Year: 1870

Cage TO DIE or 60 Crazy.


From ths Hartford CouranL


Alvin P. Hyde and David s. Calhoun, counsel
for the murderer Wilson during the recent trial
visited lthe State Prison recently TO ascertain
what disposition had been made of the pri-
soner. They had supposed that he was not to
be placed in the iron cage or cell which was
recently constructed by Pitkin Brothers of this
city. A reporter had an interview with Mr.
Hyde, after his return from the prison, and
obtained from him substantially the following
statement


MR.. HYDE's STATEMENT


Mr.. Calhoun and myself undertook the defense o.
Wilson because the court assigned to that duty.
IL was not OF our seeking, as you know. We went
down to see him to-day to ascertain exactly in what
situation he was placed. We insisted that we were
his counsel and had a right to see him, and finally
iron cage which is six or eight feet long and about
four feet wide II is in that part of the prison
passes eXeep keener GOES there eo 70 one seee eyer
prisoner. There are two grated doorsWane
crates which shut out much Of the light that
comes into the hall. 1t is about like twilight in the
cell at midday man with good eyes and large print
before him might be able TO read. 1n the cell there
is no furniture except sheetron bedstead The
cell is raised up from the floor that BASKET can
be passed under 1t and removed without opening the
doors, there being hole in the bottom OF the cell
In the inner door is a small door which locks, and
through this rations passed to the prisoner The
whole arrangement s such that the inner door need
never be opened, and it looks If that the design
to keep Wilson there in that cage as II it were
permanently closed. The filth and stencil Of the
u
stomach to remain there ten minutes without suffer-
ing from the effects OF the foul smell. 1t is abom-
nable and disgrace. One would think the
man was put there tt die. SO disgusting
is the place that Wilson had not tasted a morsel OF
food or even had drop OF water pass his lips since
he was taken there No man can endure such
treatment, and Wilson must surely do one of two
things, die or go crazy 1t Is impossible for him to
live there. Look at it. He is virtually In solitary
confinement. Excepting that the cell is not dark
ened, he is IN dungeon. No one will see him, as
none pass that way. He has nothing to occupy his
time. No books, not even Bible are furnished for
his use 1t looks as If he was put there to die! But
this isn't all. He has had his shoes taken away
Both of his feet cut of at the nstep When he has
his shoes on their stiff soes make artificial balls for
his feet so that he walk, but without shoes he
is always helpless. They supposed, probably that II
he was allowed to wear his shoes he would tmme-
diately walk cut OF that boler-ron cage! There he
stood where all saw him, in his stocking-feet his
feet being sore, and was even unable TO stand with
out holding on to the bars of his cell. The Deputy
Warden said 1t was none of his doings treating the
man so, and we inquired who had done it, and he
said the directors gave the orders. When we passed
out we found MIR. Lee, one OF the directors, In the
office, and spoke to him about it. He said he had
given no order, but that the order given ~ the
other director, Beaumont We didn't see him, but 1
made up my mind decidedly that this thing should be
corrected have no interest In this matter further
than seeing prisoner properly treated. 1 don't
wish it to be understood that am making any
fare on the prison, but am willing to take the
sponslbity of saying that the treatment of Wilson
is inhumar=contrary to what the law intends-and
all ask is that this evil shall be correcyed. II it Is
not corrected there will be full investigation.
am satisfied there Is bad management there. know
that many things which Wilson said true and 1t
is pity that the facts could not have been shown
The papers have generally defended the prison
management, but have letters in my possession
which will prove that there ought at least to be an
| investigation.