Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-06-25
EDWARD H. MORRELL
|NSpECTS WORKHOUSE
Former Outlaw, Sentenced tor
Life, But Secured Pardon
After Serving 10 Years.

Edward VI. Morrell. former member
IL a noted hand of outlaws who oper-
ated against the Southern Pacific
Railroad Company in Southern Cali
furnia Few years ago, but now en-
sag,-i in prison reform work, was a
visitor 1T the worlhouse at Green
hank Yesterday and spent about five
hours with Warden pluumer. He
made thorough inspection q the
iaisun and later pronounced il one
IL the bost and most modern institu-
lions oF the Mind Ii, has found in his
extensive travels throughout this
country
Nr Mnrrcll made AN extended ad-
dress a. the prisoners and referring To
the honor system under which they
work. ~ told them the whole situa-
ton Was strictly ~ TO them II rests
With them, H. explained whether the
system Is to b. made "A success and
continued OF failure and discarded
and ~ showed them where and how
they are tho beneaciarits under the
honor system. He stated the prison
III which they are confined is one of
the most cleanly, sanitary and best
NlanAA~h anu FAulblta VIZ haS 49,
a,en
Mr. Morrrll held the close atten-
tion ~ the inmates for long time by
his remarks. lie is a fluent speaker
and his accounts Of himself and his
experience proved the most interest
81 the prisoners have heard. Mr..
Murrvls history reads more like ne
tion than real life
lIe was tho youngest member of
the bandits who operated in the ViCin-
itN ~ Mussel Slough in lower Cali
fornia and when captured he was
fornia and when captured he was
sentenced to life imprisonment and
sent O. the rock auarries in Folsom
prison. Ho stayed there for two years
and then was sent 10 san Quentin
prison. having been made the victim
of some informrrs among the prison
ers and placed in solitary confinement
and in darkness in dungeon under
sentence to remain there for the re-
mainder of his life. He spent FIVE
years in this dungeon and then a
change ~ wardens brought about his
relcaSe Later he became head trusty
il which capacity he served four
wears ahi-aJ the expiration OF his s'r
iepnth year in jail he was pardonef
by the governor.
lie Immediately set out on his
prison reform work and in 1909 ne
succeeded IN having California pass
ijs FIRST prison reform law lie has
continued this work ever since with
eoud results on June he spoke here
before the Rotary Club Murrell says
be and his gang never disturbed the
United States mails during all the
time they operated as bandits. At one
time he was in straight jacket for
iO5 hours and 10y sole power OF his
own viii he forced himself into a
state Of coma and was pronounced
dead 10y physicians who examined him.
lie revived himself when released
single handed and alone he attacked
prison in California and succeeded
in releasing from custody the father
of a girl with whom he was in love
TLis man was the leader Of a gang
of bandits and ii was in this way that
Murrcll became associated with the
outlaws
After ms inspection of the work
house and his address to the prisoners
he congratulated Warden Plummer on
H. manner ia which he is managing
the prison and the good work he is
accomplishing in the way of prison
reform.