The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-05-09
STATE PRISON
RAPED AGAIN
BY AN inmate
Jackson Prison Officials
Accused OF Foul
Treatment

In an attempt TO check the COM
plants Of alleged discrimination and
other conditions at Jackson State
prison as exposed in letter to the
Michigan Chronicle last week. At
torney Charles Roxborough tele-
phoned the Warden Friday for a
statement The warden apparently
upset over the complaint was to
call Roxborough back but the call
was cancelled.
The letter was written as an open
challenge to State Senator Charles
c. Digs and Representative Horace
"A. White. but in his conversation
with the warden Roxborough said
"There are a hundred Negro law
yers in the state OF Michigan who
want to know il the facts as set
forth in the letter are true"
Roxborough had received no
statement from the warden Monday,
meanwhile the following letter
from Jackson prisoner was received
thi- week:
MIR. John Wood,
Michigan Chronicle.
Dear Sir:
THE chapel at State Prison OF
Southern Michigan was trans
formed almost into scene of
violence Sunday. April u. 1912,
when colored inmates objected TO
tn. theme Of lecture from Chap
lain Samuel Wenger (white) who
used the word niger" repeatedly.
This isn't the first time colored in
mates have been insulted by said
chaplain.
Assistant Chaplain P. W. Wells
fcolored) is nothing but tool and
en- Uncle Tom He is not permitted
to conduct services here at the
prison; neither is he allowed TO have
q colored secretary. As a matter of
fact, he has no private office. He
Up. W. Wallis is in a habit Of recon-
intending that colored inmates be pa
rolled down south.
"Colored inmates cannot. rise
above the rank of moppers, boot
blacks, and porters. Harvey Rug
giles, mail superintendent, will not
allow colored inmates TO write
friends and relatives about their
eases.
The state OF Michigan is supposed
10 have a civil service law and no
guards are supposed to be employed
at said prison unless they pass civil
service examinations. But neverthe-
less, we have two sergeants work.
ing here at the prison who are ig-
norsnt. Their names are Sergeants
Dutch" Henry and Edward Kam-
insky. Neither sergeant speaks good
English. Said sergeants are preju-
diced against colored inmates. They
are responsible for many a colored
inmate being declared insane. DR..
W B. Huntley will not give COL
ored inmates Anedical attention. All
colored inmates except porters ace
barred from the gymnasium. II
colored inmate protests against these
unfair practices, Walter Wilson, in
spector Of guards, will place him in
a solitary confinement and have him
transferred 10 Marquette prison. On
March 6, 1912. Sergeants Roberts,
"Dutch" Henry. Kaminsky and
guards "Popeye" Humphreys, Tracy,
Rainey. Kelley and Inspector Will
son and Captain OF Guards Goodall
brutally assaulted two colored in
mates.
81 respectfully call these facts TO
your attention so that your paper
may use your authority and in
fluence 10 correct these unfair
practices. / earnestly request that
you publish this letter in your paper
so Senator Digs Representative
Horace White and the citizens of
Michigan will know how we col
ored inmates are treated in both
Marquette and State Prison OF
Southern Michigan"
Sincerely Yours
~
When new door knocker is lifted