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00:00:00>> SUPPORT FOR "THE STATE OF
OHIO" COMES FROM THE LAW OFFICES
00:00:03OF PORTER, WRIGHT, MORRIS &
ARTHUR LLP., HELPING BUSINESSES
00:00:08AND INDIVIDUALS SOLVE COMPLEX
LEGAL PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT OHIO,
00:00:11ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AROUND
THE WORLD -- ON THE WEB AT
00:00:20PORTERWRIGHT.COM.
AND FROM THE OHIO EDUCATION
00:00:22ASSOCIATION, REPRESENTING
131,000 TEACHERS, SUPPORT
00:00:24PROFESSIONALS AND HIGHER
EDUCATION FACULTY WHO ARE
00:00:28WORKING FOR GREAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS
FOR EVERY CHILD, ONLINE AT
00:00:30OHEA.ORG.
>> ANOTHER HIGH-PROFILE INMATE
00:00:36SUICIDE SHOCKS THE STATE, AND
ROCKS THE PRISON SYSTEM.
00:00:39FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND EVEN
POLITICAL FOES REMEMBER THE LIFE
00:00:42OF A FORMER GOVERNOR.
AND A NEW BOOK HOPES TO TAKE
00:00:45READERS INTO THE SCARY, VIOLENT
AND HISTORIC HALLS OF OHIO'S
00:00:47MOST NOTORIOUS PRISON.
ALL THIS WEEK IN "THE STATE OF
00:00:48OHIO."
CAPTIONED BY THENATIONAL
00:00:52CAPTIONING INSTITUTE--
WWW.NCICAP.ORG--
00:00:53>> REVIEWS ARE UNDER WAY
EXAMINING HOW ONE OF OHIO'S MOST
00:00:59NOTORIOUS PRISON INMATES
COMMITTED SUICIDE A MONTH INTO
00:01:02HIS LIFE SENTENCE.
CLEVELAND KIDNAPPER AND RAPIST
00:01:05ARIEL CASTRO WAS ABLE TO HANG
HIMSELF WITH A BEDSHEET AT THE
00:01:07ORIENT CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
SOUTH OF COLUMBUS DESPITE HIS
00:01:10PLACEMENT IN PROTECTIVE CUSTODY,
WHICH INVOLVES CHECKS EVERY 30
00:01:12MINUTES.
OHIO PRISONS DIRECTOR GARY MOHR
00:01:15ORDERED THE REVIEWS LESS THAN A
DAY AFTER CASTRO'S DEATH ON
00:01:18TUESDAY.
CASTRO'S SUICIDE IS THE SEVENTH
00:01:21IN AN OHIO PRISON THIS YEAR, AND
THE SECOND HIGH-PROFILE SUICIDE
00:01:25IN LESS THAN A MONTH.
CONDEMNED INMATE BILLY SLAGLE
00:01:28WAS FOUND HANGING IN HIS PRISON
CELL ON DEATH ROW ON AUGUST 4,
00:01:32JUST THREE DAYS BEFORE HIS
SCHEDULED EXECUTION.
00:01:35THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES
UNION OF OHIO HAS CALLED FOR AN
00:01:38INVESTIGATION INTO CASTRO'S
DEATH AND WHETHER ALL INMATES
00:01:42ARE GETTING THE MENTAL HEALTH
TREATMENT THEY NEED.
00:01:45MEDICAID EXPANSION ADVOCATES SAY
TIME IS RUNNING OUT, SO THEY'RE
00:01:48PLANNING ON TAKING THE ISSUE TO
THE BALLOT IF LAWMAKERS DON'T
00:01:51ACT SOON.
THE COALITION, CALLED HEALTHY
00:01:54OHIOANS WORK, HOPES TO CONVINCE
LAWMAKERS TO EXPAND MEDICAID,
00:01:58BUT PLAN B IS TO GO TO THE
BALLOT IN NOVEMBER 2014.
00:02:01THE ADVOCATES SAY THEY WOULD
PREFER ACTION ON MEDICAID
00:02:05EXPANSION SOON, BECAUSE THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PAYS 100% OF
00:02:09MEDICAID EXPANSION COSTS
STARTING ON JANUARY 1.
00:02:12HOUSE SPEAKER BILL BATCHELDER
HAS SAID THAT MEDICAID REFORM
00:02:15WILL BE ON THE AGENDA WHEN
LAWMAKERS RETURN IN OCTOBER, BUT
00:02:18HE AND OTHERS STILL OPPOSE
EXPANSION.
00:02:21AND TEA PARTY ACTIVISTS SAY THEY
WILL FIGHT IT ON THE BALLOT AND
00:02:25WITH PRIMARY CHALLENGES TO
LAWMAKERS AND, PERHAPS, EVEN
00:02:27GOVERNOR JOHN KASICH.
ANOTHER BALLOT ISSUE THAT COULD
00:02:31BE BEFORE VOTERS NEXT YEAR SEEKS
TO REPEAL A LAW EFFECTIVELY
00:02:35BANNING STOREFRONT SWEEPSTAKES
PARLORS.
00:02:38THE COMMITTEE TO PROTECT OHIO
JOBS, REPRESENTING MORE THAN 600
00:02:41INTERNET CAFES IN OHIO, WANTS TO
TOSS OUT THE CRACKDOWN AND FILED
00:02:46MORE THAN 433,000 SIGNATURES
WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE ON
00:02:53TEMPORARILY BLOCKING THE LAW
FROM TAKING EFFECT.
00:02:56THE GROUP WANTS LAWMAKERS TO
REPLACE THAT CRACKDOWN WITH A
00:02:59NEW LAW REGULATING THE INDUSTRY
AND SHUTTING DOWN WHAT IT CALLS
00:03:01ROGUE OPERATORS.
THE REPEAL EFFORT IS OPPOSED BY
00:03:09THE LAW'S SUPPORTERS, A GROUP
CALLED OHIOANS AGAINST ILLEGAL
00:03:12GAMBLING, WHICH IS WHAT THEY SAY
HAPPENS IN INTERNET CAFES.
00:03:15AND STATE LAWMAKERS, GOVERNORS
AND POLITICIANS FROM AROUND THE
00:03:18STATE CAME TO THE STATEHOUSE
THURSDAY TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE
00:03:26OF FORMER GOVERNOR JOHN
GILLIGAN.
00:03:28AMONG THE SPEAKERS AT HIS
MEMORIAL WAS HIS DAUGHTER
00:03:30KATHLEEN SEBELIUS, THE FORMER
KANSAS GOVERNOR AND CURRENT U.S.
00:03:32HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
SECRETARY.
00:03:35GILLIGAN DIED AT HOME ON AUGUST
26.
00:03:37HE WAS 92.
GILLIGAN WAS OHIO'S GOVERNOR
00:03:39FROM 1971 TO 1975, ELECTED AS A
LIBERAL DEMOCRAT AFTER SERVING
00:03:42ON CINCINNATI CITY COUNCIL AND
CONGRESS.
00:03:46HIS FOUR YEAR TERM WAS THE ONE
IN BETWEEN THE TWO EIGHT-YEAR
00:03:48TERMS OF REPUBLICAN JIM RHODES,
AND WHILE HE'S BEST KNOWN AS THE
00:03:52FATHER OF OHIO'S PERSONAL INCOME
TAX, HIS ADMINISTRATION ALSO
00:03:56OVERSAW THE CREATION OF THE OHIO
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
00:03:59AND WHAT IS NOW THE OHIO
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
00:04:03ONE OF COLUMBUS' OLDEST AND MOST
FAMOUS BUILDINGS IS NO LONGER
00:04:06STANDING.
BUT THE HISTORY AND THE IMPACT
00:04:09OF THE OHIO PENITENTIARY IS
STILL FELT BY PEOPLE WHO
00:04:13REMEMBER THE HUGE FACILITY,
WHICH USED TO TAKE UP NEARLY 23
00:04:16ACRES OF PRIME REAL ESTATE IN
DOWNTOWN NEAR NATIONWIDE ARENA.
00:04:20THE MAIN ENTRANCE ON SPRING
STREET IS MEMORABLE TO MANY NOT
00:04:22JUST BECAUSE OF ITS GRAND
APPEARANCE, BUT ALSO BECAUSE IT
00:04:27WAS ON THE RECEIVING END OF A
SLAM FROM A WRECKING BALL IN
00:04:31AUGUST 1990, AS COLUMBUS MAYOR
DANA RINEHART TRIED TO START THE
00:04:33DEMOLITION OF THE BUILDING A BIT
EARLY.
00:04:36BUT BEFORE BUCK RINEHART CALLED
IT A "SCAR ON THE FACE OF
00:04:40COLUMBUS," BEFORE THE 1968 RIOT
AND THE DEADLY 1930 FIRE THERE,
00:04:45THE OHIO PENITENTIARY WAS A
SHOWCASE FOR THE STATE.
00:04:48WHEN IT WAS OPENED IN 1834, IT
WAS CALLED ONE OF THE BEST
00:04:50PRISON FACILITIES IN THE
COUNTRY.
00:04:53IT WAS ORDERED CLOSED IN 1979,
AND BY THAT TIME IT WAS
00:04:56CONSIDERED AN EMBARRASSING
EYESORE WITH A HORRIBLE HISTORY
00:04:59OF DEATH, DISEASE AND SUFFERING.
IN ITS 145 YEARS, IT WENT FROM
00:05:06BEING CALLED "THE MODEL PRISON
OF THE UNITED STATES" TO A
00:05:09CENTER OF HUMAN MISERY AND
POLITICAL PATRONAGE.
00:05:12IT HOUSED THOUSANDS MORE INMATES
THAN IT WAS EVER MEANT TO,
00:05:14INCLUDING WELL-KNOWN NAMES LIKE
DR. SAM SHEPPARD AND THE WRITER
00:05:17O.
HENRY.
00:05:19IT HOUSED WOMEN, CHILDREN AND
THE INSANE, ALONG WITH THE WORST
00:05:22CRIMINALS IN THE STATE.
IT WAS THE HOME OF THE DREADED
00:05:25ELECTRIC CHAIR, AND HOSTED
PUBLIC EXECUTIONS, WHICH WEREN'T
00:05:28THAT RARE IN THE 19TH CENTURY.
IT WAS THE SITE OF ONE OF THE
00:05:31MOST STORIED EVENTS IN THE CIVIL
WAR -- THE DARING ESCAPE OF A
00:05:37GROUP OF CONFEDERATE PRISONERS
WHO TUNNELED OUT OF THEIR CELLS
00:05:40AND CLIMBED THE PRISON WALLS
WITH A HOMEMADE GRAPPLING HOOK.
00:05:42AND IT SPARKED MANY CREATIVE
LEGENDS AND TALES - SUCH AS "IT
00:05:46WAS HAUNTED," "AMERICA'S FIRST
VAMPIRE LIVED THERE," AND "THE
00:05:49CREATOR OF THE ELECTRIC CHAIR
WAS ITS FIRST VICTIM."
00:05:56THREE AUTHORS HAVE TAKEN ON THE
CHALLENGE OF TELLING THE STORIES
00:05:58OF THE OLD OHIO PEN.
TWO OF THEM ARE HERE TO TALK
00:06:02ABOUT THEIR BOOK "INSIDE THE
OHIO PENITENTIARY" -- DAVID
00:06:04MEYERS, WHO WORKED FOR THREE
DECADES IN THE OHIO PRISON
00:06:07SYSTEM, INCLUDING AT THE OHIO
PEN, AND ELISE MEYERS WALKER, A
00:06:10FREELANCE WRITER AND
PHOTOGRAPHER WHO'S ALSO CO-
00:06:13AUTHORED FOUR OTHER BOOKS WITH
HER FATHER.
00:06:15JAMES DAILEY II IS THE BOOK'S
THIRD AUTHOR.
00:06:17HE HOLDS THE LARGEST PRIVATE
COLLECTION OF OHIO PRISON
00:06:19MEMORABILIA.LET'S START WITH THE
BIRTH OF THE OHIO PENITENTIARY.
00:06:28IT WAS FAR AWAY FROM COLUMBUS.
WHY WAS IT BUILT WHERE IT WAS
00:06:31BUILT?
>> IT WAS BUILT WHERE IT WAS
00:06:34BUILT ESSENTIALLY BECAUSE IT WAS
THE CAPITAL OF THE STATE, AND
00:06:41LAND WAS DEDICATED FOR CERTAIN
PURPOSES.
00:06:44EVENTUALLY THEY GOT AROUND TO
BUILDING A PRISON.
00:06:47AS WE MENTIONED IN A PREVIOUS
BOOK, THERE WAS A NEED FOR
00:06:51BUILDING A JAIL IN OHIO ALMOST
FROM THE BEGINNING.
00:06:55THE SETTLERS FOUND THE NEED TO
HAVE A PLACE TO LOCK PEOPLE UP.
00:07:03THERE WAS A HUMAN CRY TO BUILD A
PRISON EARLY IN THE STATE'S
00:07:07HISTORY.
>> OVERCROWDING BECAME A QUICK
00:07:10PROBLEM.
IT WAS BUILT FOR 1500, AND IT
00:07:16WAS NOT TOO LONG BEFORE IT WAS
HOLDING THOUSANDS.
00:07:18>> ONE OF THE THEMES OF THIS
BOOK WAS THAT WE BUILD THE
00:07:25SHOWCASE INSTITUTIONS, THE
CUTTING-EDGE OF THE PENOLOGY AT
00:07:29THE TIME THAT THEY ARE BUILT,
AND WE UNDERMINE THEM BY
00:07:32CRAMMING AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE
COULD INTO THEM.
00:07:36UNLESS YOU WORK IN THE PRISON
SYSTEM, I DO NOT THINK YOU HAVE
00:07:40AN APPRECIATION FOR HOW
OVERCROWDING AFFECT PROGRAMMING.
00:07:44KEEPING INMATES DUTIFULLY
EMPLOYED, IT IS AN IDLE
00:07:50CHALLENGE.
>> AS THE YEARS GO BY, PEOPLE
00:07:55FORGET WHAT THE OHIO
PENITENTIARY LOOKS LIKE.
00:07:59CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT IT
LOOKED LIKE WHEN IT WAS BUILT
00:08:02AND TOWARD THE END -- IT WAS
HUGE.
00:08:04>> ABSOLUTELY.
IT WAS BUILT AS A SHOWCASE,
00:08:11MEANT TO SAY LOOK HOW GREAT OUR
STATE IS, HOW BEAUTIFUL OUR
00:08:15PENITENTIARY IS.
A STUNNING BUILDING.
00:08:18NOW, THAT CHANGED.
NATURALLY, WE WENT FROM A VERY
00:08:23SMALL BUILDING -- IT WAS THREE
STORIES, WITH A STAIRWAY IN THE
00:08:28BACK, TO A GOTHIC STRUCTURE.
REALLY STUNNING, SCARY-LOOKING.
00:08:39THERE WAS AN IDEA WHEN IT WAS
BUILT WITH THE IMPRESSION THAT
00:08:43IT WAS BEAUTIFUL, NOT BUILT TO
BE TERRIFYING, GIVING PRISON OR
00:08:50SOMETHING TO LOOK UP TO, CASTING
THEIR EYES TOWARD GOD.
00:08:53IT BECAME DOWNRIGHT SCARY.
WHEN IT WAS CLOSED AND
00:09:01ABANDONED, WE WERE RUNNING
HAUNTED HOUSES OUT OF IT, AND IT
00:09:02SUITED IT.
IT WAS MUCH LIKE MANSFIELD.
00:09:06THAT IS NOT AN EXACT VERSION,
BUT NOT TOO FAR OFF.
00:09:11>> MORE ORNATE.
>> MORE ORNATE, YES.
00:09:15THEY CALL MANSFIELD DRACULA'S
CASTLE.
00:09:21YOU COULD HAVE ALSO CALLED THE
PEN DRACULA'S CASTLE, TWO.
00:09:27>> INSIDE THERE WERE NO
LUXURIES.
00:09:32THIS WAS A DIFFERENT DAY OF
PRISONER TREATMENT.
00:09:34THE PRISONERS WERE SUBJECT TO
SERIOUS CONDITIONS -- THE
00:09:40OVERCROWDING I MENTIONED, SWEAT
BOXES FOR PUNISHMENT, VISITORS
00:09:47WERE BEATEN, FORCED INTO
FACTORIES TO MAKE ITEMS FOR
00:09:51BUSINESS OWNERS THAT TREATED
THEM POORLY -- THIS WAS NOT A
00:09:53GOOD PLACE.
WE WERE VOLUNTEERED FOR MEDICAL
00:09:55EXPERIMENTS.
>> IT IS INTERESTING -- THE
00:10:00DEVELOPMENT OF THE PRISON SYSTEM
IN THE UNITED STATES -- IN
00:10:03EUROPE, PEOPLE WENT TO PRISON IF
THEY WERE POLITICAL PRISONERS.
00:10:06ANYONE ELSE, THE ONLY TIME THEY
SPENT IN PRISON WAS IF THEY WERE
00:10:12WAITING TO BE EXECUTED.
THEY USUALLY HAD SOME KIND OF
00:10:15CORPORAL PUNISHMENT.
IF YOU WERE A THIEF, THEY WOULD
00:10:18PUNISH YOU PHYSICALLY AND TURN
YOU LOOSE.
00:10:23WE STARTED THE PROCESS OF BEING
MORE HUMANE, LOCKING PEOPLE UP
00:10:27FOR A WHILE, BUT WE DID NOT
REALLY KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH
00:10:30THEM, SO WE WERE KIND OF
INVENTING THAT AS WE GO ALONG
00:10:35AND THERE WERE COMPETING
SYSTEMS.
00:10:35PRISONERS COULD NOT SPEAK.
THEY WALKED IN LOCKSTEP.
00:10:40OTHER METHODOLOGIES -- MAY ALLOW
THEM TO SPEAK, BUT PUT THEM TO
00:10:46WORK -- TIRE THEM OUT SO THAT
THEY SLEEP SOUNDLY EVERY NIGHT.
00:10:52IN THE 19TH CENTURY, ALL KINDS
OF PHILOSOPHIES ARE DEVELOPING
00:10:55AND THEY ARE TRIED AND VARIOUS
PRISONS WITH SEVERAL AT THE OHIO
00:11:01POTENTIALLY, AND EVENTUALLY WE
GOT AWAY FROM HAVING A --
00:11:08PENITENTIARY, AND EVENTUALLY WE
GOT AWAY FROM A SYSTEM WHERE
00:11:10PUNISHMENT WAS THE METHOD TO
TRYING TO REHABILITATE.
00:11:12FIRST IT WAS NECESSARY TO
SEPARATE OUT THE FACT THAT WE
00:11:17HAD WOMEN, CHILDREN ALL IN THE
SAME GROUP.
00:11:19WE STARTED TO DEVELOP
INSTITUTIONS TO SEPARATE THEM
00:11:24OUT, SO THEY CREATED THE OHIO
REFORM FARM, KNOWN AS THE BOYS
00:11:28INDUSTRIAL USE -- SCHOOL TO TAKE
OUT JUVENILE YOUTH.
00:11:33>> BOYS.
>> AS THE PENITENTIARY WAS
00:11:40BUILT, IT WENT TO WHAT IT BECAME
AT THE END, WITH A WOMAN'S
00:11:49FACILITY, AND ASYLUM, WHERE
INMATES WORKED, THE AREA FOR
00:11:52EXECUTION --
>> RIGHT.
00:11:57IT WAS A CITY, A POST OFFICE,
WHERE THEY WORKED -- VERY MUCH A
00:12:02CITY.
>> THEN YOU HAD THE PROBLEM OF
00:12:07PUTTING TOO MANY PEOPLE IN THE
FACILITIES.
00:12:08IT HAD THE CHOLERA EPIDEMIC.
ONE AND ONE QUARTER OF THE
00:12:15POPULATION DIED.
THERE WERE TWO DEADLY RIOTS, ONE
00:12:19HALLOWEEN, 1952, ALSO IN 1968,
AND THE EASTER, 1932 FIRE.
00:12:25322 INMATES DIED IN THE FIRE.
>> THERE WERE A NUMBER OF
00:12:34TRAGEDIES INVOLVED.
ONE IS YOU HAD A PRISON
00:12:36ADMINISTRATION -- PRESTON THOMAS
WAS THE WARDEN -- WHO DID NOT
00:12:45PREPARE FOR FIRE.
THERE WERE NO FIRE DRILLS.
00:12:47THERE WAS NO PLAN.
AFTER THEY ASKED HIM WHY NOT,
00:12:53AND HE SAID HE EXPECTED THEM TO
USE COMMON SENSE.
00:12:55COMMON SENSE DID NOT INVOLVE
DECIDING WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU
00:13:00HAVE INMATES TRAPPED IN CELLS,
SO GUARDS DID NOT KNOW WHETHER
00:13:04THEY SHOULD RELEASE THEM OR NOT,
SO A LOT OF THEM WERE BURNED TO
00:13:08DEATH OR OVERCOME BY FUMES.
YOU ALSO HAD -- THE WHOLE THING
00:13:12WAS BASICALLY SEVERAL INMATES
PLANNING TO ESCAPE.
00:13:18THERE WAS CONSTRUCTION GOING ON.
THERE WERE A LOT OF WOODEN
00:13:21TIMBERS FOR BUILDING THE
STRUCTURE.
00:13:23THEY HAD LIVED IN SCANDAL FUSE
CAP -- HANDLE FUSE EXPECTING
00:13:31THAT IT WOULD IGNITE THE WOOD,
IT WOULD CREATE A DIVERSION, AND
00:13:36THEY WOULD ESCAPE.
THE MISTIMED AT AN AVAILABLE
00:13:39SLOT IN THEIR CELLS BY THE TIME
THE FIRE STARTED.
00:13:41>> ANOTHER PART OF THE TRAGEDY,
WHICH WAS COROLLARY TO NOT
00:13:47HAVING A PLAN, SOME PRISONERS
WERE LOCKED IN THEIR CELLS.
00:13:50THEY FELT THAT THEY WERE
RELEASING THEM, THEY WERE
00:13:55RELEASING THEM TO THE PUBLIC.
NEXT THE FIRST INSTINCT WAS IT
00:13:59WAS AN ESCAPE -- >> THE FIRST
INSTINCT WAS IT WAS AN ESCAPE
00:14:02PLAN.
THEY WERE TOLD TO SHOOT THEM IF
00:14:06THEY ESCAPED, AND THERE WAS
HEROISM ON THE PART OF INMATES
00:14:10SAVING OTHER INMATES.
>> THERE WERE THESE TWO RIOTS,
00:14:16THE ONE ON HALLOWEEN IN 1952,
AND THE ONE IN 1968, AND THEY
00:14:21ARE THE SAME KIND OF CONDITIONS
THAT CREATE RIOTS NOW --
00:14:25OVERCROWDING, ISSUES RELATED TO
FOOD AND HOUSING.
00:14:26>> I TRY TO IMPRESS UPON PEOPLE
HOW IMPORTANT FOOD IS TO
00:14:32INMATES.
IT IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE FEW
00:14:35AMENITIES IN PRISON.
THEY DO NOT WANT PEOPLE MESSING
00:14:39WITH THEIR FOOD.
DURING WORLD WAR II, THEY WENT
00:14:42THROUGH RATIONING THAT EVERYBODY
ELSE DID, AND AFTER WORLD WAR
00:14:46II, IT CONTINUED.
YOU MEAN DID NOT END.
00:14:50>> THERE RATIONING -- >> THERE
RATIONING DID NOT END.
00:14:56>> THERE RATIONING DID NOT END.
THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE
00:15:00OPPORTUNITIES TO BUY CUT-RATE
STUFF AND POCKET MONEY, AND THAT
00:15:06KIND OF THING.
>> THERE ARE STORIES ABOUT SOME
00:15:11OF THE THINGS INMATES WERE
SERVED THAT WERE PRETTY
00:15:14DISGUSTING, FRANKLY.
>> THE WARDEN WAS A POLITICAL
00:15:17APPOINTEE, A SPOILS POSITION,
AND EVEN AFTER PRESTON THOMAS
00:15:23BOTCHED THE FIRE, HE STAYED ON
AS WARDEN.
00:15:27HE WAS INVESTIGATED AND NOT HELD
RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT HAD TAKEN
00:15:30PLACE.
LET'S USE A IN THE BOOK EACH
00:15:33COUNTY IN THE STATE -- >> YOU
SAY IN THE BOOK EACH COUNTY HAD
00:15:39A ONE GUARD POSITION.
THAT WAS A COMPETITIVE THING.
00:15:44>> MY MOTHER AND FATHER WERE IN
NORTHWESTERN OHIO, AND I WAS
00:15:52LOOKING THROUGH EARLY NEWSPAPERS
THERE AND I FOUND A SERIES OF
00:15:55LETTERS WRITTEN BY THE GUARD TO
THE NEWSPAPER TELLING ABOUT WHAT
00:16:00THE PRISON WAS LIKE AT THE TIME.
HE DID NOT STAY VERY LONG.
00:16:03HE WAS NOT ENJOYING HIS
POSITION.
00:16:04IT PAID WELL AND IT WAS A
RELIABLE JOB AT THE TIME, BUT IT
00:16:09WAS ROUGH WORK.
>> AMERICA'S FIRST VAMPIRE --
00:16:13WHAT IS UP WITH THAT WITH REGARD
TO THE OHIO PENITENTIARY?
00:16:18>> A MAN BY THE NAME OF JAMES
BROWN -- IT IS REALLY
00:16:23INTERESTING.
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WRITING BOOKS
00:16:26AND LOOKING MORE INTO HIM
BECAUSE THERE ARE STORIES SAYING
00:16:30HE WAS A VAMPIRE.
HE WAS BASICALLY ON A SHIP.
00:16:33HE WAS PORTUGUESE, I BELIEVE.
>> A PORTUGUESE SHALER.
00:16:39>> HE WAS ON A SHIP, AND ENDED
UP KILLING A GUY.
00:16:44>> WHAT DID HE DO THAT MADE THEM
--
00:16:47>> APPARENTLY, SEEMINGLY,
NOTHING.
00:16:54THERE IS NOT REALLY A SOLID,
ACCURATE ACCOUNT OF HIM DOING
00:16:56ANYTHING THAT WOULD MAKE HIM A
VAMPIRE, EXCEPT THAT AT SOME
00:17:02POINT IN TIME REPORTER STARTED
TO FABRICATE STORIES ABOUT HIM,
00:17:04AND ALL OF A SUDDEN INSTEAD OF
STANDING FELLOW SAILOR, HE WAS
00:17:10FOUND FEASTING ON HIM.
WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THERE WAS NO
00:17:13REPORT OF THAT.
THE STORIES DID NOT DEVELOP
00:17:16UNTIL HE WAS IN THE 10 IN OHIO
-- PENITENTIARY IN OHIO.
00:17:20>> LOCAL REPORTERS WERE THE ONES
THAT DEVELOP THE STORY.
00:17:25>> BUILDING A LEGEND.
>> AT THE SAME TIME THERE WAS A
00:17:31POPULIST VAMPIRE STORY GOING ON
IN NEW ENGLAND CENTERED AROUND A
00:17:34YOUNG GIRL WHOSE NAME WAS ALSO
BROWN.
00:17:38THERE WAS POTENTIALLY SOME
INTENTIONAL MIXING UP.
00:17:44>> THIS IS FIVE YEARS BEFORE
"DRACULA" WAS PUBLISHED.
00:17:51>> OHIO WAS AHEAD OF THE CURVE.
ALSO, THE PRISON DEMON --
00:17:58SOMEBODY THAT WAS HERE IN THE
PENITENTIARY.
00:18:01>> THERE WERE ACTUALLY SEVERAL.
THE WARDEN, WHO WAS WELL-KNOWN
00:18:08FOR HIS REFORM AND TREATING
PRISONERS VERY WELL, AT ABOUT
00:18:12FOUR GUYS HE COULD NOT REFORM
AND THE THOUGHT WAS HE WAS GOING
00:18:16TO BUILD A CAGE AND PUT THEM
TOGETHER.
00:18:21THAT SIMPLE -- HERE ARE THE ONES
I CAN NOT REFORM, LET THEM TAKE
00:18:25CARE OF EACH OTHER.
THEY CALLED IT A DEMON CAGE.
00:18:29THESE GUYS WERE PRETTY RUTHLESS.
THEY WOULD GET ANYTHING THEY
00:18:33COULD, TURNED IT INTO A KNIFE
AND TRIED TO STAB GUARDS.
00:18:37LOOKS THE MOST FAMOUS -- >> THE
MOST FAMOUS HAD KILLED A QUAKER
00:18:44WHO HAD PURCHASED HIS FARM AT A
SHERIFF'S SALE AND HE HELD IT
00:18:51AGAINST HIM SO HE KILLED HIM.
THEY COULD NOT TAME HIM.
00:18:55HE WOULD, YOU KNOW, SUSTAINED
SEVERE BEATINGS BECAUSE HE WOULD
00:19:02NOT GET WITH THE PROGRAM'S END
HE WOULD THEN FASHION A SHAVE
00:19:05OUT OF -- SHIV OUT OF BUCKET
HANDLES AND THINGS.
00:19:12HE WOULD KEEP COMING BACK FOR
MORE.
00:19:16>> AT SOME POINT, THE PRISON
SYSTEM CHARGED PEOPLE ADMISSION
00:19:22TO SEE PEOPLE IN THE CAGE.
>> YOU HAD TO PAY A LITTLE BIT
00:19:26MORE TO SEE PEOPLE IN THE DEMON
CAGE.
00:19:28>> PEOPLE WERE PROUD OF THEIR
PRISON, WANTED TO SEE IT -- THEY
00:19:33CHARGED ADMISSION AND THEY
CHARGE EXTRA TO SEE THE DEMON
00:19:39CAGE AND THE FEMALE ANNEX.
THEY DID THE SAME THING FOR THE
00:19:43STATE HOSPITAL.
>> AS RECENTLY AS THE 1940'S AND
00:19:47THE 1950'S, THEY WERE DOING
THIS.
00:19:53MY GRANDMOTHER, SPENCERVILLE,
OHIO, OR SENIOR CLASS TRIP, THEY
00:19:58CAME TO THE PENITENTIARY, AND
ALL HAD THE CHANCE TO SIT IN OLD
00:20:01SPARKY.
MY CLASS WENT TO WASHINGTON,
00:20:07D.C., FOR OUR TRIP.
>> WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE
00:20:11ELECTRIC CARE -- WHAT, 315
PEOPLE DIED IN THE ELECTRIC
00:20:15CHAIR AND TAURUS SAT -- TOURISTS
WOULD COME AND SIT IN IT?
00:20:22>> I NEVER HAD ANY DESIRE
MYSELF.
00:20:24BUT MY GRANDMOTHER COULD NOT
REMEMBER IF SHE DID.
00:20:27SHE KNOWS STUDENTS DID.
>> YOU BRING IN YOUNG,
00:20:31IMPRESSIONABLE STUDENTS, AND YOU
SAY IF YOU DO NOT BEHAVE, YOU
00:20:37MIGHT END UP IN A PLACE LIKE
THIS.
00:20:38I THIS BOOK IS FULL OF STORIES
-- >> THIS BOOK IS FULL OF
00:20:45STORIES LIKE THIS.
YOUR CO-AUTHOR, JAMES DAILEY II,
00:20:51IS THE LARGEST CURATOR OF OHIO
PRISON MEMORABILIA IN THE STATE.
00:20:53>> IT IS HIS PRIVATE COLLECTION.
>> IS A FORMER INMATE HIMSELF,
00:21:00WHICH IS FASCINATING, BUT HE HAS
PROVIDED A LOT OF PICTURES.
00:21:04ELISE, YOU ARE A PHOTOGRAPHER.
YOU MUST FIND THESE AMAZING.
00:21:11>> THERE WOULD NOT BE ABLE
WITHOUT JAMES.
00:21:14I FATHER AND I HAD WRITTEN A
BOOK ABOUT PRISONS.
00:21:17HE CONTACTED US AND TOLD US HE
HAD A GREAT COLLECTION.
00:21:24HE DOES HAVE A FANTASTIC
COLLECTION OF NOT JUST THE OHIO
00:21:29PENITENTIARY, BUT ALL OF THE
PRISONS.
00:21:30HE IS INTERESTED IN THE L STATE
HOSPITAL AS WELL.
00:21:33YEAH -- THE IMAGES ARE AMAZING.
>> THE COVER IMAGE -- I WAS
00:21:41REALLY HAPPY THE WAY THEY DID
THE COVER BECAUSE THIS
00:21:43PARTICULAR PICTURE OF THE INMATE
SITTING IN A ELECTRIC CHAIR, IT
00:21:48IS A STEREO PHOTO, AND IS THE
ONLY KNOWN ONE OF A STEREO VIEW
00:21:55OF A PERSON WHO IS GOING TO BE
EXECUTED.
00:21:56>> AND THIS WAS THE CREATOR
SITTING IN IT?
00:22:00>> NO, WE HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED
WHAT WAS, BUT WE KNOW IT WAS
00:22:06BEFORE DR. SNUCK WAS EXECUTED.
THE STORY, WE GO INTO GREAT
00:22:12DETAIL, BUT THERE IS A RUMOR
THAT THE GUY WHO CREATED THE
00:22:16ELECTRIC CHAIR DIED IN IT, AND
THAT IS NOT EXACTLY TRUE.
00:22:20>> WE ARE ALSO NOT THE ONLY
STATE TO HAVE THAT URBAN LEGEND.
00:22:24>> THERE WAS AN INMATE NAMED
BUDDY GLICK WHO IT APPEARS
00:22:30ACTUALLY CONSTRUCTED A CHAIR.
HE WAS CONVICTED OF MURDER, BUT
00:22:35HE WAS PARDONED, SO HE WAS NOT
KILLED IN THE ELECTRIC CARE.
00:22:40>> HE COULD HAVE BEEN.
>> LATER ON, AN INMATE NAMED
00:22:45CHARLES JUSTICE --
>> INTERESTING NAME.
00:22:49>> YEAH.
THEY WERE HAVING TERRIBLE TIMES
00:22:55WITH EXECUTIONS, A SPECTACLE
WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE TO THROW
00:22:58THE SWITCH THREE OR FOUR TIMES.
>> WHICH LED TO LETHAL
00:23:01INJECTIONS.
EXIT INMATES WERE CATCHING FIRE.
00:23:05-- >> INMATES WERE CATCHING
FIRE.
00:23:08>> HE FIGURED OUT A WAY TO
RATCHET THEM DOWN SO THEY WERE
00:23:14TIGHTLY HELD INTO THE CHAIR.
HE WAS PARDONED, IN PART FOR
00:23:18THAT, WENT OUT, AND WITHIN A
COUPLE OF MONTHS KILLED A
00:23:22PERSON, CAME BACK TO THE
PENITENTIARY, AND DID DIE IN THE
00:23:28ELECTRIC CHAIR.
RESUME THAT HE DID NOT SUFFER AS
00:23:32MUCH.
>> BECAUSE OF HIS OWN INVENTION.
00:23:33>> BEFORE I WRAPPED THIS UP, I
WANT TO SAY THERE WERE A COUPLE
00:23:39OF FAMOUS FOLKS THAT CAME
THROUGH.
00:23:40DR. SAM SHEPPARD, O. HENRY, THE
WRITER, AND ALSO SOME GANGSTERS.
00:23:50>> THERE WERE A LOT OF STORIES
WE COULD NOT GET TO.
00:23:54THERE WERE A LOT OF NATIVE
AMERICANS FROM THE OKLAHOMA
00:23:58TERRITORY.
WE WERE ON A CONTRACT FROM THE
00:24:02FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO TAKE
PRESENT -- FEDERAL PRISONERS.
00:24:06A LOT OF INTERESTING FOLKS ENDED
UP HERE.
00:24:07>> WHEN YOU CONSIDER HOW SMALL
THE PRISON WAS, IT IS AMAZING
00:24:14HOW MANY PEOPLE CAME THROUGH
HERE.
00:24:16IT HELD, AT ITS HEIGHT, 5200
PRISONERS.
00:24:19WHEN YOU CONSIDER HOW LARGE THE
FACILITIES ARE NOW, THAT IS A
00:24:23PRETTY SMALL BUILDING.
>> ALSO, YOU HAVE 150 YEARS OF
00:24:28HISTORY THERE.
IT HAS A DESERVED REPUTATION FOR
00:24:32BEING A HARD PLACE.
THERE ARE INTERESTING THINGS
00:24:35THERE.
JAMES, ESPECIALLY, LIKES TO DO
00:24:40WELL MORE ON THE INSPIRATIONAL
THINGS -- THE INMATES DURING THE
00:24:44FIRE, WHO RISKED THEIR OWN LIVES
TO RESCUE PEOPLE.
00:24:47HE IS PARTICULARLY FOND OF A
BASEBALL PLAYER WHO WAS THERE
00:24:52WHO WAS SO TRUSTED BY THE
ADMINISTRATION THAT WHEN THEY
00:24:56HAD WRITING EDITIONS, HE WAS
GIVEN A GUN -- RIDING
00:25:02CONDITIONS, HE WAS GIVEN A GUN.
>> SUBSEQUENTLY, HE HELPED TO
00:25:07ATTACK THE WARDEN'S DAUGHTER.
>> THERE IS A CHAPTER ABOUT
00:25:12WOMEN.
>> INCLUDING THE WOMAN WHO
00:25:14BROUGHT HER BABY TO HER
EXECUTION.
00:25:17>> THAT IS A GOOD TRICK.
BRING AN INFANT OR BE VISIBLY
00:25:21PREGNANT.
THEY DO NOT WANT TO EXECUTE
00:25:24THOSE PEOPLE.
>> WE COULD GO ON AND ON, BUT I
00:25:28HAVE TO WRAP IT UP.
DAVID MEYERS AND ELISE MEYERS
00:25:32WALKER, THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE.
00:25:33>> TO WRITE.
>>
00:25:38AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK.
FOR MY COLLEAGUES AT OHIO PUBLIC
00:25:40RADIO AND TELEVISION, THANKS FOR
WATCHING.
00:25:43IF YOU'D LIKE TO ASK QUESTIONS,
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00:25:44WEEK'S SHOW OR EARLIER EPISODES,
PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT
00:25:46STATENEWS.ORG.
YOU CAN ALSO CHECK US OUT ON
00:25:48FACEBOOK, AND YOU CAN FOLLOW JO
INGLES, ANDY CHOW, AND ME ON
00:25:52TWITTER.
AND PLEASE JOIN US AGAIN NEXT
00:25:53TIME FOR "THE STATE OF OHIO."
>> SUPPORT FOR "THE STATE OF
00:26:18OHIO" COMES FROM THE LAW OFFICES
OF PORTER, WRIGHT, MORRIS &
00:26:20ARTHUR LLP., HELPING BUSINESSES
AND INDIVIDUALS SOLVE COMPLEX
00:26:24LEGAL PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT OHIO,
ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AROUND
00:26:28THE WORLD -- ON THE WEB AT
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00:26:32AND FROM THE OHIO EDUCATION
ASSOCIATION, REPRESENTING
00:26:36121,000 TEACHERS, SUPPORT
PROFESSIONALS AND HIGHER
00:26:40EDUCATION FACULTY WHO ARE
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00:26:43FOR EVERY CHILD, ONLINE AT
Note : Transcripts are compiled from uncorrected captions