AN AMERICAN PRISON SCANDAL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8788, 26 May 1890, Page 2

AN AMERICAN PRISON SCANDAL.

A scandal of no small order has just been brought to light in the United Htutes, or rather has had fresh light turned upon ir, for the abuse has been known to a good many people for a long time past. A reporter of a newspaper was sent to niake an investigation into the treatment of prisoners in the county gaol in consequence of many reports that those with money could secure any indulgence they were willing to pay for, and if any prisoner was known to have money that he did not disburse a pressure was brought upon him until he disgorged. The reporter found on actual trial of the goal that by paying liberal fees he could have his dinner from the best restaurant in the city, could have a luxurious apartment, and might even go about the city by day or by night in company with a deputy sheriff, who was liberally, paid, of course, for his services. The newspaper that employed the reporter published the full account, an investigation followed, showing that all the charges of that sort were more than true, and, like the Queen of Sheba on her visit to King Solomon, the half had not been told. One wealthy defaulter, who has just been released after several months' incarceration, testifies that he has spent some 10,000dol. (£2000) for indulgences. In return lor his expenditure he could go to the theatre whenever he liked and to other places of entertainment, and he used to go to his house to have interviews with his lawyers. On one occasion he gave a dinner party at his house, his guesis being a dozen or so of the men who had made money through his schemes, and he was permitteed to attend tho return dinners which weie given by some of his friends. He lived in the gaol as well as he could have lived at a Hist class hotel, and when he had visitors they could remain as late as they chose, while visitors to ordinary prisoners were compelled to depart at 4 p.m. The keeper of the gaol has resigned in consequence of tho investigation, and several of the deputy sheriffs implicated in the extortion and bribery have followed his example.