The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-06
STATE PRISON REFORM.

STATE PRISON REFORM.
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Investigation BY the Grand Inquest Of West
chester Cousfy into the Affairs Of Sing Sing
| Prison and the County Jall-ReFsrmation
| Urged.
August g. 1889. !
| In compliance with the instructions given on the
| oath ultimo by Judge Cochran, the Grand Jury Of
westchester county made q presentment before the
County Court and Court of Sessions at an adjourned
term held IN this village this afternoon The matters
manly referred to by the Judge ana which formed
the subject Of the presentment the evils existing
under the present system Of government and disci-
pline In the State Prison ct Sing Sing, and
the necessity OF reform In relation to such errors and
abuses; also the present inadequate accommodation
jan Of this county, At White Palms. and the remedie
therefor.
or late the complaints In reference to the condition
of the State Prison have been very materially in-
creased, both from outside parties and inmates
OF the institution, and several letters from convcts
bearing on the subject have already ap-
peared in the HERALD. These complaints
consequence OF the Comparatively recent repeated
attempts at mutny, revolt and bloOdslled on the
On tns o e e prison ans
institution numerous and varied causes have been
assigned for these results The reasons given, how
ever, have almost all mad political bearing, and,
taken cum grano salts, are not likely to impress
any independent thinker as wholly dslnterested or
impartial. The patronage OF the State prisons Is
by no means inconsiderabie, and it is manifest,
therefore, that there Is 1ncOnsderabe amount OF
jealousy and disappointment In one or the other of
the two political factions when change OF control
takes place.
The present Official investigation in view of these
1acts comes PROBABLY a. near reliability as can be
obtained in regard 10 the developments made It
may nos be improper here to state, o means OF
that this Grand Jury was as evenly balanced pOlti-
cally considered as 1t was possible for an odd num-
whom nine are democrats and ten republicans leans VI
, me ETC following presen5ments were made to-day be-
ISOLATE Justices Siikman and Conklin:--
SING PRISON.
To Tas oouEr OF SESSIONS or wEsrouEsrER COUNTY
nc SsH
q r aS1e hi
Jury VISITED s Ss Sing and Psas such Of the
allowed wtnesss. were examined consisting Of the agent
sa s. qa 81
quarries and me works. chiefs of various prison depart
The summary Of the evidence respectfully beg leave
e.
H. ssss
s.es ne
himself tie convict: %asds.s locked
The disposal Of the warden Is employed in the
,os S s - rs Of the
chief police stations through the country and thorough
We lind from the records Of tSesate Prison ,h. fourteen
Sa , Ss LASS who
ever have been rscaR.used during the present
the oesrs of the and
IN 10 @ ampoysa he %
only .hirtyhe same number tina. was allowed
whs
s nd
wa s Is nSSe OF e0nvc' or otherwise the
Impossible, unas, pssssn. .rsnse%ep.. to
se 'ssl 70 discipline and
Ne dnd, respect the revo, July 1882
an wes
ha s ass .. %
not fully queed uni Monday Tuesday following, but
have been IL The pael:hsd
.%sss TAss "
WITH sls1Ss of Political by hyn new
experience and in this insance as in former cases h.s
e hs dssp ne, Of the 81
now prohibited by law which practically wcakens the on
Toa The influence Of the Prison Association beiiev.
to be injurious. In this respechat contributes
ysnaa IL '% Sns .s snis
.ans. he peace sna Welfare o the eo
muny; and this coming the ledge the prson
certainly does, iess,l general dis
and bad quality Of fooi bat believe these complaints
ne .ysnss s esss & rule aa ss
general dscpns are NOT at present below the standard that
In reference to punhments of convcs for breaches Of
e os the hoes Sab oss o IN
dreaded by the convcts Immediately alter the passage III
sy spS wian
by the rear OF the showerer became troublesome The
|
whipping Win sn- SCAT. number OF years since The only
helmets and solitary confinement. The physician OF the
dark cells o and ,as Sse that sSa
than either The cat shower BATH and mu ch
opinion jury hat proper P Sissnns can
methods Of punishment shall BE wholly par removed
y the statute. 0. 0F good 0.aavo We nd tia,
may considerably reduce the period sentence should
a ssaa p Re guy " 81 sd "s
conduct Communication conves also allowed remuneration
been known where convict has 1920 by this
pra,lon sentence Ia some shops no sysem Of over
w rs. 9geS and TINS eo aud discomfort
or review Of the wnoe subject with as much care
us would permit, feel hound say hs, we ind no
p"e 0r @ DO ANY AND t The Scs so.
influence OF political party machinery brought
and discipline unas on H. sv
n pns %aehne5y when any change Of political admins.
BOARD Of inspectors each claiming appointment
brought to bear s powerful that almost Impossible TO
resist w. and Is equally difficult to avoid making
pontments that not NJ - be made The low of
wages paid brings comparatively lew applicants who
are thoroughly competent for the work. view
tscs We welcome any influences that will tend to
nIhnrt frequent and changes OF oIicer
TOR causes oher than ncompetercy and inenIciencv.
aso ies' and believe that only such should be APP
pointed 10 tbe principal offices worthy
snce and ha they should then with power
Nechnnot forget that here large men,
mem criminals VI the worst Glass; daring reckless and
% a. sm mo- a" guilty Q, crime place men charge here
then IN the means which be
ana order u tue height Of folly and danger.
an wha has been SAID about the prison Association
NOT lhend 70 east r.lectons
.urit vess og thcse believe
20 eac mat sentiment largely pevading communities
Whieh beiiese ed
tne Wen meant Efforts 70 ameofst. the condition VI cru
nsst wb'sh ~ us sympathy for the poor criminal
iorges both his guilt and the wrong done 10 society
q - H.. NJ :. m WILLIAM P1SKNEY, Foreman.
VIM Cornell, squire ,'rimn Israel A. H.ipht samuel W.
!onDsoi ,eorge hnnson Berlin T. Tonpk Daniel Val
sniine d. d. wiises H. q Sutherland B. l. Amber Darius