Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 September 1890 — TORTURING CONVICTS. [ARTICLE]

TORTURING CONVICTS.

A startling story of the horrible cruelties to which the Convicts in the Colorado State penitentiary at Canon City are sub jected has just come to light. A convict several days ago managed to smugglo a letter through a visitor, and a private investigation has resulted in a corroboration of all the charges made therein. At the least offense a convict issuDjeeted to a punishment known as the “drowning process." He is strapped to a post so that ho can not move a muscle. With the nozzle of a hose within six inches of the pounds pressure is turned on. The unfortunate convict cannot breathe, and when ho opens his mouth ho is strangled. The water is forced down his throat and al 1 through his head. Tho punishment is ccn tinued until tho convict becomes uncon scions, and then tbe prison physicians arc called to resuscitate him. Many are today physical wrecks through this torture A worse means of torture even thaD this is frequently used. A convict is strapped to a bench With, his head between two boards, a bucket of water is placed over him with a small faucet, so arranged that a drop o water will drop on his forehead every five seconds. The victim is generally kept ini this position for an hour. In many cases his mind becomes so weakened that he never recovers.; Representative Caldwell, of Ohio, from the committee on railroads and cauals, to-day reported to the House tho bill agreed upon by that committee to compel railroad companies engaged in interstate ommerce, within a reasonable time, to quip their cars with such safety or uuto untie safety couplers os will not require rainmen to go between the ends of the ; ars to couple or to uncouple them, urn j ~fith automatic brakes, so that the space f tho train can bo controlled by the engi iear.