The native American., 1839-03-23
SING SNo AND AUBURN PRrsoNs.-HoribleI

SING SINo AND AUBURN PRIsoNs.-Horible
disclosures with regard 10 the cruelty and brutal
ty of the keepers of the Sing Sing and Auburn
prisons, towards the miserable criminals confined
within their walls, have recently been developed
calculated to chill the blood and sicken the hear
of every friend of humanity. The diabohca
acts committed in the Auburn prison by one OF
the principal keepers, have fallen under the IN
vestigation of the grand jury OF the county; and
ii is stated facts will be elected on the trial which
will show a system of cod-blooded cruelty and
rascality scarcely TO be credited.
The general assembly have appointed com.
mittee of investigation and inquiry into the pro,
ceedings of the keepers of the Sing Sing prison.
That committee, consisting OF five members, have
proceeded to Sing Sing and entered zea!ously upon
their duties, determined to give the whole matter
thorough investigation and scrutiny. 1t is said
that the examination has thus far resulted in the
most startling disclosures Of the grossest cruelties
and barbarties, practlsed within the walls of the
prison, towards its unfortunate inmates by the
keepers. Many of the prisoners have been beaten
on the bare back until it has become almost exec
rated, and sometimes with ten or twentytold
more severity than is allowed by law. Other
cruelties are said to have been committed almos
too horrible to relate, and we are informed that
deaths, even, have actually occurred among the
prisoners, from the barbarous treatment of those
in authority. Starvation in its most frightfu
form, has been resorled to, as means of punish
ment. In short it seems that these fiendisl
wretches have prosecuted and abused their victims
in manner in which no one, having spark o
humanity, would think of treating brute. BY
law every case of death in the prison must be
subjected to a coroners inquest yet, in very
defiance of this law, it is sad numerous deaths
have occurred, on which no inquest was held
The reason for this neglect to comply with the
legal acquisitions, may easily be imagined. The
accounts of the prison, too, are said to have beer
incorrectly kept; and gross frauds and deialcaon:
have been discovered. In short, corruption ant
vlauy seem to have reigned triumphant.
We hope that this subject will receive a rigit
and critical investigation, and, if these charges b.
true, that the demons in the shape of men, wht
have been guilty of these gross ourages, will b.
visited with the utmost severity that the law vii
allow. 1t is said that this state of things ha
continued and been known to many of the citi
Zens, and even to some Of the state authorities
for eight or ten years past. If this be so, those
who were cognizant of the facts, were grossly
cupable and partners in the infamy, in that they
did not instantly enter a complaint and insist up
on the matter being looked into. 1t seems to US
that if they had been good citizens, or even no
nest men, they could not have known that sc
many Of their fellow creatures were suffering the
most barbarous persecution, without taking some
steps to alleviate their condition.
.Sau1. Morn. News.