New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-11-23


and brought down to different Wards of our City
to vote over and over for Sias Wright and Co
We understand that DR.. Ste'eart Physician 70 the
Convict Hospital. and ten Keepers, have been IN
dcted and several more presented.
Mr.. D. E. iSickds, Member OF Assembly elect
is indicted for Grand Larceny in felonousy taking
Deed or Mortgage, the property Of Hon. Cover
neur Kemble, of Putnam Co.
The following is the Grand Jury's
Prescntment.
The Grand Jary Of the County Of Neo York present,
Thatat the present term of the Grand Jury complaint
made 10 them of certain violations Of law commit
ted By persons connected with the Penitentiary
Blackwells Island. The charge made against the off!
of one Of the public Prisons, that conyicts
whose term of punishment had not expired, per
tted TO escape from the Penenary the second day
Of November 1896 and were brought to the City for the
purpose of voting the Election TO be held on the third
day of November that being the day OF the Annual Eec
ton for State and other officers.
The grave character OF the charge induced the Jury
to act with tina, elaboration which required thsir
hands notony from the character othc officers charged
but also anxiety discover by whom gross out
rage Of the buwarks of popular liberty had been
perpetratcd.
At the solicitation Of the Grand Jury, his Honor, the
Mayor of the city the Aldermen of the Third Ward OF
the city and the District Attorney went to Blaclwels
Island and made inquiries. a committee of the Grand
Jury also visited the Island The books and records OF
the prison have been taken into the custody OF the Grand
Jury. DESTROYS of obtaining every information, they
hive examined between forty and fifty witnesses in
Guiding Mr. Mott Keeper OF the PRISON Deputy Keeper
Walters and several OF those assisting them in the Gus
;ody Of the prisoners several OF the persons engaged in
various departments on Blackwels Island prisoners,
and also persons in wise connected with the prison
establishment The result of their examination is that
about the period OF the election, prisoners whose
term of service had expired have heretofore been
taken from the Island for the purpose oil permitting them
10 vote
The Grand Jury has been satisfied that at the last Spring
election prisoners were permitted to leave Biackweils
Island previous to the expiration of their of service
and landed the evening previous TO the election
from vessel which had left Backwels Island that
day The Grand Jury also satisfied that they were
brough; down thu city for the purpose of voting at the
Spring election.
From the evidence presented to them at the present
session 1t is ascertained that with full knowledge on
the part OF the Keeper of the Poniteniiay and at least
of his Deputies OF charges having been made that
under several political parties which have held the adj
minstraon of the municipal affairs OF tho city, persons
permitted to escape-and particularly that the
charge has been made late the last Spring election
yet no efficient measures taken to prevent the
repetition of the outrage upon the honest citizens OF the
metropolis.
They are satisfied that Of the officers in the en-
ployment the Corporation of this City receiving their
compensation from the Public Treasury, planned and
executed the attempt gangs OF ieons to polluie
the Ballot Boxes.
The Grand Jury have come TO the conclusion that
there are persons employed by the Corporation
who aided and abe,ted in the escape OF prisoners con
victcd by the tribunals OF this State.
The testimony produced shows that some OF the OIL
GERS employed on Blackwcs Island made arrangements
10 throw into the Ninth and Fourteenth Wards OF this
City number OF the convicts for the purpose OF voting
The testimony shows that the prisoners on the I'd day
OF November last exchanged their prison clothes Tor
their ordinary citizens dress that they were taken
across the river about dark by the keepers in boats
placed in vehicles brought this City and placed IN
houses for tho night The parties for the respective
Wards crossed different places, under the guidance Oh
different koepers. The gang which WAS destined Tor
operations in the Fourteenth Ward were taken TO
house in Howard.st where Policeman. named Michael
Nnuecan of the Fourteenth Ward, assisting during
the night in contributing to their comfort They were
then supplied with liquors and other refreshments
About daylight the party was arrested by JuStlcS
Merritt and Alderman Benson. The Noceinsn Flnneesh
relieved from duty that night at the request OF
Bartholomew Purdy the Superintendent OF Lamps ana
Gas and the Grand Jury have doubt that Mr. T. Knew
for what purpose Mr. Finncsan was relieved.
The gang of convc:s when arrested were found With
Francis Mclaughlin OF the deputy keepers against
whom indictment has been ordered The convicts
destined to remain in the Ninth Ward were taken to
house in that Ward and like those taken house IN
the Fourteenth Ward they provided with liquors
and other refreshments The person i'll whose charge
they Were left them during the evening. promising TO
return; when after waiting, they supposed reason
able time they finally passed resolution that they would
leave the house which carried into effect and the
convics were again that night let loose upon this com
muni;y
The Grand Jury have not bocn able accurately to as
certain the number OF prisoners who were permitted 10
come of the Island; exaggerated accounts have been
given of the number. They believe the number 10
DO sbou, thirty 1t is not the number OF prisoners
taken but the fact that prisoner was taken out OF
prison by public officers such purpose which should
shock the moral sense Of the community
The examination also shows that other persons !ei'
the Island that dsy-some RAFT, and some N eos
Those who escaped raft were two notorious Nlois
tors OF the laws who known by reputation TO one
Of the keepers of the prison the associates OF aos
doned women and panel thieves who had been convict
ed of robbrs strangers These persons had been con-
Ne,ed the General Sessions of assault and battery
Police Officers stationed before the houses OF these
eons to persons their guard against entering the
dcns OF infsy and plumber One of these prisoners had
attempted 10 escape heretofore.
These men had, al the in,ercession of one of tho
Keepers who had heard Of the Infamous conduct of
of these prisoners, been taken from the qusrries
given light work To perform; although the usual pun
ihment of prisoners who escape Is place ban and
chain on them when recapturea. No SUCH punishment
has been inflicted on them since their recspturc What
this community think OF the Judgment to say
honesty of those who thus manage their prisoncrsi An
other instance of abuse viii be found OF notorious pick
pocket also relieved from hard labor and placed al light
work in the prison. Under such an administration the
prison has no for those who volse the laws OF
the land
The Grand Jury have presented bills of Indictment
against those who IN ths 20 as Aseo sided and