New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-01-12
NETWORK TRIBUNE.
Crumbs from the Tea Table.

evening and were called TO order soon after CLOCK
Among the papers was one presented by Alderman
PECK containing charges against Mr. Keen Warden OF
the Penitentiary Blackweils Island Alderman Peck
begged direct the particular attention Of the Board
to the document he presented, az Ii was very i'm
portsnt one The reading of the paper called for,
and the following is abstract of it and contains the
charges made:
To The Honorable the Common Council Of the CITY Of v,r
Y0rs:
The undersigned respectfully represents to your hon
orable body that during period OF nearly four years
commenting On or about the 18th day OF June 4ef9
JCseJh Keen Esquire Warden of the Penltentary on
BlacEwes Island has sppropriated 10 MS own use and
prcht large quantities OF the public property and that
during the period the Joseph Keen has been
guilty OF other oenses against the good order and gov
eminent OF the institution under h charge rendering
him unworthy TO occupy cny longer said Office.
That your honorable body may July understand the
,eriou, nature othese offences the undersigned hereuno
the specifications Of thirteen distinct offences to-
gether with his affidavit setting forth these truths and
respectfully aks your honorable body to permit him 10
srpear before you with compeetent aud respectable
Witnesses 10 substaniiste each and every charge.
ISAAC BRIrroN No. - Alan-st
Ns- York jar. 10, 1853
Charges against JOsepA Keen, Esq, Harder, 5c
That The Jo eIh Keen on or about the LIST day on
July ls49, discharged from the PeDitennary on Black
wells BLAND notorious convict named William Barlow,
snd AZ the time Of ssid discharge there were three
nonih- of bis sentence unexpred. That IN June, 1850
he discharged from the Penientary, ak months
beoIe the his sentence would have expired notds
rt n, convict of the name of yellow Dick" That the
10Th dAy OF December 1880 he discharged from the same
Penitoniiary two months before the expiration OF his
sentence a cony let named Nj SEES James
That IN April 1851 he discharged. four months before
the oxriruiicn his sentence convict named Samuel
McCbTty, who IL undergoing new sentence under
the name joseph Pits. That lie took or caused to be
taken during divine service, certain sunday In the
month CT June 1880 barrel Of mnckere and converted
the sme to lis own use the said msekere being intend
Ell tor he use OF the inmates OF the Hospital
That the said Keen during the ten months and three
DAYS commencing tie 18th day OF June s49 ending
on the 18Th day oApr 1850 took caused TO be taken
! and apt roprated 10 his use and proht, hfteen
hundred and twenyeyen pounds OF tresn and salt beei
fuILhed for the uc Of the conycts IN SAID prison. ana
at said Keen has not made any acknowledgment OF
such sppropston in his annual reports made 10 the
Beard Of Governors since that period
That during the years lei9 and 1850, he took and
csueed to be taken and slaughtered thity pigs
owred by the Board OF Governors and appropriated the
flne to his USE and seventeen large nogs owhed
by the Board OF Governors and intended Tor the use oil
The con,cts and that during bis term OF ohce ne mas
received from the property deceased convcts various
runs of money part Of which only he has returned
That during the years ls49, 1880, and ISL ne has
taken ard appropriated 10 his own use two Thousand
pounds the OF the beef supplied for the con-
ycis and worth FIVE hundred dollars, OF which he has
made account in his returns That for the last three
years he has employed of the female oonvcts in
the ulkng and other articles OF dress which
he has cold and appropriated the proceeds % his own
use That during his term OF Office he has made use OF
the feed intended for the oxen 70 be slaughtered tor
the the inmates there and appropriated the same
to HE and that during the year ls52 he has had
employed convict ON the Islam, named Thomas Wat
and the proceeds Of hs labor TO the amount Of $780, he
has appropriated to his own use.
Attached TO this document sfi1avit, in
which Mr. BrittOn .wore to the truth of the charges
1t wss signed by Ira Floyd, ~ commissioner before
whom the affidavit was sworn.
Nbopy p,c1 hat / had
no, read and did not know VIVA, it contained think
this IL not the place where should Lave been present.
cd but 70 the Ten Governors and move that IL be re-
ferred to them.
AID DoHERrY-I move that il be laid on the table
and printed in order that all the members OF this Board
may see exactly what IL Is and be prepared TO take
such steps regarding after due consideration they
may deem advisable.
AID STuRrEvANT-Thst document contains very
weigy chsrges and to publish them before it Is known
what answer can be given to them would be improper
Tie Board Of Ten Governors are the proper persons
to whom charges Of this nature should be referred
They were honorable men md chosen Indifferent
IN from beth parties The Ten Governors were part
Of the City Government and elected by the people and
deriving their authority from the same source as the
Beard Of Aldermen and the investigation Of the matter
could properly be left TO them and il was only neees
cary for that Board to take much notice OF II a. to
give it the sanction Of reference TO the Ten Governors
10 Put IL in proper mode for investigation.
Aid. OAELEY-when there are complaints made 10
US against any officer in connection with the City Gov
ernmtni, mstser in what Office, think we should
the matter and am for referring that docu
msnt to special committee.
Aid DoHERrY-I am for laying II on the table and
printing H. in order TO make it the property OF the
Board Iwani 10 collect all the proofs can respecting
the doing OF that corrupt body the Ten Governors and
II We give up this document and refer IL 20 them we
will not be able to get II back Hope some Alderman
will OF this Board move a resolution recommending the
abolition Of tho Board Of Ten Governors and If no one
else does will We csninvestgate the matter whenws
have the printed complaint before and the besw
10 the truth examine witnesses under oath
and may then have chance ofupsetting the whole
ssle corruption which Il carried on 10 such ex.
tept Il at every is crying out against H. the sub
jet referred to any body unless this, to which the
complaint presented it should be to the Board Of
Supervisors and the Ten Governors for fhey get
the dsctnent they msy bury or burn il, and we may
never be able TO get ii a.sin This belong. to U.s. we
vote the money TO pay the expenses Of the lnitution.
Aid. srUHTyvANr-I am surprised TO hear such srs
tutous charges made against the Ten Governors, Of
fOoooly eIl corIuptiOn ana lncy arc UnJusnaoic sno
unworthy. We ourselves have been called. corrupt
and do not ike saeh charges to be made against
We ought then be cautious about making charges
against others. This tie hrst time ever knew Of
charge Of hk nature being made assins. any Of the off
under the Board Of Governors and ought to be
careful OF entertaining it. in the absence Of all proof
or taking any action it that would lead the public
to suppose believed in the truth Of the charges
made The only instance Of corruption | ever heard
of IN reference to this body, which consider both IN
diridusly and collectively honest and honorable men
va charge not against officer 5ut against one OF
the Ten Governors but this. understand, has been
wifhdravn-
Aid Twrrp-It has not been Withdrawn
AID SrrHrEyASr-Ithough, il was; but whether or
not An against the pebHcston Of this document The
charges contains very grieviors ones and should
not zee publicity against any person until we are eats
- ~