malachi was put in charge of florida's first state prison in 1871. he used prisoners to build houses for his profit and to tend his vineyards. the book "the american siberia; or, fourteen years' experience in a southern convict camp" (1891) by j. c. powell described the abuse he carried out. after the prisoners were relocated in 1876 to a prison at raiford, florida, the prison was renovated for use as florida state hospital, where mental patients were incarcerated.