In May 1876 the 15th Texas Legislature, Regular Session resolved to appoint a Special Subcommittee to Visit the State Penitentiary of the Texas House Committee on State Penitentiaries to investigate matters at the state penitentiary. The legislature was concerned about reports of mistreatment of convicts and mismanagement of state property by the lessees of the state penitentiary, Ward, Dewey & Co. At this time, the everyday operations of the penitentiary were run by the private company under a lease contract with the State of Texas. The special subcommittee visited the penitentiary in Huntsville in June to investigate. In their report to the Speaker of the House on June 23, 1876, the subcommittee reported enough evidence of cruelty to convicts and fiscal mismanagement by Ward, Dewey & Co. that the lease was not renewed, and called for major changes in the operation of the state penitentiary.
(Sources include: the guide survey completed for this material.)
From the guide to the House of Representatives Special Subcommittee to Visit the State Penitentiary records, 1876, (Texas State Archives)
