that he was
custodian of the convict fund under
the state law and that he had the use
of the fund, just as former Wardens
had been entrusted with the money
Instead of using it without paying in
terest, he said that he gave Lone Wolf
note bearing 10 per cent Interest
The loan, he said, was repaid with in
terest in full
improvements at Prison.
Details of improvements and better
ments under his administration were
discussed Botkin itemized many bet
| terments to the prison plant since he
succeeded Codding. He stated that
tiary had been improved and that in
his judgment the standard of dis
cipline among prisoners was good.
The factional troubles among en-
(
den. He said that when Deputy War
den FitzgibbonS came to the prison as
mine superintendent in 1913, he was
regarded as valuable official. In
| fact, F'itzgibbons was advanced to the
deputy wardenShip, and held that
position until in December, 1914. Then
he was discharged.
FitzgibbonS was a Catholic. In the
prison arose a bitter feeling among
| the Catholics and Professionals. Jeal-
/ ouSy was also in evidence among en-
ployeeS and Botkin stated that F'itz-
gibbons was dismissed from the Serv-
ice in an effort to promote harmony.
Since Fitzgibbons left, he said, condi-
tions had improved.
No Gags Allowed.
Rebuilding of the Irvine plant, bet
| terments in the. mine, purchase of
new machinery and other details were
told of by the warden.
when did you first know of the use
of the gag and straight jacket in the
PRISON." was asked.
when 1 returned from a trip to
Wyoming in 1913" said Botkin. "F'itz-
| gibbons told me about it. 1 was in
dignant because such inhuman treat
ment of prisoners had been permitted.
1 called every man connected with the
incident before me and reprimanded
them severely. Then 1 ordered the
prison searched and every gag and
straight jacket gathered and locked
used"
As a result of the gag and straight
Jacket incident, Botl6in testified, sew
eral prison employees had been dis
charged.
l