The New York herald., 1871-09-03
STUDYING SING SING.
Visit Of the Grand Jury to the
State Prison.
How the Party Enjoyed Themselves-Extent ct
Their Hurried Investigations-No Admit
tance to Members Of the Press Tho Lsgis-
lature Must Correct Existing Evils.

When ir was announced that the Grand Jury,
enipanelled for the August term OF the County
Court and Court OF Sessions IN and for Westchestor
county intended to visit Sing Sing Prison for the
purpose oil investigating the which led to tho
recent escapes ana the charges OF gross misman-
agement against some of the principal Oficiais, .
feeling of relief was experienced by the public, who
had already begun TO hope that the apparently
chronic defects complained OF were about 10 bc
remedIed. This hope, 1t Is safe 10 assert, viii not
be realized, and for the present the taxpayers of
the Empire state may attune their auricuar senses
to the hearing OF. perhaps still more
ASTOUNDING DISCLOSURES
regarding the important penal institution nameA
than those winch have lately engrossed the atten-
ton OF the community.
Pursuant to notice served some days since on
those In charge OF the prison, the Grand Jury ar
rived there yesterday forenoon and Immediately
effected an organization. 1t may not be out OF
place here TO norlce the personnel OF the members
COMPOSING the grand inquest, ana who en-
braced among their nuulber several ex-county
democratic officials, few deputy sherfs
ana other notorious hangers on at White Plains.
the whole being interspersed with an 0ccasi0H0
whom dealer in strong waters, VINO hnd3 That ho
can serve his Interests better III the jury box than
at the ''bar." That the body named did not count
among its members even one citizen OF the town In
which the PRISON is situated, was a circumstance
which did not escape the observation or many resi-
dents in the village of sing sing, who commented
forcbiy anu indignantly on tue absurdlty OF the
pending investigation. IL IL understood that the
first business transacted by tue Grand Jnrs was the
passing OF Il resolution
EXCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE PRESS
from any aud all o. their deliberations or movements
in and around the prison. TINS decision also cx-
tended the Official stenographer of the court, who
had been directed to accompany the members ON
what may be termed periodical frOllc.
Accompanied by Inspector Lafn, G. C. Childs,
Clerk OF the Prison, and the Warden, the members
OF the Grand Jury made a cursory inspection OF the
shops ana grounds, lingering some time at the
memorable dock from which twelve cOnvlcts en-
burked ON a tugboat in full view of armed guards.
VINO never greeted the escaping felons with the
echo OF
A PARTING SHOT.
A short visit was also made 10 the female prison.
alter which the jury returned to their room, and.
with closed doors, examined the Warden and y
couple OF Keepers to the circumstances OF the
recent escapadc The alleged charges OF Official
acknowledgement and also of shocking brutality con-
stantly practiced on convlcts while neng punished
Iii the prison were not even limited al, as the lore
man Of the urand Jury informed tine writer thai
those were matters coming only within the jurs-
dction OF the State Prison Inspectors or the Legis-
! lature.
| Alter about an hour had been spent In what was
promised 10 nc Il "tDOrOuHN, searching anu en-
1 naustivc' investigation the members Of the grand
inquest were invited down stairs to partake OF
FREE FEED.
| which had evidently been provided regardless or
thc statc's expense by the agent, who was perhaps
correct III The belief fnat he could best reach the
sympathcs OF tie jurors through their gastronomiG
| aliltieS
| SmaItiug under the journalistic lash which has
recently been applied 70 Russell, the Warden OF the
PRISON that individual resai ded the press repre-
scnta,ivcs present with malignant scOwl, ana lost
| no opportunity OF evincing his
PIEkiJE DEFIANCE OF PUBLIC OPINION
by the exhibition towards them oi those quail tics
which scemtO he slngulariy and peculiarly his Own.
IN TINS connection IL was ascertalned yesterday
that Russell has
ISSUED ORDERS TO THE CEREECS
guards the portals Of the prison, 10 the effect
| that under 10 circumstances must the HERALD
representative be allowed to enter that institution
| unaccompanied by a guard. " ne hopes by this
means to conceal what is transpirng inside, he has
] assuledy counted without his host"
| When a couple OF hours had been spent In dis
cnssIng the main feature OF the OccasiOn--namev.
| the dinner-tle Grand Iury held another brief
SION, at which the only business transacted was the
appointment OF % committee OF three 10 draw up u
report alter which the members lett for their homes
after one of the worst managed farces tnat
enacted IN the name OF the law. u is understood
that the report wi be presented In Court tomorrow
| at White Ilalns.