Evening journal., 1920-04-27
SOLONS START
SECRET PROBE
OF WORKHOUSE
-cnnllnnnd frnm FIr.l para.l !

'NNN NNAAf % ANN NN"N NH HN"''NA'' '''"N ''f''
charges against the past workhouse
management before a committee at
the Legislature. was with Representa-
tive McNshb al the Hotel dupont yes
lerday. but was not taken out 20 The
workhouse.
Charles e.. Guyer. Is making a stono-
graphic report Of the Investigation.
Following luncheon at the Work
house. members OF the committee
said they had nothing 20 give out ai
This time. They said the testimony
thus far has been OF ga rambling
nature" adding hat when they did
give out their findings The names OF
prisoners Who had testified would nc
concealed This latter action, the
COMMITTEES stalled, would bc 10 pro-
ioci the prisoners lcslifylng from un-
due noioriciy and to make them feel
they could testify freely.
The contract labor system at lhe
Workhouse already has been dis
cussed by The committee, ana judging
from conversation with several. ihe
committee views 10 Will uiaiiNor.
The present contract for work viii
expire in December.
Tho committee also has investigated
the Workhouse farm, which cum-
prises about 500 acres. Al present
| iho farm h used only for dairy pur-
noses some of the milk from 70 being
| sold In Wilmingt0n. The committee
appears 90 think The farm could be-
better utilized for trucking general
crop raising and for cattle raising 10
Z addition 90 dairy work This change,
however. would require the employ
meni Of an expert farmer, and as
| senator Alice remarked today, such
competent farmers are hard 20 GET
as they are busy managing lheir own
The committee at the workhous'
Yesterday afternoon talked 90 the
| three men named. as well as scores
/ of Others and they were Informed
| that the probe was about as useless
/ sd Gar as proscli conditions are con-
| corncd as anything they could think
OF The time for an investigation.
the prisoners said. was past and With
one accord they asserted theN We're
willing TO forget the past and 1--WE Tor
the future. In fact many oi ihe prls-
0ners referred TO the past as a night
mare. &c.,, ,
the legislators that Warden NJ. =
plummer. since he assumed charge
! len days ago. had changed many OF
the sO-callcd wrongs Of the past. As 4
result OF humane treatment tne men
I'M the workshops, on the farms and
about the prison Say they are now
satisfied with conditions.
some idea OF Just how the prls'
oncrs appreciate the reforms inaueg'
rated by Warden plummer was eNi'
dcnced on sunday when Negro con
Met a dope user. informed a min
isier visiting the prison that he .be.
Uevcd that "G0d had done sent thi'
man here" meaning Warden PUN
James =. Nlelds. In ialknis Will
The inyostieaiing committee Nester
day afternoon, said.
II am a Quaker. and not SUPPOSE
20 believe In miracles, but nay
seen one performed here Wilhin lh
This expression prevailed an Owe
the Institution and William Woods.
prisoner. who has assisted Wardei
plummer In starting the honor sNs
tenn. said only one violation OF il'
honor system occurred last week
This vi0latOr. a prisoner who refused
10 work. was appealed 10 Dl hlelh
bers OF the honor committee To- Wor'
and when be refused the prisoners
placed him in a cell 70 ponuer Owe
lhis act. The man yesterday mornlni
asked 10 be placed al work and las
niaht the prisoners voted that he ha'
heen punished enough and ne wa
put back at work today.
Kid Henry, a Negro, OF Troy, " \
,,ho claims 10 have been deiciel
81 lbui once In two hundred rlnFside bat
s lies In the WcltcrWolght class, yes
e ierdav greeted the investigating com
!. mitiee With the statement that sine
2 Warden plummer had assumed clafk
life had been worth living. hehI
5 said that he had only 10 ask Tor NOR
= fond al mess time and u was served
one prisoner, who had a penchan
s for bread. has the reputation OF eat
G ing two l0avcs at one meal
5 Former Warden Leonard CRAWFORD
Q u-ho has co-0nerated with Wardc
5 ph,mmer In iHsiltuting the honor
I system. Informed the members or IN
n legislative committee that m DcctiQ
/, her It cost the trustees 10 cents.
:. dav 10 feed The prisoners Whlle 10
4: me mast twenty-five days, 10 has cos
e % cents and now every man Is give
AN ne desires 10 eat
Another change made since Wardf
I pittmmer assumed charge Is that o
r alloving the prisoners 90 spend W.
, hotirs from $50 10 7.O o'clock cdcl
! evening. in The exercise yard. Las
! evening they gave an exhibition gam
4 Of ball for the beueiit OF the vlsl
q I tors
THE first weekly session cf th'
r honor system committee was held o.
II sunday night following musicad ]
q fhe dinngroom. The proposed prob
= was discussed by the men and the
: all agreed 10 cooperate In layinl
: hare troubles Of the past.
Tho only features Of the work
{, house that was criticized ycsterda
: ,,,as fhe crowded condition Of the WO
/. menis ward and the fact that On
I Toilet facilities Of the institution ar
not as adequate as they should be.
sf - -. =, ~ e-rpr,t-rr