The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-07-12


petty offenders that is called the
Hole" and this Hole" is synony-
nous with blackjackings, starved
bodies, wrists bruised by handouts
1t will tell Of inmates stuffing rags
and bits of cloth-picked up when
no guard looked on-between chains
and trousered legs to prevent
chatting sores.
Political Prisoner Punished
One installment will deal with the
life of the states first political
prisoner and how his attempts to
convert inmates of the farm to his
cause brought down the mace of au-
thority and placed him for days in
cell, fastened to bars.
The inquiry and the affidavits will
show how Governor Paul V. McNutt
sent an investigating committee to
the farm, how the tip got out via
the farm grapevine, and how orders
were sent to clean up before the
probing committee reached certain
sectors Of the state farm.
1t will show how the committee,
composed of Police Chief Mike Nor
rissey, Wayne Coy, secretary to the
Governor, and Captain Matt Leach,
of the state police, found men in
chains and men in confinement on
bread and water, but did not find
other conditions, because of the
farms mysterious telegraph system
Guards Admit Blows
Admissions of state farm guards
that they struck men for lodging
work will be given.
1t will be shown that for years
inmates, regardless of race or color,
have slept bed to bed, worked pick
to pick.
1t will be charged in the affidavits
that sanitary conditions Of the farm
in cooking, dairy, and sleeping
quarters are far below par.
One sworn statement charges that
keepers have bribed inmates to aid
them in hiding farm provisions so
that the provender that should go
to the tables of the inmates might
be taken to the homes of the
keepers.
The Indiana state farm is termed
an institution of correction, not
punishment, by penologists. 1t is
supposed to be a place where the
petty misdeedS of a man are erased
in the art of being taught to live a
cleaner, finer life.
Hall of Horror
A recreational hall, a place of
stencil and smoke and bedlam and
men, is the one place of relaxation
for the inmates on wintry Sundays,
another affidavit will relate.
The hall is called Wreck" hall
because it resembles this condition
during a Sunday siesta of the farms
1000 inmates, the sworn statements
will relate.
The statements will charge that
brides were given guards and run
ners to obtain clean bedding, clean
clothing and other necessities Of
life for inmates.
They will show, under a notary's
seal, how one inmates jaw was dis
placed by hospital orderly because
he became angered at the inmate
during a medical examination.
Food Called Bad
The affidavits will declare the food
is of poor quality, of little variety,
and on occasions has been con-
taminated.
The Times will show that the cost
of keeping an inmate at the farm is
as high as that at other similar in
StitutionS or where a mass housing
and feeding problem is present.
1t will show that the state farm
has plenty of facilities and manual
labor for supplanting purchased
supplies for feeding inmates with
farm-raised products.
Life of IndianaS petty offenders,
from the time of their conviction,
dressing-in at the farm, to the day
they peremptorily are told to sign
waiver papers to obtain tranSporta-
ton back to the place of their con-
viction will be recited in the affi-
davitS.
Club Over Prisoners.
1t will be shown in the story as
related by former inmates that the
club of Well take your good time
away from YOU" is held over them
until they release the penal farm
from all responsibility for happen
ingS during their incarceration.
Use of TRUSTEES in diSciplining of
the men and dependence on their
word in violations of the farms
rules will be outlined in the affi-
davitS.
Throughout the affidavits and ver-
bal statements of the former in
mates is the expressed fear that. as
some of them have been habitual
petty offenders, they will suffer mis-
treatment if they ever are returned
to the farm.
The crime horrible" of the farm
is lazlnesS, malingering, and failure
to do task, the sworn epistles will
declare.
Penalty Is Severe
1t will be shown that, despite the
fact that escape from the institu-
ton is easy and that the men are
guarded loosely, the punishment for
escape is chained legs or a bread
and water diet in a cell with az
good time earned taken from a pris-
oner.
The sworn statements of the for
mer inmates will demonstrate that
a man sent 10 Putnamville for a
petty offense can be incarcerated
for a period of time equal to that
and longer than is given some in
mates at the state reformatorv in
Pendleton.
Lack of proper medical eo,lip-
ment with which to determine an
inmates ailment, carelessness in