Alleged Torture Victim, 79, Testifies About Prison Life
CHICAGO (CBS/WBBM) -- Jurors heard more testimony Wednesday from a man who is suing the City of Chicago, 60 years after he says he was tortured into confession to a rape.
As WBBM Newsradio 780's Mike Krauser reports, Walden was 19 went he was sent away to prison. The jurors heard Wednesday that while being held at the old "death row" in the basement of Cook County Jail, he was forced, along with other black inmates, to sleep on the floor.
He only got to leave the wing when he agreed to go to a division of the jail for "dope fiends," the Tribune reported.
The jail's death row was closed long ago, but at the time held an electric chair.
Walden also testified that he had a forced circumcision when he arrived at Stateville Prison to serve his sentence after conviction.
Walden spent 14 years in prison before being released in 1965. He went on to earn advanced degrees, open a business and get a Realtor's license.
He was pardoned by Gov. George Ryan in 2002.
In court Wednesday, he said he is unapologetic about seeking compensation, given that the state took 14 years of his life.
