The two boys now in the prison are treated in every respect as the other convicts. Nearly all the convicts can read and write, many of whom have acquired the art since their imprisonment here. Convicts are employed as engineers and firemen under the direction of one of the contractors, who built the engine. The whole expense of running the engine and keeping it in repair, is borne by the contractors who have the use of it.

Sworn to and subscribed before me this seventh day of March, A. D., 1845.

A. C, SMITH, Chairman of Committee.

[B.]

J. H. TITUS.

Lemuel Goodell, of lawful age, being duly sworn does depose and say that he is a deputy keeper in the state prison, has been employed in that capacity about three years; deponent has a general superintendence in and about the prison and adjoining yard. In summer more particularly engaged in superintending the erection of the walls of the yard; as a general thing, the contractors who employ the convicts treat them well; has never known any contractors require more labor of a convict than he could reasonably perform; do not recollect but one instance where a contractor has even usurped authority over convicts unusual or improper. Their clothing and bedding is usually changed weekly, or as often as circumstances would seem to require. In order to preserve cleanliness, ventilators leading from the various cells are usually 3 a 6 inches, producing sufficient draught for a free ventillation and a healthy atmosphere in the cells. Deponent has never kept a regular daily diary or journal of the proceedings of the prison, in pursuance of the requirements of section 8 of the act approved March 25, 1840, either in regard to infractions of rules, or violations of duty on the part of officers, guards or convicts, but has usually made a report of all principal matters or transactions in writing to the board of inspectors at any of their stated meetings, when required so to do by said board; have sometimes had bad provisions come on to the table-this has never been knowingly done --sometimes provisions have been returned in consequence of bad

quality; never noted such facts on a journal, but has usually reported such facts to the proprietors; no intoxicating drinks used or allowed to be used within the walls of the prison yard by the convicts, in any case whatever, unless prescribed by the physician.

At the time the three convicts escaped over the north wall, the guard had necessarily left the wall for a few minutes, and no person was at the time upon the wall; the guard was a substitute guard, and was on the ground outside the wall when the prisoners came over— substitute guard fired an alarm gun, and the regular guard upon the east wall fired his gun at the last convict who went over the wall. Convicts were all immediately retaken. Deponent was not present, and does not know of any investigation connected with said escapes. Does not recollect any other facts in this matter different from those stated by the agent and hereto annexed. Ladders stand against the wall on the outside for the use of the guards to ascend on to the wall; has never known strangers to go over the wall or get over the wall into the yard. Deponent has sometimes heard convicts complain that they had not a sufficient quantity of provisions; has always reported such facts to both agent and inspectors; has heard no complaints of the kind for more than a month. Has never heard any convict complain of ill treatment received from keepers or guards; thinks that if they were ill treated they would have no hesitancy to make their complaints known. Convicts are well informed in regard to their rights secured to them by laws or prison regulations. Has heard complaints from convicts working at the coopering business, alleging that they were overtasked; those complaints have been always investigated by the inspectors. Deponent thinks none of them have ever been overtasked; some of them, as journeymen, complained when required to set up eight flour barrels per day, when in fact others in the same shop were voluntarily setting up twelve similar ones per day; the setting up of from six to eight barrels usually censtitutes not more than a day's work for an ordinary journeyman cooper. Intoxicating drinks are sometimes used by the keepers and guards; does not know to what extent; there are rules in being prohibiting the employment of men in either capacity who use such drinks; has sometimes seen some of the keepers, and also guards, when they exhibited very plain evidences of intaxication; these oc

currences are not frequent. Frequently during the night passes through the establishment to see that the guards perform their duty; usually in the fore part of the night or evening; once in a while in the middle of the night. When the guards are stationed in the night, if they should neglect their duty or fall asleep, there is no way of detecting the fact, known to deponent. Two guards have been discharged during the past year for misconduct in sleeping while on duty. A brother of the agent is employed as an assistant keeper, also a son as a day guard at the gate; one nephew is employed as a teamster. No other relative of the agent is employed in or around the establish

ment.

LEMUEL GOODELL.

Sworn to and subscribed before me this sixth day of March, 1845, A. C. SMITH, Chairman of Committee.

[C.]

Ira C. Backus, of lawful age, being duly sworn, does depose and say, that he is chairman of the board of inspectors, has been such since the spring 1839; is generally present at all of the meetings of the board. Deponent saith that the statements this day made by the agent and deputy keeper, and hereunto annexed, touching the management of the prison establishment is true, so far as deponent has the means of knowing. Deponent has access at all times to all parts of the prison, and also, the books, and records, and papers thereof; has never heard convicts complain of ill treatment from any one, except occasionally for a want of provisions, and of being overtasked; all of which cases were investigated, and when ascertained by the board to be well founded, the cause thereof was immediately removed; cannot relate any other facts, touching the escapes mentioned by the agent, other than those mentioned by said agent and the deputy keeper. An examination was had in every instance mentioned, and a record thereof made. Is not positive that there was any investigation in case of the escape from the quarry. No case of intoxication among guards or keepers, has come to deponents knowledge, for about two years past. Cases might have existed without deponents knowledge; none of the guards at present, use intoxicating drinks to the

knowledge of deponent. The agent, deputy keeper, clerk, assistant keepers, physician and inspectors, are all paid an annual salary out of the state treasury, on the certificate of the clerk, except the clerk who is paid on the certificate of the board of inspectors. These several sums are not included in the periodical acconnts of the establishment. The agent receives a salary of $750; deputy keeper $500; five assistants, each, $400; clerk $500, as clerk of the board, and $100 as clerk of the building departments; physician, $200; inspectors, $2 per day each, but not to exceed $60 each for any one year. Chaplain receives $100 per annum, out of the funds received at the gate from visitors. Visitors pay one shilling each on entering the yard; the fund from this source has for the last three years averaged over $150 per annum. There are 121 cells completed and in condition for use, and 43 more nearly complete. The treatment from the keeper and deputy keeper, has usually been kind and humane, and that corporeal punishment has been less frequent during the past year than formerly. A good state of order and subordination has been preserved among the prisoners. No person sleeps in the prison office; the guards in the prison yard are required to visit all the shops and out buildings of the department once every thirty minutes. IRA C. BACKUS. Sworn to and subscribed this sixth day of March, 4. D. 1845. A. C. SMITH, Chairman Joint Committee.

[COPY.]

(Document marked A.)

Memorandum of an agreement made and entered into by Abram V. Berry and Ethan H. Rice, under the name and style of Berry & Rice, of Jackson, in the county of Jackson, and State of Michigan, parties of the first part, and Jonas H. Titus of the same place, agent of the State prison, party of the second part.

Witnesseth-that for, and in consideration of the covenants and agreements hereinafter mentioned, the said parties of the first part hereby agree and bind themselves to furnish the day rations for the convicts, who are now or may be confined in the State prison, at

option of the

For each day

Jackson aforesaid, for, and during the full term of one year from, and including the first day of December, A. D. 1844, according to the conditions and specifications hereafter set forth, viz: The rations to be delivered at the prison daily or otherwise, at the agent, and to consist of the following quantities, viz: ration, 12 ounces of pork, or 20 ounces of beef; 12 ounces of wheat flour, to be made of good winter wheat, ground and not bolted; 10 ounces of Indian corn meal; one half gill of molasses, and for each 100 rations, 4 quarts clean rye, 4 quarts clean salt, 2 quarts good vinegar, 4 quarts white beans, 2 ounces black pepper, and 3 bushels of potatoes. Salt beef and salt pork to be furnished alternately each three days in each week. All the articles to be of good quality; the pork and beef, such as will pass inspection as prime.

The said party of the second part hereby covenants and agrees, and binds himself and his successors in office, to pay to the said parties of the first part, the sum of six and three fourths cents (64) for each and every days ration, furnished and delivered as aforesaid, and to make said payments at the expiration of each month successively after such rations have been furnished; provided, the said party of the second part has funds in his hands for that purpose.

In witness whereof, the said parties have hereunto set their hands and seals, the first day of December, A. D. 1844.

(Signed,) ABRAM V. BERRY, (L. s.) ETHAN H. RICE, (L. s.)

JONAS H. TITUS, (L. 8.)

Agent State Prison.

Signed and sealed in presence of W. Budington.

I hereby become security for the faithful performance of the foregoing contract, on the part and in behalf of the said Berry & Rice, the party of the first part. Dated at Jackson, 1st December, 1844.

(Signed,) J. B. EATON.

Signed and sealed in presence of W. Budington.

STATE PRISON,

Jackson, 6th March, 1845.

I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the original

contract, now on file in this office.

W. BUDINGTON, Clerk S. P.