The New York herald., 1871-09-05
SING SING SHORTCOMINGS.

Report Of tho Grand Jury Of Westchesssr
County-A Paucity or Guards Over the
Jail Birds-Ns Ono to Blame Tor the Rccese
Escapes-Ths Locality Of tho Prison an OBJ
stncle to Security. ftlta~
The ofical visit OF the Grand Jury OF Westchester
county to Sing Sing Prison last Saturday. parttcu-
lars OF which appeared IN the HERALD OF Sunday,
view OF matters connected with the management
OF that institution as has already been fore
shadowed In these columns In the County Court
and Court OF Sessions at White Plains yesterday the
following presentment was made, having first re-
ceved the signatures OF all the members composing
the grand inquest
The grand jurors OF the people Of the State OF New
York, In and for the couAty OF Westchester, do
spectfuily present that having their attention drawn
to the condition OF the State Prison az sing sing
Westcnester county, by the presiding Judge Of this
Court at the present August term, did visit the
prison on Saturday, September Q. to ascertain its
The time to which the Jury were necessarily lim-
tied was too short to permit them 10 perform tho
DUTY assigned them IN IN . manner satisfactory TO
we lnd that the duty OF the guards Is to maintain
O constant and careful watch over all the prison
premises while the prisoners are unlocked, and 70
see that none erect an escape therefr0m. No
neglected upon the 18th day Of August 1871, when
twelve DrisOlers escaped upon the steam tug Dean
elected no evidence in proof or any dereiicon Of
duty on the part OF the guards upon the occasion
referred to.
cape occurred. and are Of the opinion that the
guard posts TOO far apart along that wharf to
AFFORD protection against an attempt ike the lase
one. The landing was effected about midway be-
tween two guard posts nearly six hundred fees
apart, and under those circumstances the jury
thought the guard could not especially De blamed.
1t seemed to the Grand Jury o matter for GEN.
sure that several unemployed cOnvicts from the
nall and hospital were allowed TO be l0iterng
about the wharf under the supervision or con-
troll OF no keeper at the time OF the escape.
From the testimony taken II was found
tnat 1865 prisoners were confined within the
prison; that there were forty guards, twenty
Of whom only are held responsible at any one time,
and ffty-tw0 keepers. 1t was the opinion OF the
Grand Jury that the guards and keepers were en-
tIrey inadequate In number for the charge OF the
large number OF prisoners and tnat the prison was
overcrowded, there being In the male department.
only about one thousand cells Tor the conhnemens
OF i2i6 convicts.
The Grand Jury are OF the opinion that the local.
iy OF the prison forms the chief obstacle TO its se
curlty. Its nearness to the city OF New York, from
which many OF Its worst inmates come, renders It
more easy for such to be placed In communication
with their friends, and making the place more ac-
cessible to such enterprises as the recent
one. 1t Is believed that the immense value OF the
State lands and buildings situated as they are. az
q place very advant ageous for many purposes,
would purchase greater advantages and more secu-
rity at some point further from the metropolis.