Wisconsin State Prison News Clippings
Death of State Prison Convict
A man named James Maher, who was sentenced to the State Prison on the 27th October
1852, for the murder of his wife and child, died on Monday night, January 2nd,
(1854) of consumption, under which he labored, from the time of his admission
into the prison. Maher was convicted before Hubbel in Jefferson County, of murder
in the first degree, and the jury sentenced him to imprisonment for life in
the State Prison. This is the first convict that has died in the State Prison.
He was buried behind the buildings outside the yard.
Euen’s Prison City Item, March 1, 1860
Accident-----Michael Tracy, (prisoner) fell form the scaffolding of the prison
wall, a distance of about 18 feet on the 26 of last month, a part of scaffolding
gave away just as he with an other prisoner was handling a heavy stone, and
precipitated them down with stones and rubbish to the ground, Michael was at
first thought to be badly injured, the Prison physician was sent for, where
after a careful examination found no serious injury inflicted and he is now
doing well. Much sympathy was manifested for him, Mr. Heg (Prison Commissioner)
and Mrs. Evans at once going to see him, and assisting to make him comfortable
till the Doctor should arrive.
Prison Wall----The west wall of the Prison is progressing finely, and the foundation of the southwest octagon is nearly completed.
This work is being rapidly pushed forward under able management of the Deputy Warden Mr. L. M. Evans. Convicts are now engaged in digging the trench for the foundation of the south line of the wall, and a large part of the stone is on the ground for rapid progress of the work.
Waupun Times, Monday, August 29, 1860
During the past week Miss Dorothy Dix, the world renowned philanthropist, paid
a passing visit to our State Prison. Miss Dix for many years been engaged in
visiting the prisons of this and other countries, and her very name opens up
to our mental gaze vast and varied fields of reflection, invokes grave, important
thoughts, and forms a center round which countless subjects of discussion group
themselves.
From the brief opportunity we had of seeing her, she seems peculiarly adapted to the duties of her mission.
Prison Commissioner: Major Hans Christian Heg
Weekly Prison City Item, William Euen, Editor, September14,
1860
Prison Matters ---------------------Sunday Routine
It will be remembered, that some weeks since we published on daily routine at
the prison, that article related to the working days of the week, we now propose
to give the routine of discipline on the Sabbath.
In the morning about half an hour later than usual, the bell is rung, in the cell room for the prisoners to get up for breakfast. They then get up, put up their beds, dress themselves, wash and prepare for the morning meal. Breakfast is then carried round to each cell in tin pans (knife and fork and plate having been previously handed into each cell by waiter.) In the mean time the cell doors are opened by the respective keepers, and after the convict receives his dish, locked again.
After sufficient time is given for the completion of the meal, the keepers take their stations in their respective wards, and the guards upon the wall, when the order is given by the turnkey of the cell room (Mr. Ole Torgerson) to proceed to unlock the cells, commencing with the fifth ward. When the doors of that ward are unlocked the word “ready!” is given by the turnkey, and responded to by the keeper of he ward; and the cell doors are all at once thrown open and each convict comes out, and takes his place in the rank with his night bucket in one hand and his dish in the other, and, as he goes out into the yard he leaves his dish upon the table, and immediately places his left hand upon the shoulder of the one before him, and in close order, and, with “lock step,” they proceed to the sink in the extreme part of the yard and empty the buckets. They are then marched, as before, back to their cells, and close the doors which are locked by the keepers, and thus each ward discharges its first morning duties. In a short time thereafter clean under clothes, consisting of a shirt, and in the winter, under shirts and drawers, and a clean sheet and towel, which are exchanged for the dirty clothes which are handed out to be washed.
At about 10 1-2 o’clock the bell rings for church, and the cells are again unlocked as before, commencing however with the first ward, and—at the word “ready” the doors of the ward are again simultaneously opened, and the convicts issue forth and form a close rank; and, with the “lock step,” they are marched by their respective keepers to the chapel, which is in the third story of the main building, the entrance to which from the cell room, is by a lofty stairway. They enter the chapel by a side passage and are seated in their respective wards next to the stand of the chaplain, commencing with the first until all are seated. The females form the matrons department, and, are under her charge, they enter and take their seats, when all are thus seated, the large folding doors of the chapel are thrown open by the deputy commissioner, and the audience from the village (which is sometimes very large) are politely seated between the prisoners and the main entrance. After the service is concluded, the audience retire, and the prisoners are marched back to their cells in wards; on their way, however they find their dinner prepared for them on the table, which each one passing takes with him to his cell.
At about two o’clock, books from the prison library are passed round, also paper and writing material by the deputy warden, and during the afternoon the keepers kindly change and distribute papers and magazines freely among them. At night in passing in from emptying their buckets they find their supper on the table, which each takes to his cell as before.
In giving the details, so fully, we have made this article too long, to offer any reflections upon the character of this stern iron routine, but, we cannot close without expressing a doubt as to justice of that cold necessity, which demands so stern and unfeeling discipline for social and immoral human beings.
John Shultz and William Miller, who have both previously served a term in the State Prison, were brought back to the Prison last week, to serve a term of three years each, being sentenced by the Municipal Court of Milwaukke, for burglary, Cathrine Waruck was also brought up to serve a sentence of eight months, for keeping a house of ill-fame.
All articles provided courtesy of Kevin Dier-Zimmel.