The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-07-31
GRIM WORKHOUSE
Being Torn DOWN
IS RELIC OF PAST

ID NLLU VI hOH
"Turkey-Faced'' Kelly, Who
Held Up Senator'S and Led
Mutineers, Once Inmate.
BY CAPT. J. WALTER MITCHELL.
The grim. gray walls of the old
workhouse at Nineteenth and e.
streets southeast are being denol-
ished. With the razing OF this an
cient structure one of the few re-
naming landmarks OF Washington
will have disappeared. The roof and
most of the front walls already have
been torn down. The destruction Of
the building is being accomplished
to make room for the Galiinser
Municipal Hospital. which win cost
more than 100000.
Bricks Taken From Old Jail.
1t Is not generally known that
every brick in the old workhouse
was taken from the District jail,
which stood approximately upon the
site of the present Pension Office
at Fifth and @ streets northwest.
At the close of the civil war II was
decreed that the unsightly old jail
should be removed to a more obscure
section OF the city. Preceding the
erection of the present brownstone
Jail at Nineteenth street southeast,
| IL was decided by the mayor and
common council of Washington to
use the bricks In the construction
of q workhouse.
Up to the time that the decision
was reached to establish the present
/ workhouse at Occoquan, Va, all the
malefactors Of lesser degree were
confined in the gray workhouse
which is now disappearing.
When I visited the ruins Of the old
prison yesterday. accompanied by
Charley Prather, a venerable man
who years ago occupied positions of
trust at the workhouse. l recalled
many thrilling incidents of the days
4 thirty-five to forty years ago, when
the building teemed with animated
criminality. In those days, as police
reporter, I was called upon to write
stories Of happenings there.
Charley Prather was not only a
genius in mechanics, but he was a
man absolutely without fear. I re-
Prather was in charge OF the con-
struction department of the work
house and Washington Asylum more
than hundred prisoners mutlnied
and attempted to force the guards to
release them and all the other pris-
oners.
| Mutineers Charge Guards.
Tho widest excitement reigned
when the mutineers, armed 3rith
parts of their iron cots ana bars
torn from the doors and windows
and cells, stood facing a small guard
force, and about to make a dssper-
ate charge for freedom.
Superintendent Stoutenbcrgh was
on the ground and realized the des-
perateness of the situation.
Where is Charley Prather1" he
shouted.
He is over at tho wagon shop"
q guard replied.
Call him here at once" Stoutcn-
bergh commanded. greatly excited.
A few minutes later Prather came
on a run. He saw the situation at
a glance. Selling a club from the
hands of one of the awed guards he
dashed in among the turbulent pris-
oners, and brandishing the club
commanded them to return to their
cells at once.
The leader of the mutineers, a
desperate fellow known as Turkey
faced" Kelly. shouted:
ITO hell with you. Git out OF de
way or I'll kill yer"
without n word Of reply Charley
Prather delivered a crashing blow
on the head Of "Turkey-faced" and
he crumpied to the floor in heap.
"Now, d you. back to your
cells" Prather shouted, advancing
upon the desperate crowd of mu-
tineers. and the prisoners fled to
their cells to be locked In securely
by the guards, whose courage had
been restored by the bravery OF
Charley Prather.
i Prather Quclls Woman.
On another occasion, the inmates
OF the workhouse for females, JUST
in the rear of the main building
, for males, rebelled because OF certain
regulations imposed upon them,
/. They mutined while at work IN the
laundry. Armed with flatirons and
other utensils, they made a savage AT
tack upon the matron and the few
guards who were assigned TO tna'
branch, The matron was forcibly
, locked in one OF the cells ana th'
|, women prisoners were on the point
OF making their escape.
Charley Prather, who was som'
, distance away at the blacksmith
. shop. hearing the shrieks of the I'm
, furiated female prisoners, ran to thu
1 assistance Of those IN charge. SeizinS
L - ~ N