J. F. Fishman, Inspector of Prisons, Report to the U.S. Attorney General - August 27, 1919
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COPY The attorney General Department of Justice, Washington, [District of Columbia] [August] 27, 1919. Sir: In compliance with the instructions of the Department, I have made an investigation of conditions existing at the Missouri State Penitentiary, Jefferson City, [Missouri], in so far as they relate to the treatment of the female prisoners, and respectfully submit the following report This matter was first brought to the attention of the Department by letters received from various sources concerning the conditions under which it was stated that Mrs. Kate H. [ O
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[page 2] That the foreman in charge of the workroom is a young boy, twenty one years of age, who was rather rough with some of the women, and was totally unqualified for a position of the kind. These charges will be discussed in the order in which they have been set out above. (1) About three months ago the tube with which the female department was equipped were replaced by shower baths. At the time, therefore, that this complaint was made that women were compelled to bathe in the same tub which had been used by syphlitics the charge was well-founded, and Mrs. [O
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[page 3] The matter of the task given the women was particularly difficult to investigate. The officers contended that many of the women finished their tasks in the morning, and did practically nothing during the afternoon while practically all the prisoners that I interviewed (about twelve or fifteen),with the exception of Mrs. [O
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[page 4] The meals at the institution are about as follows: For breakfast, syrup, bread and coffee, with either oatmeal, some other cereal, or hash. For dinner, sausage three times a week, beef stew three days a week, and roast beef on Sunday, there being each day a vegetable of some kind, such as cabbage, or sauer kraut, and bread. Supper consists of some kind of dried fruit, such as apricots, cake and coffee. Syrup is kept on the table at all times. Mrs. [O
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[page 5] this particular institution, she stated that if she went there the warden had agreed to allow her to make what she called a survey of the institution, with a view of suggesting proper reforma. This is merely cited as an illustration of Mrs. [O
Details
| Title | J. F. Fishman, Inspector of Prisons, Report to the U.S. Attorney General - August 27, 1919 |
| Creator | Fishman, J. F. |
| Source | Fishman, J. F. Report to U. S. Attorney General. 27 August 1919. Frank P. O'Hare Papers, 1850-1960. A1152. Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis, Missouri. |
| Description | In 1912, Frank O'Hare became editor of the Rip-Saw, a socialist monthly issued from St. Louis. He was married to the prominent socialist Kate Richards O'Hare, who was imprisoned during World War I (April 1919 |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918; Socialism--United States--Periodicals; Political prisoners--Government policy--United States; Political prisoners--United States; Espionage, American; Sedition--United States; Women prisoners--Abuse of |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
| Site Accession Number | A1152 |
| Contributing Institution | Missouri History Museum |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond those allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the Missouri History Museum: 314-746-4510 |
| Rights | The text and images contained in this collection are intended for research and educational use only. Duplication of any of these images for commercial use without express written consent is expressly prohibited. Contact the Missouri History Museum's Permissions Office at 314-746-4511 to obtain written consent. |
| Date Original | August 27, 1919 |
| Language | English |