#c. f. neelands

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"TWO SAW WAY OUT OF JAIL MAKE LADDER, SCALE WALL," Toronto Star. May 14, 1943. Page 3. --- Cut Six Iron Bars on Window at Welland, Tear Boards Out of Shed --- ONE FROM TORONTO --- Special to The Star Welland, May 14 - Police in the Niagara peninsula today are hunting for John Stark, alias Stack, 24, Crowland, and Peter Max, 27, Toronto, who escaped from the county jail here during the night.

Stark and Max sawed their way out of their cell with hacksaws, crossed the corridor and sawed through six iron bars on a new window in the north side of the jail. They also sawed away the iron sash and crossbars of the window itself. Dropping down six feet from the window into the jail yard, they went to an old woodshed and broke away a part of the shed. With this lumber they fashioned a ladder to scale the jail wall and dropped 25 feet to the street.

The escaped men had been on remand for the past two weeks. They were arrested by provincial police near Port Colborne. They allegedly were carrying three revolvers, one an automatic. Police said they picked them up in a stolen car,

("We want these men in Toronto," stated Inspector of Detectives Arthur Levitt of Toronto police. "They are wanted on housebreaking and car theft charges. One of the revolvers found on them was stolen from Oriole Parkway in Toronto."

(Police also stated the men are wanted in Hamilton on theft and shopbreaking charges.)

The men's escape was discovered by a night guard, Harry Herman.

"We suspect they got outside help in some way," said Sheriff V. L. Davidson of Welland county. "They have had visitors."

C. F. Neelands, deputy provincial secretary, said the men would be wearing civilian clothes. "There are about 25 prisoners in the jail," he said.

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"DEFIANCE REWARDED WITH BETTER MEALS," Toronto Star. July 4, 1933. Page 3. ---- Prisoners at Mimico Balked at Bad Bologna and Went on Strike ---- Not until 3 p.m. yesterday, according to the reformatories branch of the provincial secretary's office, did official notice come from the Mimico reformatory of a strike on Friday of the prisoners working in the brick and tile plant, on account of food they claimed was not fit to eat. At breakfast, it is reported, the men found a piece of bologna on their plates. The meat had turned, and had a bad odor. Angered at the type of food they were asked to eat before going to work, the men with one accord are alleged to have thrown the bologna all over the room where a good deal of it stuck to the walls and ceiling. The men are then said to have gone back to their dormitories and to have refused to work until they were better fed. This was about 5.30 a.m. An attempt at pacification was made by Sergt. Vincent, who, as the result of the recent investigation at Burwash, was transferred from the latter institution to Mimico by order of Inspector of Reformatories, James A. Norris. "There was nothing to it," said F. C. Neelands, assistant provincial secretary, this afternoon. "The meat was a little off color, and the men complained. But Sergt. Vincent talked to them, and soon had them back to work again. "I have seen the same thing happen in a university dormitory," explained Mr. Neelands. "As a matter of fact, we did not know that there had been any trouble at Mimico until a few minutes ago (3.15 p.m.)." The report was brought to the department at Queen's Park by Superintendent Elliott of Mimico yesterday afternoon. In contrast to the bologna on Friday, the men were fed bacon and eggs Saturday.

[AL: I'd love to learn more, but researching administrative files and records for provincial prisons is somehow even harder than for federal prisons from this period. But a few guesses. 'Bad food' is a common cause of prisoner protests - because "what else do you have to look forward to?" and bad food is a sign of neglect, cruelty and disrespect - but it is usually not the only thing a protest is about. The fact that they were striking against an officer who had recently been transferred from another prison for creditably beating a man to death should not be ignored. It wouldn't surprise me if other factors relating to work conditions were also involved.]

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"PRISON TRAINING VALUABLE ASSET FOR MANY JOBS," Toronto Star. November 19, 1943. Page 19. --- Nearly 800 prisoners have been paroled from Ontario and federal institutions in the past six months to engage in agriculture or war work, and with few exceptions they are setting an enviable record. This was reported today by C. F. Neelands, deputy provincial secretary.

Additional scores of men and women whose lives have been warped by crime, and who are still In institutions, have turned whole- heartedly to the patriotic tasks of bond buying, blood donations and other volunteer work for the armed forces.

"Many paroled men have risen to executive positions in war industries, have become useful and admirable citizens, and are living up to all the conditions on which they were released," Mr. Neelands said. "Parole revocations have dropped to an all-time low."

One paroled prisoner worked industriously in a war industry, saved his money, and a few weeks ago bought a farm.

"He has stocked it well, is doing fine, and making a valuable contribution to the food supply of the nation," said C. F. Swayze, secretary to the chief officer of the board of parole.

Many young men have been paroled to enter the army, Mr. Swayze told of one transferred from the army to the R.C.A.F., trained as a pilot, and is now overseas where he has already made a name for himself as a gallant and successful airman.

"I know of many others who have done splendidly in industry and in the army, but I hesitate to cite their cases because they could be so easily identified," Mr. Swayze said.

Big Aid to Industry The reformatory at Guelph in particular has made a large contribution to industry, the training the men receive in the institution's shops being valuable assets in war work.

Prisoners at Burwash reformatory are being used to get out a large cut of lumber which is being used by war industries. A considerable number of men have been paroled from Burwash to work in the Northern Ontario lumber camps this winter, putting to practical use the experience they gained while prisoners.

Many ticket-of-leave men from Portsmouth penitentiary, with the trades they have learned in the institution, are going directly into well paid war jobs. One of the largest industries making tanks will take every man the penitentiary's shops can graduate in welding, and the record of successful parolees in this trade is unusually high.

Prisoners in the various institutions are among the large donors of blood, and at Portsmouth penitentiary more than two-thirds of the inmates regularly contribute their quota to the Kingston Red Cross blood clinic. Most of the remaining third have volunteered but are prevented from donating blood for medical or other reasons beyond their control

A comprehensive plan to use paroled prisoners in war work and agriculture, and thus directly to assist them in becoming rehabilitated and worthy citizens in peace time, has been worked out between the federal department of justice and the Ontario attorney-general's department, Mr. Neelands said.

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“Second Camp of Prisoners To Push Road,” The Globe and Mail. February 14, 1940. Page 04. ---- 50 More Burwash Men to Labor on Link in Trans-Canada Highway ---- FOUR MILES CLEARED --- Ontario’s plan to close the last gap in the cross-Canada highway chain, by driving a 112-mile road through the bus between Geraldton and Hearst, will be speeded next week when Camp 2, situated just east of Long Lac, will be opened for fifty inmates of the Burwash Reformatory, it was stated last night.

Already, ninety-nine prisoners from the reformatory, quartered in a camp about twelves miles east of Long Lac and overlooking Lukinto Lake, have cleared some four miles of roadway since early in January.

In addition, they are delving a tote road east along the projected highway line to the spot picked for Camp 3, where 100 more prisoners will be placed before the spring break-up.

The plan of using prison labor on the highway link was formulated last October to relieve congestion in the reformatories when the Government gave the St. Thomas Mental Hospital to the Dominion Government for an air force training station, and then, to find room for mental patients, moved prisoners out of the jail farm at Langstaff. Before taking this step, Premier Hepburn and his colleagues urged Ottawa to enlist 560 short-term prisoners out of a larger group of inmates who had declared their willingness to enter the army.

Departments Collaborate Establishment of the prison camp near Long Lac followed rejection of the offer, and the highway construction program was worked out by the Provincial Secretary’s Department in collaboration with the Department of Highways.

Both Provincial Secretary H. C. Nixon and his deputy, C. F. Neelands, declared yesterday that the experiment was working out successfully. The highways branch cut a tote road north to the first camp side from Seagram’s Siding, on the C.N.R. line south of the camp. They built the cabins, and an advance party of prisoners finished them. Supplies all winter have been hauled by tractor along the tote road.

Prison labor erected the camp’s own lighting plant, and one of the first finishing touches was a telephone hook-up. The first long-distance call - perhaps the first call from the camp - was made to Deputy Minister Neelands by the officer in charge.

All the prisoners were classified as physically fit before leaving the reformatory and the majority were anxious to go. While the even 100 were sent, one became ill and was sent back, and his place was not filled. All during January, while the men worked out in the bitter cold, illness was practically non-existent.

The camp is under the direction of Sergeant W. J. Catton of the Burwash Reformatory, and with him are thirteen guards. None, at least during the winter when escaped is believed nigh impossible, carries guns.

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“Speedwell Turned Over To Province as Prison,” Border Cities Star. January 26, 1921. Page 7. ==== Guelph Institution Will Be Opened Without Delay; C. F. Neelands, Former Head of Burwash Farm, Is Superintendent ---- Guelph, Jan. 26 - The institution which has been known throughout the war as Speedwell Hospital has been formally turned over to the Ontario Government by officials of the D. S. C. R., and will at once be converted into a prison. C. F. Neelands, who for the past 6 years has been connected with the Burwash prison. has been appointed superintendent of the new institution, and is in the city making arrangements for the opening of the prison.

Mr. Neelands is very well known in Guelph, having graduated from the O. A. C. in 1914. Since that time he has been connected with the Burwash prison. Prior to the closing of the Ontario reformatory present.. here during the war, Mr. Neelands succeeded Dr. Gilmour as warden. but when the institution was converted into a hospital, he returned to Burwash, where he had the office of superintendent. N. J. Agnew, who for the past few years has been in charge of the industrial department at Speedwell, has been appointed assistant superintendent of the new institution.

Everything is now in readiness for the opening of the prison, and 50 prisoners from Burwash are expected to arrive within the next few days. They will form a foundation staff, and more short term prisoners from the various county Jails throughout the province will be brought to the city shortly. A section of the institution is also being fitted up for criminal insane, but this department will not be used at present.

Other appointments have not been announced, but it is expected that these will be known before the end of the week.

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“Riot Of Prisoners At Guelph Reformatory Revealed,” Border Cities Star. February 15, 1932. Page 17. ---- Fifty Create Disturbance --- Uproar in Dining Room Last Monday Told Over Week-End  ---- Leaders Strapped --- Economy Measures Are Blamed; Guards Quell Rebels Quickly --- TORONTO. Feb. 15. - Inmates of the Ontario Reformatory at Guelph staged a disturbance in the dining room of the institution last Monday, it was learned over the week-end. 

50 MEN IN RIOT C. F. NEELANDS, Deputy Provincial Secretary, said last right some 30 men created an uproar which only ended when guards were summoned.  Economy measures were blamed for the trouble. 

Mr. Neelands said the superintendent of the reformatory, John Hunter, had told him that "about 50 men of the 500 men In the dining room at the time started shouting and stamping their feet. They yelled that the next thing that would happen would be a reduction in the amount of food. Guards were rushed In and they removed the men. One of the guards received a cut on the face from a pitcher thrown by one of the prisoners. but it was not serious. 

"The superintendent communicated with me. and ordered an immediate investigation of the complaints. Finding that the ringleaders were hardened criminals in the main, and that their complaint had no grounds. I ordered that they be given 10 strokes of the strap." he said.

ECONOMIES EFFECTED Mr. Neelands explained that economies had been put into effect in the administration of the reformatory in line with the Government policy. 

"We have cut down the tobacco rations and effeted other economies, but the men have no reason to complain." he declared. 

"Discipline must be maintained. Most of the men involved in the disturbance had served terms in the penitentiary and had been sent to Guelph to finish uncompleted sentences. There are 800 prisoners, at Guelph, and amongst such a large number there are always some who endeavor to cause unrest and affect others.” said the Deputy Provincial Secretary.

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“INMATES OF PRISON CAUSE DISTURBANCE,” Kingston Whig-Standard. February 15, 1932. Page 9. ---- TORONTO, Feb. 13 — Inmates of the Ontario Reformatory at Guelph staged a disturbance in the dining room of the institution last Monday, it was learned over the week-end. C. F. Neelands, Deputy Provincial Secretary, said last night some fifty men created an uproar, which only ended when guards were summoned. Economy measures were blamed for the trouble. 

Mr. Neelands said the superintendent of the reformatory, John Hunter, had told him that "about fifty of the 500 men in the dining room at the time started shouting and stamping their feet. They yelled that the next thing that would happen would be a reduction in the amount of food. Guards were rushed in and they removed the men. One of the guards received a cut on the face from a pitcher thrown by one of the prisoners, but It was not serious. 

"The superintendent communicated with me and I ordered an immediate investigation of the complaints. Finding that the ring-leaders were hardened criminals in the main, and that their complaint had no grounds. I ordered that they be given ten strokes of the strap,’ he said.

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“Jail-Break At Mimico,” The Globe and Mail. June 29, 1940. Page 04. ---- While tending a herd of cattle Vernon Hanson, aged 27, escaped yesterday from the Mimico Reformatory. His absence was not noticed until he been missing from the prison for some time. He is assumed to have jumped aboard a passing freight train.

Hanson was sentenced to six months on April 17 by Magistrate Browne after being convicted of false pretences. He is described as being five feet eight inches, 142 pounds, and has scars on the right cheek and over the left eye. He was wearing regulation prison uniform when he disappeared.

C. S. Neelands, Deputy Provincial Secretary, said yesterday that Hanson and another man, were considered ‘trusties,’ and were without guards at the time of the escape.

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“Brands Hanging Barbarous, Grotesque Dark Age Relic,” Toronto Star. September 29, 1931. Page 01 & 03. ---- Brokenshire’s Spiritual Adviser Scores Method of Administering Capital Punishment --- CALLS FOR CHANGES --- Rev. T. W. Barnett, rector of St. Clement’s church, Jones Ave., and spiritual advisor to John Brokenshire until the latter was hanged a week ago, writes the following letter to The Star: ‘As one who is indaily contact with young delinquents, I feel it my duty to bring before the minds of the public in general and church people in particular, some of the problems which confront one from day to day. If these problems were more widely known, it might be that some wrongs would be righted.

‘First of all, I am convinced that it is time we had some better system of examining these youthful criminals. I say it with very much regret, yet I fear it is true, the home failed. Almost every case one investigates can be traded to bad home training. Now, if that is so, it seems to me that the government should be specifically careful in the handling of these cases, and that the young man should have a thorough physical and mental examination.

‘Take, for example, the case of John Brokenshire. He was sent straight to the penitentiary on his first appearance in court. Now it is my strong conviction that if we had here an institution run on the Borstal lines, the country would most likely have been saved a lot of money, to say nothing of the unnecessary loss of life.

‘The Guelph reformatory comes nearest to the type of training that is most beneficial to these first offenders or youthful criminals. One can only wish that we had more more like Mr. C. F. Neelands. But how many people have ever stopped to think that even the finest institution can, as it were, only wash the outside of the cup and platter. What these wayward young men need is a change of heart and no institution, however good the discipline or equipment it may have, can bring about this change. So here we have to admit sorrowfully and painfully that the Church of Jesus Christ has failed, as well as the home.

Few Do Prison Work ‘Take as an example, ‘Toronto the Good,’ as this city is affectionately called. Out of all the great church bodies in this city, only one church bodies in this city, only one church (the Anglican) is doing prison work. Is one Anglican cleric sufficient to cope with such a tremendous work as our police courts present day after day?

‘Look again at Guelph Reformatory. It is dependent on the Ministerial Association at Guelph for the conducting of a Sunday service, and for this an honorarium of $5 per Sunday is paid. Does not a Christian land owe more Christianity than that to its law-breakers? Take Burwash as another example. One cannot imagine a more spiritually destitute place anywhere. It is high time the Christian people of Ontario were alive to these facts, and to a sense of their responsibility. Are the home and the Christian religions going to leave the training of our youth to this fate?

‘The next problem which we have to consider in our work among the criminal class is that of long sentences meted out to men, many of them mere boys. Can any good purpose be served by sending these very young delinquents to the penitentiary for periods of from 10 to 20 years? Would it not be much belief to give these people some very serious punishment, and after that, if they persist in crime, put them in a penal institution?

‘Then, as men go further and deeper into crime, we find ourselves up against the greatest problem of all, the man in the death cell awaiting execution. Is it not a very bad policy to keep such a man waiting for two, three, or six months after he has been sentenced to death? In the old land he is allowed three clear Sundays in which to make his appeal for mercy to man and to his Maker. Here, the waiting time drags on so long that it is impossible to get the condemned man to concentrate on the things of God, for he keeps hoping for an eleventh hour reprieve.

‘It is not really kindness to the man either. Every time I went to see Brokenshire, he would say, ‘Why are they keeping me?’ They intend to hang me anyway.’ I had to spend most of last Tuesday around the sheriff’s office, waiting word from Ottawa, and this only came through after Toronto had wired Ottawa for it. Then, at about 1:30 p.m., when I told the condemned man he had to die at 8 a.m. next morning, he was very upset to think they had kept him waiting so long. Then, and not till then, did he set himself definitely to prepare to meet God.

‘And now what can one say for the actual hanging? Just think of it, after nearly two thousand years of Christianity, we hold on to this grotesque and barbarous method of capital punishment. If we are going to keep this relic of the dark ages, why not execute the man in public and leave the body hanging for days? As it is, just a few officials, whose presence is required, witness the cruel scene.

‘It in not my intention to write in order to work on the feelings of anyone, but were I to describe the scene minutely, from the moment the hangman enters the death cell until we solemnly process to the death chamber, there is no Christian man or woman but would be horrified beyond words. All I can say, ‘Canada, awake, awake, awake.’ If we must have capital punishment, surely there are more refined ways of doing away with a man, and, if we want to diminish crime in all its forms, it is high time organized Christianity commended a great forward drive.

‘It must start in the home if the family altar must be reared once more, even if the family were only to repeat, as a family, the Lord’s Prayer. Public worship must not be neglected as it has been. The family, as a family, must recognize God’s house and his day.

‘Teaching of morals in our schools would also be a great help towards the strengthening of the character of our youth. All this reminds me of a quotation I heard, many years ago, and which I have never forgotten - ‘You may legislate and legislate, you may educate and educate, but what you need to do is to regenerate.’ And so, at the end of our survey, we are just where we were at the start - confronted with problems which need a higher power than man’s to cope with them. And so we would appeal to the Church of God in this province to awake to its sense of duty and Christian discipline.’

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“GUELPH, Ont., March 7. - Wilfrid Lepress and Theodore Cedar, the two Ontario Reformatory inmates who made a successful dash for freedom from the institution yesterday afternoon were back in custody early this afternoon, a posse of guards apprehending the pair a short distance out of Aberfoule. The capture of the two fugitives was effected within half an hour after superintendent C. F. Neelands received a phone call from a farm a few miles out of Guelph, who stated the men had spent the night in his barn.” - from the Border Cities Star. March 7, 1929. Page 29.

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“Jail Officials At Brockville Said Negligent,” The Globe and Mail. April 25, 1940. Page 08. ---- Carelessness Shown in Prisoner’s Escape, Says Neelands, After Probe --- BACK IN CUSTODY ----- Jail Governor E. J. Hefferman and his turnkey were reported negligent in the escape of Mike Nyachi from the Leeds and Grenville Counties jail following an investigation yesterday by C.F. Neeland, Deputy Provincial Secretary, Nyachi was arrested yesterday at Oshawa after gaining his freedom in a sensational escape from the jail Saturday night.

‘The governor was careless, very careless, in obeying regulations,’ said Mr. Neelands. ‘The turnkey was very careless also in failing to make a check on Nyachi on Sunday. It was his business not only to make that check on Nyachi on Sunday. It was his business not only to make that check but to see if the man needed medical attention.’

Mr. Neelands said that the governor accepted full responsibility for the escape, including blame which in the opinion of investigating officials, might properly be placed upon the turnkey. No action has been taken in the case.

Nyachi, who slipped out of the jail Saturday night after he hood-winked guards by placing a lifelike toll of bedding in his cell cot, was arrested early yesterday at Oshawa sleeping in a car which he had stolen from Trenton.

The young suspect drowsily awoke from a deep sleep and handed his captor a toy gun, saying ‘Take this, I don’t like the temptation.’ Nyachi said he had not slept since Saturday night. His identity was not discovered for several hours and he was then removed to the Belleville jail.

While Nyachi claimed that he had hidden in the empty women’s section of the jail Saturday afternoon and had walked out while the governor locked his three companions up for the night, the investigation suggested that the prisoner up to the moment of his escape, was confined to the iron-grilled cage outside the four cell doors.

Governor Hefferman, it was ported, following usual night procedure, went to the cage door and told the men to go into their cells. While only three were visible, all charged with Nyachi in a Prescott armed robbery, they said Nyachi was lying down. They entered their cells and the governor locked all four doors from outside by means of a ‘gang lock.’

He then entered the cage and, in the rather dim light entering Nyachi’s cell, saw a form on the bed and believed it was the prisoner. The report suggests that while he was peering into the cell. Nyachi, hidden behind two benches, either slipped out the cage door or waited until the governor left the cage and walked out after him.

Governor Hefferman’s negligence, it is stated, lies in his failure in not locking the cage door or the corridor door leading from the cage. In the Brockville cell block, described as an ideal system, three doors bar a prisoner’s escape from the cell block.

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“27,926 Imprisoned New Ontario Record,” Toronto Star. October 25, 1939. Page 32. --- Nearly Four Times 1917 Total - Poorly Educated Youths Said in Lead --- Ontario’s prisons have their highest populations in history this year, according to the annual report of prisons and reformatories, issued today by Hon. H. C. Nixon, provincial secretary. From a low of 7,867 in 1917 there was a steady increase to 21, 431 in 1930.

The total dropped to 13,509 in 1934 and then rose again. Since that year the increase has been startling, establishing an all-time peak of 23,649 in 1938 and another big jump to 27,926 in 139, C. F. Neelands, deputy provincial secretary, reported.

‘The huge majority, as in former years, are young, below average in mentality, low in academic education, and almost totally lacking in vocational training,’ Mr. Neelands said. ‘Add to all these the comparative ease of obtaining deadly weapons and speedy cars, and we have the natural result, the reckless, youthful gun-bandit. He is particularly a North American product, and is a problem whether at liberty or in prison.’

In the reformatories were 725 prisoners between 15 and 19 years old; 996 between 20 and 24; 706 between 25 and 29; 645 between 30 and 34; 655 between 35 and 39, and 532 between 40 and 44. There were 33 prisoners over 70.

More prisoners are sentenced to 30 days and under 60, with 1,884 drawing this sentence. During the year, 42 escaped and were recaptured, with only five evading pursuers.

Most frequent crime against property is larceny or theft, with 1,014 sentenced. False pretences brought jail terms to 261, and ‘borrowed’ cars to 259.

Drunk and disorderly charges led ‘crimes against public order and peace,’ with 1,227 sentenced.

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“Escaped Prisoner Caught At Brampton,” Toronto Globe. April 15, 1929. Page 14. --- Shaw’s Example Blamed by Ontario Reformatory Superintendent --- (Special Despatch to The Globe.) Guelph, April 14. - Following twelve hours’ freedom, Fred Page, aged 17, an inmate of the Ontario reformatory, who escaped from that institution Friday night, was captured at Brampton on Saturday. Page, who was employed in the abattoir on the farm, quietly slipped away when opportunity offered. His absence was not noted for some time after he made his get-away.

The runaway, who is also known as McPherson, was sentenced from Toronto in November, 1928, to three months’ determinate and two months’ indeterminate on a charge of theft.

A desire on the part of inmates to emulate Orval Shaw, elusive Skunk’s Misery hermit, is thought by Superintendent C. F. Neelands to be the reason for numerous recent escapes, only one of which, however, has been successful.

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“Guelph Inmate of Reformatory Makes His Escape,” Toronto Star. April 10, 1929. Page 21. --- Trusty in Psychiatric Ward Removes Window Screen On Lower Floor --- IS NOT DANGEROUS ---- Guards Commence Search When Man’s Absence Is Discovered Half An Hour Later --- Special to The Star Guelph, April 10. - Escaping by removing a screen protecting a ground-floor window early to-day, Paul Melange of Fort William, an inmate of the psychiatric ward of the Ontario reformatory, is still at large. His absence was not noticed for half an hour, and the guards immediately commenced searching for him. He was a trusty, and apparently had little difficulty in wrenching off the screen from the window in his cell on the lower floor and dropping out the window.

He is mentally defective, Superintendent C. F. Neelands stated. He was brought here from Stoney Mountain penitentiary, and had completed his term at that institution. Here he was under observation. He never has shown any signs of being dangerous, his only crime having been petty thefts.

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“Man At Burwash Flogged While Hanging Tied Up,” Sudbury Star. November 1, 1917. Page 01 & 18. --- Men Can’t Change Wet Garments --- Ontario Prison Farm Inmates Sleep in Three Tiers of Berths. --- Special to The Star by a Staff Reporter. Burwash, Ont., Nov. 1. - Astonishing revelations were made at the Ontario Prison Farm yesterday during a visit of Hon. W. D. McPherson, C. McCrea, M.P.P., and a representative of The Toronto Star, which indicate that radical changes will be made in the near future in the conditions of the inmates. The Provincial institution is situated about eighteen miles before reaching Sudbury, on the C.P.R. main western line. It is safe to indicate that if the evidence received yesterday is further corroborated, heroic measures will be taken to eliminate conditions which can only be regarded as deplorable in such an institution. 

During the last few days many complaints reached The Star about the conditions under which the inmates lived. On Monday a representative of The Star asked permission of Hon. W. D. McPherson to go through the institution, and see if the allegations were true. Mr. McPherson said he was about to visit Burwash. The Star asked to accompany him, and was readily granted permission. Mr. McPherson stated there was nothing to hide or conceal. He not only allowed freedom to get the information, but himself opened the avenue whereby it could be obtained.

May Appoint Commissioner. After the strenuous day was over the Provincial Secretary expressed surprise at some of the revelations and said he did not see anything which could not be remedied. He would follow the matter further every way and also indicated that he might appoint a commissioner to sift the matter to the very bottom.

From the statements of the prisoners themselves it seemed to be established that inmates sleep in three tiers of steel construction beds in their underwear, and that often after working in pouring rain they return and sleep in their wet underwear and have no change of clothing. Many men working out in the open yesterday were working with wet feet, due to being badly shod, and their think socks in many cases had holes in them. A thin coating of snow covered the ground. A Flogging Machine. There is at the farm a steel machine to which men are fastened to be flogged. This flogging has ceased since the beginning of September. One man said he was fastened to the machine and flogged hanging by his wrists as he was not tal enough to reach for the floor with his feet.

Until last August 1st, there was no permanent medical officer at the camp, and since then he has been away a week out west. There is no real hospital at the camp, and a room was opened yesterday, in which three beds were placed as a temporary hospital. Several men with ugly diseases and others with serious ailments are living with the inmates all the time in the same rooms, eating with them, sleeping with them, and washing at the same toilets. Apparently the medical officer was unaware of this.

Tells Revolting Story. Men have been fastened to posts in the dormitory, with their arms around the post and wrists handcuffed, and left there for many hours. According to the testimony of an old Scotchman one man was beaten brutally by an official. The old man’s story of it is a revolting one. This case is to be investigated thoroughly by the Provincial Secretary.

When the prisoners were asked if the old man’s tale was true many said: yes, they had witnessed it. After the man was brutally treated and bleeding he was put on the ‘machine,’ it is stated. One prisoner, a printer by trade, said ‘We don’t mind work, but surely we ought to be treated as human beings.’ He stated that the work in the bush was too heavy for him, as he was brought up to other work. He did his best, but could not do as much as an experienced man, and this got him into trouble.

Checker Boards for Visitors. Many of the prisoners stated that they knew a party of visitors were coming. Everything had been scrubbed. Thirty-five bunks, they said, had been taken out of the crowded dormitory at main camp No. 2 and taken to camp 1 the night before. The little hospital with three beds was opened yesterday. An official appeared and placed three checker boards with the checkers in the dormitory at the main camp ten minutes before the party entered the room. This was the first time the men had ever seen games. Men at main camp 1 had been given fresh footwear during the last two days, but the men at camp 1 had not got any.

When many of the men were asked if they knew a party of visitors were coming a great number replied ‘yes’ and laughed, one man stating that last night the officials were painting by lantern light to fix things up.

At the main camp No. 2 the new building is a good one. The toilet room is a good one. A prisoner who was formerly a civil engineer stated that the water in the toilet room was only running for about three to four hours a day.

Three Tiers of Bunks. There was a general complaint that the food was not good and insufficient, the eating utensils dirty, the work heavy to men unaccustomed to it. They work ten hours a day, six days a week, and at Sunday they are confined in the dormitories, which are crowded. The only religious services they heard were when a Salvation Army captain visited them. Many of the prisoners are Catholics, and asked that a priest be allowed to conduct service for them.

There is no furniture in the dormitory. Down each side of the dormitory there is a row of steel bunks, another row above this, and a third still higher. When filled there are three rows of inmates on each side of the dormitory, each row above the other.

Three Camps in Operation. Burwash Prison Farm consists of about 55 quare miles in area. There are three camps in operation at present. At No. 1 there are 142 inmates, and at the main camp No. 2 about 152. These were the two camnps visited by the party. As before stated, there are about 322 inmates altogether in the prison. Nearly all were seen, as 294 out of the 322 are at these two camps. Most of the prisoners were engaged clearing the land, making roads, doing concrete work, or cultivating land and ripping out the stumps. The inmates of the prison are men who have been sent for terms of from one to three months or not exceeding two years. Camp 1 was the first place visited, and lies about a mile and a half from Burwash station, on the C.P.R. The visitors inspected the big dormitory, with its 143 steel bunks, contained in a frame building heated with two big stoves.

Stories Told by Prisoners. The first gang of prisoners at Camp 1 were found at work about half a mile from the dormitory. They were digging and clearing the land. Hon. W. D. McPherson asked the guards and officials to retire. He then told the men that they could talk freely without fear of being penalized for what they said. Complaints had been heard, and the visitors wanted to know if the prisoners had any complaints to make about their treatment. Four or five told about being put on the ‘machine.’ One man said he was digging in a ditch. He was wet and sweating. He climbed out for a moment, and was told get back. He did so. Another prisoner informed the guard he had got out again when he had not permission and so he was given the ‘machine.’

A great proportion of the men said their feet were wet, and had been all day. Two took their shoes off to show their wet socks and holes in them. Several of the men said they were ill and could not do the heavy work, but had to stick at it. The men said they got a change of underclothes every week, but that the underwear they pulled off was washed at the laundry at the main camp and was not half washed. They stated they slept in their underwear.

Two of them were returned soldiers. One had been at the front with the 2nd Battalion. He was in the prison for ‘joy riding.’ They said the bread was often sour. Their clothes were insufficient. One man said he was half paralyzed and showed his limbs to prove it, declaring that he was out in the open on heavy work. It meant a five-mile jaunt on wagons and horseback for the party to reach main camp No. 2. Mr. McPherson, Investigates.  Mr. McPherson addressed the prisoners after dismissing the guards and told them to speak frankly. They did. One man stated plainly that the whole place had been fixed up ready for the visitors. Everything had been scrubbed, the men’s hair cut, and some new clothes given to them and an issue of shoes in anticipation of the visit. The men showed their wet underwear. They had just come in from working out in the bush, and stated they had to sleep in that, and did so regularly. In answer to Mr. McPherson, the men stated that they had asked for fresh clothing and that it had been refused. Others said that after the doctor had told them to stay inside when they were ill the guard would turn them out. They said the doctor was a good fellow, but what he said ‘didn’t go.’

The Star asked the prisoners questions and inspected their clothing. Men told of being ill but being forced to continue to work. They told of contracting rheumatism, although they had never had it before. One man said he would rather put in two years at Kingston than a week in Burwash. The men who had been flogged in some cases stated it was for trying to run away. Asked why they tried to escape they replied, ‘Bad food, heavy work, and the general treatment. Couldn’t stand it.’ Quite a number of those who had been punished stated they were in for having ‘a bottle of booze.’

Flogging Before August 1st. The whole story was an astonishing one. All idea of trying to fit these men as future citizens or their social regeneration seems to have been lost sight of. Everything is in favor of the prison being a splendid one for reclaiming men. There is a abundant country, the new building and equipment are good, but the treatment of the men as human beings seems to be secondary. The officials at the institution state that the men are only flogged for serious offences such as insolence to an officer, laziness and refusing to work, and trying to escape. The officials have a card index system showing every man’s record. The flogging evidently ceased on September 1st, but the officials state it was not because of complaints made. They state that a man never was flogged without medical authority since the camps have had a medical officer. But almost all the flogging took place before the arrival of this officer on August 1st. The officials showed the food the men had and said the bread was of the best. 

There is a vast difference of opinion between the official’s statement and that of the prisoners. It was denied that any man had been beaten up by an official.

Man Shot by Guard. One man was shot by a guard with a revolver. He was trying to escape. The inquest was held at the camp without a jury as the district is unorganized.

The camp came into use when Guelph and Whitby institutions were turned over to the Military Hospitals Commission for returned soldiers, officials vigorously defend the Burwash Prison as excellent under all the circumstances.

Mr. McPherson, in addressing the prisoners after the investigation stated that there was not the slightest idea of interfering with the discipline of the institution. He would see that every man had a square deal. Everything would be fixed and the officials would do their duty. The law had placed them there and that had to be recognized. The men applauded the Provincial Secretary. Officials are confident that when the matter is followed up further the treatment will be justified.

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

“Investigation Gives Burwash A Clean Slate,” Sudbury Star. February 9, 1918. Page 07. --- Men Treated Well - Some Prisoners Are Uncontrollable --- The report of His Honor Judge Coatsworth on the conditions at the Burwash Industrial Farm, which was presented Thursday, was a lenghty one. It deals with the size of the place, the number of acres, amount of stock, and gives extracts of evidence.

It also gives the complaints of the prisoners, which were investigated and they numbered 20 in all. To these were made recommendations in 13, and in the other seven found no cause for any recommendations.

Dealing with the case of the man, David Montague Harris, the evidence showed that Harris came to the farm with a medical certificate showing that he was mentally sound, physically fit to work and free from disease. He was admitted on July 28, and on August 11, he refused to work. He was insolent and quarrelsome, and as a result the next day he had to wear a ball and chain. It was taken off that night, and when the guard went to put it on next day he struggled, fought, and became abusive. On August 15, he was reported fit to work by the doctor, but refused to get out of bed. When Superintendent Neelands asked the doctor if he was fit to be ‘slapped,’ the doctor said it would not hurt him.

The commissioner found that Harris was always shamming and scheming to avoid work; that he was an object of suspicion at the farm, and also at Sudbury on account of his attempts to escape; that he was quarrelsome with the guards and with a foreign prisoner, whom he attacked with an axe. The commissioner found that there was no cruelty used in his case, and any injuries he received in his struggles were caused by his resistance to punishment.

Result of Investigation 1. That the institution is well designed and doing valuable reformative work, and on completion of buildings will produce farm produce, meats and supplies in quantities to be self-sustaining, and materially lessen the cost of maintenance in other public institutions.

2. That the superintendent is well qualified and capable and performs his duties conscientiously and well. His staff of officers are efficient, and no reasonable fault can be found with them, but that the testimony was commendatory to both. 

3.In the matter of discipline the men are treated fairly, and when pynished was resorted to it was necessary, and that it cannot be successfully conducted without resort to reasonable corporal punishment. The records show no increase over those at Guelph.

4. The food provided for prisoners is good and wholesome and sufficient in quantity.

5. That the institution is being successfully and properly carried on.

6. With regard to some of the complaints of the prisoners, there was some justification, but were a temporary result of pioneer development, and chiefly owning to uncontrollable war conditions.

Recommendations 1. That an ample supply of boots be kept on hand for the different kinds of weather.

2. That strict instructions be given to the guards bringing prisoners in who are wet to call attention of the dormitory guard to this and for the guards to see that the clothing of the men is properly dried. Heating coils would be a good thing for drying clothes.

3. That each man as he comes into the institution be medically examined and veneral diseases segregated.

4. That blankets be sent to Sudbury for cleaning till steam laundry is built, and that incoming prisoners get clean blankets.

5.  Sugar in tea for men working outside.

6. That food regulations as set out in departmental rules be continued.

7. Divine service at each camp on Sundays for all creeds.

8. A weekly letter instead of one every two weeks is before.

9. Question of tobacco to be left to discretion of superintendent.

10. Improvement in latrine arrangements.

11. A ten hour day to be left to the Inspectors of the departments to consider, but Saturday afternoon holiday suggested. A reasonable supply of literature to be kept on hand all the time.

12. Rule as to profanity between prisoners and guards to be very strict, and a guard using it should be dismissed. A guard should not use a weapon unless under exceptional circumstances. What Burwash Prisoners Complained About A summary of the prisoners’ complaints and what the commissioner finds regarding them appears below: JUSTIFIED 1. That men’s boots were not suitable.

2. That men received a wetting and there were not proper facilities for drying.

3. That blankets were not properly aired and that incoming prisoners used blankets that had been previously used.

4. That some two-thirds of the prisoners in camp are of the Roman Catholic faith, and no provision has been made for the men of the church visiting them. (It was found that an invitation had been extended but had not been accepted.)

5. Latrine accommodation at night unsatisfactory.

6. That the men have no hours for recreation.

7. That the lighting was inadequate.

PARTIALLY JUSTIFIED 1. That men engaged at a distance from the camp too great to return to lunch had to take cold lunch.

2. That the tobacco was unsatifcactory.

3. That the guards used profane language in addressing the prisoners.

4. That outer garments were minus buttons.

5. That the prisoners were not allowed to write enough letters.

NOT JUSTIFIED 1. That some of the men were compelled to do heavy physical work when they did not feel equal to it.

2. That owing to imperfect cleansing of the dishes, dysentery sometimes resulted.

3. That the rations in some cases were insufficient, and occassionally this bread was sour and sometimes sausages were unsatisfactory.

4. That no notification was given to the men when ‘good time’ allowancce has deducted as a punishment.

5. That in the cases of a considerable number of French-Canadian prisoners letters from their relatives written in French were not delivered to them

6. That one man at least had been struck in the face by one of the officials when he was offering opposition to punishment.

7. That in the bathing arrangements on Saturday nights the men when undressed were kept waiting as long as fifteen minutes before they could go to the shower bath.

8. That men suffering from social and infectious diseases were not segregated.