Year: 1875

Among the prisoners in the Pententary is n young
man committed for two years and six months for his
first offence forgery This prisoner charges that after
he had been the institution for some months one
of the keepers informed him that Edward Mcdonnell
Deputy Superintendent Of the Workhouse wearing
his tthe prisonersl shoes The prisoner complained
TO Warden Fox that he had reason TO believe that
Mcdonnell had appropriated his clothes, valued At sSo
that he had the OF the keepers and others who
saw him wearing portion Of the clothing and he
asked for an investigation The prisoner Monday
stated the writer the presence OF Deputy Warden
Brown and Keeper Douglas, that day he called
into the Office before Warden Fox; that he went
tho accused Official and Keeper Haywood met him ard
asked HIM when the shoes brought in say they
his, clear them that he refused, and
stated that If he recognized the shoes his he should
certainly tell Warden Fox The shoes were produced,
and he recognized them as the ones be had had
made TO order and the pair he when he entered
ihe institution; that Warden Fox asked the accused
Deputy where he got them and informed that they
had been given 70 him BY Keeper Haywood; that Ray
woods explanation was that be found the shoes lying
around, did not know who owned them and gave them
a. his associate keeper The prisoner further stated
that the Warden asked him for the OF the persons
who had the keeper his clothes but he
declined 10 give the names fearing that il would get
them into trouble and that Warden Fox bad said
0othng TO him He stated further that he
would cheerfuly give the names to President Bailey,
and had prepared statement in writing which he had
placed the hands Of an officer 70 forward 70 Mr..
bailey


This story would seem very incredible it not
Iupported by other circumstances. These are, FIRST


hai Warden Fox did report the facts TO the
mission until after he knew they were reported out
side Of the island and that search OF the property
showed that not only the mans shoes, but all
ihe OF the suit in which he came IN we're miss
ing. Mr.. Douglas who succeeded kaywood and the
accused keeper, reported 70 the writer that be had
made thorough search and had not found an
article belonging 70 the prisoner. He earnestly
an
possible that the clothing Of other prisoners on
being discharged may not be found, and he now Las
charge OF the clothing Of prisoners II may be suspected
that he has Incorporated t. The prisoner au-
Lhnrized the reporter to report the results of the
view President Bailey and ask HIM TO investigate,
which donc but Mr.. Bailey declared that he would
not believe a word Of IT, He spoke very yehementiy
against the practice Of prisoners reporting such CIR
cumstanoes declared he would not Investigate 1t or
any complaint from prisoner who could not
be believed: that that the Wardenis duty Mr..
Bailey was informed that the prisoners statement
supported by the other facts detailed above and that
as the shoes were 10 Warden Fox's possession the
maker who made them recognized them as the prison
er's property. He still rdiculed the idea OF keeper
who very particular his dress wearing the clothing
OF prisoner, bat made memorandum Of the state
President Bailey expressed the belief that there
Is a conspiracy existing the Island against Melon
nc, and declared that they have heretofore found II
out, and ntmated TO some Of the subordinates that
they had better resign. Since then there had been
better discipline and the Board proposed 10 suppress
all nsubordnation OF that kind


Yesterday Commissioners Bailey, Cox and Brennan
made investigation OF the Their session was
meeting over y was announced that several wit
nesses had been examined; that the pris
had declared he had his shoes upon
McDonuelps feet; that Keeper Thomas Haywood had
testified that be had gwen tho shoes Mcdonnell as
he had found them small for himself aud that hay-
ing had quarrel with Mcdonnell he had caused tho
prisoner charge the latter with stealing his shoes
The was closed and Of the Commissioners de-
clared that at was put-up lob"