Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-17
JUDGES WILL ORDER
No FURTHER PROBE
Workhos,se Investigation Too Ex-
pcnsivc; Former Convict AL
lcgcs Brutality.

In reply to the request of the Central
Labor Union for public investigation OF
the New Castle County Workhouse, tbs
State judges say, in communication
read last right at meeting of the union,
that they thought further investigation
unwise, and would only mean additional
expenses. The probe of the grand jury
was considered las a searching and as
complete AZ possible" The reply further
stated that some of the recommendations
of the grand jury are being put into effect.
At the meeting last night of Central
Labor Union, Everett +. Martin, former
inmate of the institution, laid harr what
he claims to be outragcs perpetratcd on
prisoners Martin WAS convicted IN No
vember, 1917, under the name of Everett
+. Williams, on a charge of passing q
worthless check, and served sentence OF
twenty-ni months.
During the course of his talk to the
members Of the union, Martin said, among
other things:
IL am positive that men can be turned
out of prisons that can be Of some good to
their country, but under the existing con-
ditions at the workbouse the men could
only be menace. The workhouse can
be made credit to Delaware and it is up
to the citizens TO help make 1t model
institution These inmates should not
he brutaiixcd. | have seen man stretch
ed out on bars for period of twelve hours
for fight which occurred in the work
house. The institution should be CON
Quoted along the lines of a school and the
officials should be like school teachers
and should be respected by the public.
"A prisoner. like a school child, should
be protected, not brutaiized, there should
be certain amount of entertainment.
/ don't want YOU to think men Tint j
do not believe In severe punishment.
believe in punishment, but along humane
lines. If one out of a thousand prisoners
is reformed the policy of the prison will
not be IN vain.
'"The contracting labor system at the
workhousc is disgrace and an outrage to
Delaware and makes the State laughing
stock TO other States IN the country
Another solution is the employment of
good guards, men that are not brutal. !
know of several CASES where the guards
were caught stealing from the PRISON and
of course were discharged but were let
off without trial or punishment. Thus Is
n fine example for the prisoners. The
guards i'm these cases should be occupying
the rFtiS. w iIn ifffFs FDitHhtbHS IL ~ mo-
wonder that the men, after serving their
terms. 20 back to house-breaking or the
old life that brought them behind the
prison gates.
Gentlemen, ask You, can you blame
man for being a criminal after these out
ragrs are being allowed TO exist in any in
stitution7 have theory which I think
will help the situation; that ~ 20 appoint
a committee at this time 10 take action
on reform movement at the workhouse
When asked this morning in regard to
the charges made by Martin, Acting
Warden Crawford, now in charge of the
work house said he did not know anything
about any specific instances of cruelty
alleged by the former convict, but from
his knowledge Of the institution and those
in charge he did not believe that any
cruelty was practiccd Mr.. Crawford
said that IL was, Of course, necessary to
maintain discipline in n prison, and that
sometime punishment had To he inflicted
on those who would not otherwise obey
the rules.
With reference to the charges AZ to food
provided, he said that he could no< say
As to the time mentioned by Martin, but
be knew that what WAS furnished the
prisoners now is good.