The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-09-11
Affidavit Describes
Murder Of Prisoner
w S Eyewitness to
Staying of Negro
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

copy of the DAILY Worker" q news
paper, on the prison grounds. While
q number Of the prisoners and I were
reading it. a guard came over and de-
manded that he be given the paper
and told us that We could not read
any such newspapers. On my return
to the dormitory that day was
singled out by the keeper and asked
who had given me the Daily Work
err" I replied that had found it
on the grounds, He then struck me
full in the face with his club, knock
ing out three front teeth from my
lower jaw and breaking and loosen
ing the teeth in my upper jaw. At
ter more questioning he struck me
again with the club on the back Of
my head, causing large swelling.
fell to the floor, blood pouring from
my face. I was taken into the dor
mitory and about an hour later asked
by another keeper whether or not I
would like to go to the hospital. I
was very weak at that time from the
blows and loss Of blood and nodded
to him that would like hospital at
tention. They then took me to the
dentist at Harris Island who refused
to treat me at that time, stating that
it would be necessary to first deter
mine by X-rays whether or not my
jaw was fractured. After examina-
ton, he extracted a broken tooth from
my mouth. About three days later 1
was taken to the prison pen at Vel
fare leland to await an examination
by one of the doctors there.
arrived there Monday, October
IT, 1892. was placed in the dormi-
tory along with about As other pris-
oners. On the bed next to me was
lying Negro about IS years of age.
He introduced himself to me as James
Matthews. I gave him my cigarettes
as was not in condition to smoke.
He became friendly with me and told
me that he was not feeling well, and
that he had not worked that day at
the regular prison work because of
illness. The next morning, at about
a. m. was told that breakfast is
dished out at mess hall about 200
yards from my dormitory. I dressed
and asked Matthews who was lying
on his bed dressed: whether he was
going to have any breakfast. He
shook his head and said that he was
not feeling good and that he could
not eat anything. I managed to get
into the mess hall and not being
able to chew any food, I had only a
few drops of coffee and then went
back to the dormitory.
Matthews was still lying on his
bed. 1 offered him an orange and
said it would be a good thing If he
took something in his mouth, since
it might make him feel little bet
ter helped him to sit up and he
had bit of the orange. At a. m.
the keeper came around to get all
the men to work who had been check
ed off at the Office as being fit for
the daily work and routine. The
keeper called the names of the men
of his gang and finding that Wat
thews did not respond to the call,
rushed over to his bed. He kicked
Matthews in the groin (the entire
bed consists of a narrow spring which
is covered only by a blanket, there
being no mattress, and is no more
than about one foot from the ground
and shouted: Get up, you black dog,
you can't fool me- Get to work."
Matthews rolled off the bed on be-
ing kicked and lay without moving
on the floor. The keeper went over
to the other side of the bed where
Matthews had fallen, gripped him by
the hair (Matthews had long black
hair and struck Matthews head
against the cement floor a number
of times. I myself was terribly fright
ened at this time thinking that he
might do the same to me. I got
of my bed and walked few feet
away. I then saw the keeper drag
Matthews from the floor, force him
UP against the wall, holding him in
place by sticking his club in Mat
thews' stomach with his right hand
and holding Matthews by his hair
with his left hand. I noticed that
Matthews eyes were bullying out of
his head and that he did not seem
to be conscious of what was being
done to him.
The keeper then cursed at Mat
thews calling him the dirtiest names,
such as, 'You black son Of bitch!
You dirty black dog You can't fool
mel" While he was saying this he
was striking Matthews head against
the cement wall. Matthews then
slumped to the floor without saying
a word. He lay on the floor I'M
conscious, his eyes still wide open.
There were about six prisoners In
the dormitory at the time, the re-
mainder having left for work. The
keeper then went to this office which
was about 80 yards away. Through
the open door of his office I saw him
pick I'D the telephone receiver and
make a call. I was too far away to
hear what he was saying. Nobody
came in to help Matthews or to give
him any medical treatment. He lay
there on the floor in the same posi-
ton, without moving or making
sound. L noticed that blood was
streaming from his mouth and that
his clothes we're covered with blood.
At about 9 am. my name and num-
Der was called by messenger and
took my commissary bag to go to
the doctors Office. As left / no.
ticed that Matthews was still lying
there unattended. I was sick my
self, and frightened to death at what
had seen and was afraid to say
word to anyone about this or even
to offer Matthews any assistance. At
the time that I left, the house-gang,
quantity of narcotics. Apparently
he WAS DOMINATING with the dope ring,