The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-08-31
STATE PRISON Az SING SING.

j Is most unfortunate event that even our charita-
Die institutions, for such contend are State Prisons
and Pentenaries cannot be examined the conduct
Of Keepers and agents called into question, without
party feelings in the examination. We are constantly
hearing OF terrible of violence in that prison. and
yet nothing is allowed to come before the world in
consequence Of the party complexion Of the committee
OF enquiry. The is this. III the committee de-
clare that the agent is guilty OF the alleged charges, then
the people Of West Chester county will vote against
the Locofocos Hence the efforts made to him
Here u recent case man named MOONEY, Of her
culean frame, whose miserable lot it has been to seq
his few struggling locks whened by eleven years deary
slavery, within the prison walls, had been long EN-
poyed in the hat,ers workshop, where by his robust
strength, which could endure immense fatigue and la
bor he often turned out many fDenfy four hats
per day, which is much than ordinary lourneymen
any where or at least do perform The grasping.
unsuitable rspacity Of those concerned in protabc pri
son contracts was not satisfied If the ponr wretch did
not daily perform this heavy task. Some words ensued
on the occasion of his making fewer hats than usual
and he replied desiring TO be heard in his de-
fence. The deputies finding hra refractory, ordered
the cats TO be applied He declared he would not sub
mil to il, and the guards called in, when seeing
resistance and supplcatlon van he assented and
stripped, from the 10 the oe entirely naked
is, learn the still indecent and brutal usageand
after being tied up TO the ring bolt in the chppng hall,
was most cruelty aud numerically scourged Before
leaving the spot some murmurs were heard from the
lips Of the victm--excIted, irrtated, and goaded al
most 10 madness Gas is generally the effect, learn
OF The gashes in the back and limbs the cat nHics)
mhercnpon deputy keeper and giant in stature and
power ordered hun be silent and soon after struck
him blow in the face. Mooney, exasperated returned
it and they clenched. and had desperate fight both in
the struggle rolling on the ground The deputy now
got his fcc, and supplied with club struck Mooney
number Of times with great violence, each blow we
assured, enough to kill him, but his great strength
still resisted Five or SIX other, deputies, 10
tho rescue, each with club, and fel! on the miserable
wretch, beating him, (naked as he was) in the most
shocking manner. He taken from the ground APP
parently eless, and conveyed 10 the hospital where
in the afternoon, owing, is thought, 10 the dreadful
gashed wounds his head he became frantic nth de-
hrium in which he remained with but little hope
Of his recovery!
We have given the above particulars as they have
been related to US, on what we deemed lndisputabe
authority They will explain an allusion to mystic
rious outrage at Sing Sing, in our paper some time
back.
Our penitentaries need an entire reform We begin
to doubt entirely, the utility Of prison labor except in
solitary confinement and to degree sufficient only to
maintain health But above all, education, too, must
force the bars of prison cells, and throw it's mild
aud wholesome beams the dark habiialons Of crime
Moral schools and teachers, and the aid OF religion
the only consolation left to those irnmured in these
walls, be ruling dominant part Of the discipline
Why do we not hear Of these enormies in New Eng
land prisons! Because they have moral and religious
instruction.