. in truth——God bless you I
‘L
eenied to have died without a struggle.
As I was examining the corpse, I observed
something glittering between its bony fin-
gers , it was a gold locket, containing her
hair, and on the back of it was engraved the
j name of Laura.—He died as he had lived.
I witnessed the last honors paid to his
remains, and then pr e eded to examine
his papers. He left his pictures to be sold
for the benefit of his relations, except a
few,which he bequeathed to me as a testimo-
ny of his friendship; and one which was
“the Veiled Picture,” he begged me to
take to Laura, after he was buried, and give
into her hands at the same time, the follow-
ing letter :—
“I do not write either to
reproach; I am as much
as I am superior to the other. Before
these lines meet your gaze, the hand whicli'
now traces them will be cold, and the heart
from whence they spring will have ceased
to hold communion with the world; the
dead complain of no injuries, and feel no
wrongs, I write to assure you of my for-
giveness, and that my last words may ex-
press, with heart and soul, and in spirit and
An'rriuii”
With some difficulty I discovered her
dwelling, and learnt that she was going to
bemarried the following week. After ask-
ing for the younglady, I was told by the
servant she would be with me immediately,
and was desired to walk into a handsomely
decorated room. I placed the picture in
the most advantageous light, and awaited
her coming. In a short time she appeared.
She was fully as beautiful as she had been
described; but there was a trace of melan-
choly in the features of the original, which
the portrait did not possess- I wondered
not at the infatuation of my friend, as I
gazed on the charms with which this Circe
had bound his existence in her love. I
said nothing to her, fearing to trust my
voice in her presence, but gently undrew
the curtain of the picture. As soon as she
beheld it, a flood of sweet recollections
seemed to rush upon her heart, and her
whole soul appeared absorbed in the scene
before her. As she gazed upon it, she
drew in her breath eagerly, so as to make
her resperation distinctly audable, and her
looks wree expressive of the most intense
-interest.. I gently put into her hand the
letter; she took it almost inechanicaly, but
without taking the least notce of my pres-
ence; her eyes fell upon the character,
which she recognized and read. As soon
as she had perused it through, she turned
her gaze upon me with a glassiness of eye
rivited me to the spot. Her beautiful
mouth became momentarily distorted; her
lovely features underwent a sudden and
complete tansformation, expressive of deep
and silent agony—she dropped the letter at
my feet—uttered a long and horrid laugh,
and sunk down upon the floor in violent
complain or to
above the one
_ hysterics.
For several days she was in a state of
raving madness; and though the fit left
her in a precarious state of weakness, on
her first return to sensibility she sent for
me. She bade me relate to her all I knew
of her lover. I did so; and she continual-
ly interrupted my narration with execra-
tions on her cruelty and falsehood. After
she had heard me out, she told me she was
the victim of her mother’s ambition. Du-
ring Arthur’s absence, she had tried every
scheme to thrust him from her affections,
and bring about a marriage which she con-
sidered more advantageous. She had suc-
ceeded but to well. Laura’.s heart had
been humbled by threats, and her life had
been rendered miserable by unkindness.—
Receiving no intelligence of her loverin a
moment of weakness she agreed to all her
mother proposed. She now exclaimed
against her inhumanity, her falshood, and
her treachery, andaccused herself of being
the murderer of her lover. Although great
attention was paid to her by her friends,
she received a shock from which she never
recovered; and before the day arrived
which was to have seen her a bride, the
grave possessed all that remained of one of
the loveliest forms that death ever disrobed
of beauty.
I:
REPORT
Of the Committee appointed in 1832, on.
the Connecticut State Prison. Published
by order of the G'cneral Assembly, Hart-
ford I833. ,
'I‘o the Honorable General Assembly of
the State of Connecticut, to be holden at
Hartford on the first Wednesday of May,
1833.
The Committee appointed by the last
General Assembly, to examine into the state
and condition of the Connecticut State
Prison and the concerns thereof, and spe-
cially toinquire after, and report what er-
rors, ifany, have existed, or do exist in the
administration of its affairs, respectfully re-.
port-
They met on the business of their ap-
pointment, on the 11th day of september
last, at the Prison in Wethersfield ; having
given due notice of the time and place of
meeting, as well to the Hon. Nathan Smith,
the agent and attorney, appointed to con-
duct on the part of the State, the inquiry
instituted by the aforesaid resolutions; as
to the former, and present Directors, and to
9
' Mr. Amos Pilsbury the then late Warden of
the Prison. -
The agent attorney appeared, as did also
also the I-Ion.Md‘rtinWells,one ofthe former
Directors, and Mr. Amos Pilsbury, by their
respective counsels.
A motion in writing was presented by the
agent and attorney for the State that the
hearing be postponed until the 2d Tuesday
of October next, which was granted, by the
Committee.
The prison containing no room large
enough to accommodate the committee and
the parties, together with the spectators who
then attended, and probably would attend
the subsequents of this Commtttee, they ad-
journed to the State House in Hartford.
The Committee met again on the said
Qd Tuesday of October, and were attended
as before, by the aforesaid parties.
The agent and attorney exhibited the
following charges, and produced proof to
support them——they were answered on the
.
-.4»
part of Amos Pilsbury, the late VVarden.—
The Hon. Martin Wells appeared to susr
tain such ofthein as were founded on his
counter report to the last General Assembly
and to prove the facts in that counter re-
port contained to be true. _
I. Thattlie accounts were not kept ac-
cording to law. '
2. That the prisoners suffered for want
of food.
3. That they were for several weeks fum-
ished with bad water.
4. That they suffered from cold and bad
air.
5. That the sick prison_crs were treated
with great cruelty. ‘ff’
6. That the by-laws were disi'eg:irdecl.
7. That depredations were coininittcd on
the public property.
8. That the prisoners were illegally pun-
ished, for breaches ofthc prison discipline.
9. Tliattlie prisoners were peiunittcd to
leave the prison.
The committee intend to notice each of
lliese charges in the order in which they
are here set down; but before they proceed
to do that, they would call the attention of
the General assembly to a few preliminary
observations.
It was proved to the committee, that no
measure was adopted by the Directors, on
a divided vote from the time the new prison
went into operation, up to the appointment
ofAmos Pilsbury, as \Varden.‘ In that ap-
pointment, Judge \Vells was in the minor-
ity; and from that time the unity of action
which had produced the most favorable re-
sults, appears to have been occasionly in-
terrupted. A majority of the Directors
supported the \Varden, and Judge Wells
withdrew his confidence.
It was natural, tlierefore, to expect that
there would beinuch ofpei'sonal_fceliiig in
this_ investigation ; and the Committee
thought it was due, as well to the General
Assembly, as to themselves, to declare, on
the first'inaiiifcstatioii of personal hostility,
that would be promptly repressed; that be-
ing instructed to inqiiireinto the ati'aii's and
management of the State Prison, the com-
mittee would attend to that matter only.-
Holding an even hand between the contend-
ing individuals ; the Committee would not
consent to be made a party to the excite-
ment, which was too apparent to be con-
cealed or overlooked. There sole object
now is, to present the material facts of the
case as they understand them, without in-
quiring liow far they may operate to the dis-
advantage or in favor of any person.
It is inauafest from the papers laid be-
fore the General Assembly andr rcfcred to
this Committee, that there was a great dif-
ferance of opinion between the Directors
—-in expressing which, the language of
conciliation appears to have been forgotten.
Without stopping to inquire with whom this
rested ; by whom it was produced ; or who
are right, and who wrong, the Committee
find that disunion was the coiiseqiience.——
And they report it as an error in the admin-
istration of the affairs of the Connecticut
State Prison.
A book has always been kept at the pris-
on, open to the inspection of the ‘Nardeii,
in which the remarks ofthc visiting Direc-
tor are written down.
‘The Committes report this, as an error
which now exists at the prison. So long
as all the directors think alike, and act in
concert, there will be no difficulty. Then
every order of an individual Director, will
come to the Warden, as from the whole
board, and will be implicitly obeyed—but if
a different state of things exists, and
one director inakes an entry, which is
followed by that of another Director
torentirely contrary—-Tliat Director who
happens to be in the minority, will meet
with but small regard, from the subordinate
officer, who has before him, the recorded
evidence of a divided Council.
A book so kcpl, affords moreover, the
means of keeping alive, if it does not in the
firstinstance producc,uiikind|y feelings,may,
and often do, intervene between persons,
whose duty it is to think upon the same sub-
ject, and who are not found to think alike.
The remedy is obvious——lct no communica-
tions be made by the visiting Director, ex-
cept to the board of dircctors—from whom,
every order should come to the ofiiccr who
is to obey it.
1: In respect to the first charge, that the
books were not kept according to law.——The
Cominitteefiud the books ofthe prison, have
been keptby the respective VVnrdens, by
double entry as is by law provided——That
there are several mistakes to be found on
the books, such as errors in posting, and
wrong addition. It was not claimed that
any entries in the day book werccrroniously
made—It was proved that the settlements
made by the \Vardcn with the directors,wcrc
always made from the entries on the day
book. It was claimed on the part of the
Warden that an error in distributing the
items in the‘ day book, to their several heads
in the journal, and ledger, would not affect
such settlement. From the testimony of
the witnesses who hav_e been examined on
this point, and from an inspection of the
books by the Committee themselves; they
cannot find any fraud, or fruu(l,ulent intent,
on the part of Amos Pilsbury. The most
that can be said is, that he has committed
mistakes to which all book-keepers are more
or less liable, and that he is not a perfectly
correct book-keeper. The Committee would
report that to impose that duty upon the
VVarden is an error which ought to be cor-
rected, and they are the more firm in that
opinion, from reading in the lltli page of
the report in l8'25,of theCommittec appoint-
ed by the General assembly to inspect the
condition of the New-Gate l’rison—in which
that committee say—
“We woulddismiss that part of the sub-
ject, by suggesting, that some person should
be especial l y,designated,wliose duty it should
be to keep the accounts of the prison, after
the most approved form and in a method to
be prescribed by the Comptroller.”
To which this Committee would suhjoin
and repeat, from page 9 of the some report-
‘Whether it is not expedient to relieve and
exempt the keeper of this institution from
any p.-irticipatiou in its counncrcial transac-
tions with the public—whetlicr he ought not
to be placed upon the high -ground of a re-
sponsible executive officer, entrusted by the
State with the administration of its punitive
justice on its felous—whetlier his usefulness
will not depend not only on his authority
within the prison but on his possessing the
confidence of the public, and the favorable
regard oftlie persons in the vicinity. The
Committe have been led to doubt whether
he can retain this favorable regard, and at
the same time preserve a strict and rigid
course of duty to the state, so long as he is
constantly mingling with every class of the
conimunity, in its pecuniary concers.’
II. The second charge, that the prisoners
suffered for want of_food, has been carefully
inquired into. There is,~p'erhaps no subject
on which the sympathies of a people, acciis-
tomed to an abundance of food would more
iiitensely fix,_than that a case of starvation
should occur among thcin—and to starve a
prisoner and impose a heavy task upon him
besides, for the purpose of making a profit
out of his agony—is a charge of such deep
depravity, that no man could for a moment
sustain liimself after it was proved upon
him.
On this point, the Committee heard much
testimony. They have carefully examined
all the calculations and estimates that have
been laid before tliem.-—They find the fact
to be, and they would state it as briefly, and
as decisively as possible, that this charge is
not proved.
The cooking was formerly done in the
yard of the prison, by male convicts--the
rations for each prisoner was taken to his
cell, by persons specially directed to per-
form that duty; this afforded room for par-
tiality and unfa_ii_/riess. It was found to be
an error in the administration of the affairs
of the prison, which was correcetd in the
spring of the year 1831. Since that time
the cooking and delivery of the rations,
have been under the direction of the ma-
tron, and it was conceded on all hands, that
she had performed the duties with the ut-
most faithfulness.
The committee cannot dismiss this part of
the subject without observing, that the \Veth-
crsfield prisonis remarkable for the health-
fulness of the convicts. The deaths that
have occurred there since its establishment,
including the Epidemic which broke out
among the convicts in 1829, amount to a-
bout two in every hundred. if * ”‘ * *
III. The committee find that the third
charge is proved as the same herein speci-
fied. That the water in the well which
supplied the prisoners was very ofl'ensivc’for
several weeks in the latter part of the sum-
mer of 1830. It was proved to this
Committee that the same thing had'occurred
in former years, and that without any
known cause the water would retain its
former sweetness.
The first information that the water was
offeiisive, was communicated to the Board
of Directors, on Monday. The warden
was sent for, and on \Vednesday following
a new well was dug, which, from that time
to this, has produced an abundant supply of
good water. It was not distinctly made to
appear to the Committee, whether this new
well was provided by the order and exertions
of the board of Directors, of any individ-
ual Director, or by the VVarden himself.
The Committee have been led to think that
this bad water was an unavoidable evil, and
they cannot find that either the Directors,
or the \Varden, manifested any unseasona-
ble delay in correcting it.
IV. That the prisoners suffered from cold
and bad air.
On this point theCommitte_e find, that the
cold in the most exposed parts of the Hall
where the prisoners sleep, during the time
complained of, was not severe enough to
freeze water standing in their buckets.
The prisoners feet could not have frozen
there. It was proved to your Committee
that three of the prisoners suffered from
frosted feet, and that many more were af-
fected with cliilblains. The prisoners no-
vcr go to-a fire, they are marched into the
open yard, without any additional clothing,
from their warm workshops, after undergo-
ing an examination, they are then marched
to the I.I:ill, where .they attend to divine
worship. ‘
They then march past the place where
their rations are presented to them, after
which they march to their cells, and are
locked up for the night.
The Committee are of opinion that here
is an unnecessary exposure to cold. In
very severe weather the duty of a search
might be performed in the Hall.
In respect to Ventilation the Committee
find that the Hall w-as warmed by stoves;
and that there are apertures in the ceiling to
permitthc foul air to escape. Notwithstaiid-
ing which the air in the Hall becomes very
offensive before morning.
In the original construction of the cells
each one was provided with a passage
which ascends to the roof for the purpose
of Ventilating each cell; these are covered
with a piece of tin, -full of small holes.
It was testified before the Committee, that
such covering would not probably permit
the air to pass with sufficient freedom.
The complaint most insisted on was, that
one of the stoves which had been construct-
ed so as to admit the external air to pass
between the outer and inner plates and come
warminto the room, had been removed,
and the air from the room was used, by
which it was claimed that a greater quanti-
ty of heat was produced. Here was a differ-
ence of opinion between the Directors.
The \Varden obeyed the majority. Ifthere
was an error any where, it was an error in
judgement. The Committee do not find
any evil intention on the part of any officer
in relation to this matter.
The Committee are aware there is a great
difficulty in using artificial heat and at the
same time preserving a pure atmosphere
where so imicli is consumed, by the perpet-
ual breathing of so many. men.—-But from
all the testimony which the committee have
heard on this part of the case, they are per-
suaded that the convict, when once in his
cell, enjoys as much of warmth and purity
as are to be found in the well filled tciie-
meuts of a crowded city, and at no time
does he suffer more hardship than an crdi.
_ J.
nary seaman on a voyage. It is perhaps
worthy of consideratioii,wliether the expense
of heating so large a Hall, applied in fur-
nishing tliicker body,’ and bed clothes,
would not render the convict quite as warm,
and much more comfortable. With clothes
enough to protect him from the co1d—in his
passage fi°om his shop to his cell; and bed
clothes suflicient to keep up that tempeniture
he would remain so through the night, he
could not stiffer by the neglect, or want of
skill,_in a drowsy watchman, to keep up a
fire of anthracite coal. ‘
5. 'I‘ha_t the sick prisoners were treated
with great cruelty.
The facts in relation to this point, as the
Committee understand them to be proved
are, that fioin the time the prison went into
operation in 1827 to the month of Jiily ]S29,
such had been the almost unexampled
he-althfulness prevailing there thatthe mom
originally intended fora hospital, had never
becn prepared for that purpose. Tlicre
was no physician appointed as an officer of
the prison. The ‘Warden sent for the attend-
ing physician as he did for his private fami-
ly. It rested with him to decide wlietlicra
convict was sufficiently indisposed to require
the physician’s aid. Now it is evident with-
out examining witnesses under oath, that
habits of idleness and a desire to live with-
out work, procluce more convictions for
criinc than all other causes put together. It
is to be expected, therefore, that the tenants
of a state prison will avoid labor if they
can. It is claimed as one of the disco-
veries of modem times, that such characters
can in any way, be made to do work enough
to pay for the expense of keeping them,
It was proved to the Committee, that of all
the expedients resorted to by convicts, to
indulge in their favorite habits the complaint
of indispositioii is the most fi'cquent—and
hence officers whose duty it is to reduce this
modern discovery to practice, are apt to be
skeptical when a convict complains of
sickness.
Under this state of things, the Directors
in their report of 1830, page '7, rcinark—
“A severe & dangerous sickness prevail-
ed during the months of August and Sep-
tember, which resulted fatally in 4 cases.-—
The Directors ‘during this sickness became
satisfied, that the system of reporting and
supplying the sick, wasin many respects dc-
fective; an ordinance was therefore imme-
diately passed, which has been transferred
into the by-laws, and will be found at section
6, by which this was wholly changed.’ '
‘By this ordinance the directors intended
to secure to each sick prisoner an early, and
prompt attention to this case, believing it to
be far better, that fifty who were not sick,
should be reported, examined and dismissed,
than that one should suffer for want of med-
ical advice. It may probably dften happen
that the ofliccrs of the institution are satisfi-
ed, that the alleged illness of the complain-
ing prisoner is merely feigned to avoid la-
bor; or as it is called ‘playing the old» sol-
dier’ and is deceiving them. But they may
also in some instances, be themselves mis-
taken; and such mistake may be fatal to
the i.iiifortunate men in their custody.—At
all events it cannot be supposed, that they
are as competent to decide the question, as
an eminent medical practitioner. The whole
subject, therefore, has been referred to the
decision of the physician; and that all sus-
picion of inducement to order a prisoner to
the hospital improperly, may be removed,
his compensation is not made to depend
upon the number of sick convicts, or the
visits which he may make. Our experi-
ence under this regulation has convinced
us, that it was required as well from consi-
derations of humanity, as of good econo-
my. It is difficult to conceive of a condi-
tion more culamitous or forlorn, than of one
who is “sick &. in prison”—deprived, as he
must be, of the attentions and sympathies
of those, who are bound to him by the ties
of nature and affection; he has a right to
ask, and to receive, of the public agents;
all that relief and comfort, and consolation,
which his situation may allow. It was in
this spirit that we framed this regulation,
and we trust that in this spirit it will be ad-
ministered.’
‘\Vc have adverted to this topic more fully
than we should have done had it not been
the subject of some niisapprelicnsion in this
vicinity.”
It is to be remarked that Botsford, Fa-
gan, and Freenian, and Ferdinand, were
the persons who are spoken of in the above
extract as being the cases which terminated
fatally.
From all the testimony which the Coin-
mittee heard on this point, and no part of
the inquiry has been pursued with more
touching eloquence, they find the facts to
be as they are stated in the above extract
from the report of the Directors. The
Committee do not find that there was any
gross act of cruelty, wilfully and wantonly
inflicted upon any sick prisoner. The
W'ar\den and Deputy Wardeii, and the Di-
rectors, being secure in the knowledge that
the prison had hitherto been almost entire-
ly free from disease, it was not strange that,
to use the language of Governor Peters,
who was then a Director, and who was ex-
amined by this Committee as it witness,
“that the epidemic seemed to have got in
the advance of the VVardeii, Directors and
Physician.
This Committee would not at any time
pass lightly by the sufferings of one ‘sick
and in prison;’ nor would they for a mo-
ment countenance the idea, that the ordina-
ry ofliccs ofhunianity should not in all cases
be extdeded to the prisoner, whether con-
vict or innocent. Nor would they allow
that lapse of time should cover over or pro-
tect any officer who would be guilty of cru-
elty or oppression in any shape. Yet this
Committee feel that there is reason for the
inquiry, why, after the error and remedy
have been by the Directors reported to the
General Assembly, it should be brought up
again by one of those Directors, and the iii-
dividual cases of- disease and pain minutely
set forth two years afterwards? "“ * * if
6. The sixth Qharge is, that the by-laws
were disregarded. ‘
On this point the Committee find the
facts to be, that some of the by-laws have
not been carried into full effect. That cot-.
" "-'su..; 5.- -'
ton sheets have not been provided —The
Directors who have been examined, concur
in proving that this omission was in conse-
quence of the understanding at the time the
by-law was passed, that the same should-not
be carried into effect until further orders.
There were objections to cotton sheets, on
the ground that they might-absorb and re-
tain,the dampness from the walls of the
cells.
There was no evidence before the Coin-
inittee, that any subsequent order had been
made upon the ‘vVarden to‘ provide the cot-
ton sheets.
It is',l‘1lsc found by the Committee that
the shop books have not been in every iii-
stancc kept ‘according to the by-laws.-
Two of the Directors testified tlr-it there
was a compliance for all practical purposes
—the \Varden was able from the shop books
as they were kept, to make the requisite
entries in the booksof the priS0ll-
‘he employment of. servants by the
VVarden from among the convicts, formed
another specification under this charge.
I The Committee find that it was the prac-
tice both of thc'eldcr lllr. Pilsbury, and of
his son, to employ one male convict as a
servant,'about the ollices, and in the private
business of the \Vai'den; and that one or
more females were employed in the VVard-
en's kitchen. This was done with the full
knowledge, and under the constant inspec-
tion of the Directors.
The Committee are of opinion that the
true construction ofthe by-law on this sub-
ject is, that no officer or person connected
with the institution, shall be permitted to
cause, or allow any convict to work for him
or his benefit, unless the some he done with
the knowledge of the proper officer, so that
the work can be properly charged on the
books of the Prison. In the same section
of the by-law it is provided that no officer
shall be allowed to take or receive either
from the public property, “or in labor or
services of the convicts, any perquisites
whatever, without the consent of the Dirac-
tors in writing.
The complaint on this specification is,
that the consent was not in writing.
It was proved before the Committee that
the VVarden on the ‘.33d day of April, I831,
made a return to the Directors in obedience
to an order for that ‘purpose, of all the work
done duringltlic tlieifpast year, for any of
the officers of the prison, in which this so’. -
jcct is fully detailed, and which the Coiiiinit-
tee herewith present, and to which they
would refer.
7. The seventh charge is, that depi'cdu-
tions were committed, on the public pro-
perty. .
The Committee find the first specific:-.tion
under this cliarge to be true, viz. that chips
from the Coupe-r’s Shop, and other Shops
where wood work was pLEl‘li)l'll'l(,'(l, were us-
ed on the kitchen fire ofthe \Vurdcu, and
the practice had been from the commence-
ment of the Prison until the cooking for
the sick and the washing were removed to
to the female department.
It was claimed on the part ofthc ‘v"ar-
den,that so long as thc'work of the convicts
or-any part of them was done in his liitclicn,
he was justifiable in permiting the fuel to he
used there, as the same is charged upon hinr.
There is no«cvidcnce in the recollection
of the Committee that the practice was con-
tinued aftcr the female dcp.'.tr£incnt went
into operation. V
The Coinmitte.e find that at sundry times
the servant of the ‘:Varden obtained from
the public stores, Beans, Pens, and Indian
Meal. It was claimed on the part of the
‘iVarden, that these articles were required
for theconvicts who were supplied from his
kitchen. It was not proved that any of
these articles were actually used for the
benefit of the \Varden or his family, other
than that a short time, (a day or morc,) af-
ter thesc articles were so taken, the officers
who boarded with the \Varden were sup-
piled with the like articles. It was proved
that the VVarden purchased all those arti-
cles for his own family use. In one or two
instances such articles were borrowed and
returned. It was also proved that potatoes
were taken from the Statc’s stores, butit
was not proved that it was done with the
\Varden’s kiiowlcdgc.——-It wus also proved
that the State and the Vfarileii had each a
like number ofhogs, kept in the same stye.
They were fed through the summer from
the wash of the VVardcn’s kitchen, and of
the prison cook room, and they were fatten-
en with meal from the public store.
The Committee have no means of know-
ccedinrr. They have no doubt but ‘it was
an error in the administration of the affairs
oftlie Connecticut prison.
The Committee are of opinion from the
facts abbvc detailed, that they furnish" no
evidence that the Wai'deii has, been guilty
of any depredation upon the public proper-
t . '
8. The eighth charge is that the prisoners
were illegaly punished for breaches of the
prison discipline.
The Committee find that in several iii-
stances the inferiorofiicers have laid hands
upon the convicts, but they did it to enforce
instant obedience when they were threaten-
ed with bodily harm. The Committee are
not aware of more than two instances, and
one was early in the year 1828, when one
witness testified that a prisoner by name
Nivers, was shaken and pushed down by
Amos Pilsbury, because he did not work
fast enough at laying a brick floor. The
Committee do not hesitate to pronounce
this a clear breach of the by-law, which
provides that no officer except the Warden
shall strike, beat, or punish corporally, any
prisoner, except in self defence.” '
On specification under this charge is, that
the beds and beding of prisoners have been
taken from theni,in order to enforce obedi-
once to the rules of the prison.
This is claimed to be contrary to law, and
much more reprehensible than stripes.
By the statute law, the VVardcn may con-
fine the convicts at labor or punisli them,
by putting fetters or shackles on them, and
moderate whipping, not exceeding tcn
stripes for any one offence, or by coiifine-
ment in dark and solitary cells. The by-
laws proyide that each prisoner is to take
ing which had the advantage in this pro-
tlie utmost care, that his cell be kept neat
and that his furniture be not injured: and
in default of observing this rule his bed,
bedding, and beadstead -be taken from him,
until l‘i'e§,\vill conform. - _
The infliction of this privation was found
to be effectual. It was applied to other-_
offences, and in a great measure superceded
the punishment by ’whipping which has ve-
ry seldom_baen resorted to in this prison;
the stoppage of rations has never been prac-
ticed there.
To the charge that it is illegal, it is an.
swered that if it was lawful for one purpose,
it was for another. , - '
And as to the humanity, it was strongly
urged that the liict was quite the other way.
If a prisoner is punislicd_fox‘ and offence
by whipping, immediately tends to_ confirm
his will, to rouse hisresentment, and place
lmn as far as possible, beyond the reach of
that softened feeling, which must lwiiys
precede even the promise of reforiiiation,
The marks upon his laceratcd body will
remain an indelible record of his disgrace,
(for even a convict can feel himself disgra-
ced,) which no penitence, however huinble
oi-sincere, can obliterate.
In taking the bed ofa prisoner, he is left
to his choice, the moment he submits, a rap
on his cell door, (which can be heard in any
part of the I'Iull,) will bripg :1 watchman {'0
to the spot, he can have his bed again, lay
hiniselfdowu upon it, and go to sleep.
\Vithout entering father into the argu-
ment on either side, the Committee would
close this part of the case, by reporting
that this substitute for stripes is not in their
opinion, a practical error in the administra-
tion ofthe affairs of this institution.
9. The last"ch:irge is that prisoners were
permitted to leave the Prison.
The Committee find that in the time of
the clderMr. Pilsbury an .I his son as \Var-
dens, the male comicts, were in their par-
ticular employ, were permitted to go out of
the prison, and about the town of W'ethers-
field.
victs to the number of three or four,’ at
a time. were sent with a guard to Hart-
ford in a boat. The Coii'iiiiittec have no
means of knowing the motive for such iii-
dulgcnce—_—it piight be to show the extent
of moral restraint, which thgsc \Vardens
had the tact to impose upon their prisonci_'s.
In one or more instances the con- i
1
Let the cause be what itniiiglit this Com- ', '
mittee report it as an error which has not
often, and probably will never again be re-
peated. '
in the course of this investigation, it was
claiincd on the part of the Agent and AltQj'-
ney forthe State, that certain prisoners be.
(3.\tll'llll c;l 2 s wftzic s “cs.
\Vitl:out cntci-iiig' into the argument
\‘l’lllf.‘llyOLll“C0l1)mllZlC(3 heard as to the coni-
pctcncy of such prisoners as had not been
convicted of crime which is contrary to
honesty and liiiniaiiity, ‘and which shows
corruption of heart ‘and without wishing to-
be understood as iutimuting any legal opiii- ,
ion on the ‘subject, the committee refused
to hear the testimony of any prisoner on the
grounds.
1. Tliat they were not sitting as a
cial tribunal, but in the character of a body
appointed by the Legislature, to ,iiifoiini
tlicin upon which they can hereafter legis-
lill.C._~:]fill£:SC facts are to be ascertained from
a source which shall be entirely ‘free from
:u=picior:. —
2. Sound policy is entirely against it.-—
necessity against the officers; and no coni-
petent man would fora moment hold an
office in :1 prison where he would be liable
to be sworn clown by an exasperated con-
vict.—-§3J, it will be known to the prisoners
. that siichexaiiiiiiatioiis '1na_1/ be had, and
that will lead to acts of insubordination.
3. There is nonccessity for such exam-.
ination; all the offi_ccrs and Directors are
liable to be exniniiied. The prison is open
have every facility to nial-ze discoveries.
4. It was not claimed that any testimo-
ny could be obtained to substantiate any’
other charges than those above noticed.—-
The effect would be that the testimony
sought for, would merely fortify that .whicli
had already been given, which w’as within
the power of the partiesto produce.
The Committee would wish to be under-
stood as embracing in the above chai'gc's
and tlieiriiiiding upon each charge; all the
specifications, or instances of misconduct,
applicabletliercto. They are not aware that
would in the least vary their statemeiit.—
The Committee found necessary to hear all
the testimony which had any relation to the
admistration-of the affairs of this prison,
in order that no party ‘should hereafter
complain that he was’ not fully heard.-
This Committee did refuse to bear testimo-
ny which was merely personal. VVitho_ut
trespassing longer upon the patie_nce of the
General Assembly, the Committee. would
close tl.isreport by observing, that after 3;
review of all the testimony which has been
produced in this investigation; and partic-
ularly that of Governor Peters, the Hon;
John Russ, and S. H. Huntington Esq.
former Directors of this Prison, this Com-
mittee are entirely unanimous in this as in
every other part of "their report, that thh
several reports which have been laid before
the General Assembly, by the Directors of
the Connecticut State Prisonor a majority
of them from its commencement—contain
a true statement of its- affairs and manage-
ment thereof.
All which is res; sctfully submitted.
J01-IN Q. \ViLsoN,
Joserii EETON,
, } C'ommittcg,/
Mounts ‘VOODRUFF, ‘
CONNECTICUT LEGISLATURE.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Saturday May 25.—Bill fora public act ex-
empting persons from arrest for debt, in certain
cases, read first and second times and referred
to the committee on the Jiidiciary.
Bill for a public act to distribute monies re.
ceived from the United States, raed the first time.
Bill for public act for the ,securi'.y~of Mechan-
ics &c. read first and third times and referred to
the committee on the Judiciary-
Bill for a public act regulating
ihe inspection
of solo leather, read first time.
Bill for a public act for the protection of corn.
fields (crow law) read first and second times and
.—
lst, the feelings of the pijisoiiers are of-
jud_i-' :
any n'iaterial fact has been omitted which’ ,
to visitors who pay for the privilege, and --
.*|
Norwalk Chronicler