Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-01-03


1t was reported from New York that in the
organization Of the senate Tweed was assigned
to place on the state prison committee If he
is to have any place in the senate this is clearly
the most appropriate, No senator can be more
interested in the management of these institu-
tons, since he has already many friends and
familiar associates there, whom he would doubt
less be pleased TO visit in therretirement, and OF
whose veracity, if they should make complaints
of their treatment, he could judge very accu-
rately. 1t is not impossible, too that he may
be induced to make one of these institutions his
home for a considerable time Mr. Tweed as a
member of the committee on prisons, looking
out for the comfort of his friends and his own,
would undoubtedly take the FIRST opportunity to
ture now in use there, one of which, hav-
ing special terrors for a person of Mr.. weeds
corpulent habit of body, is thus described by a
reporter Of the New York Times:
But the most dabolical Of all these instru-
ments of torture is the "thumb pulley" for its
power OF intlicting agony far surpdsses all the
Others put together, do not hesitate 10 say
that its use in an American or any other prison
is an outrage on Christian humanity and
burning disgrace TO the boosted civilization of
the nineteenth century. | can speak from per-
sonal experience. | was so mortified ut the keep
ers explanation of the mode of working ii that
| turned round and requested him to try it on
me. The fellow was rather taken abaCk, and
suggested that il would not be pleasant-in fact,
that il was "rathcr painful" Rather painful
1t is the most eNcruciating agony. | replied,
chat is the reason why | want to try it," He
somewhat reluctantly consented, and the oper
alton of torture began. He produced about
fOJt OF very stout whip cord, with a slip knot at
either end, and putting my thumbs in the loops,
drew the knot taut below the first Joint The
cord was then hung on q hook attached 10 the
end of rope which dangled from Il pulley in
the ceiling, and the preparations were complete.
On my giving the word ready" a brawny-
armed convict seized the other end of the rope
and quickly hoisted me from my feet till could
with difficulty touch the floor with the tips of
my toes; the whole weight Of my body, ofcOurse,
dragging on my thumbs. | was literally sus-
peuded from those two small portions of the
human frame. ! hung there for about FIVE
seconds, after which the pain became
insupportable, and requested TO be let
down. In those few seconds | experienced quite
enough TO assure me Whaf must be the indescr-
babe suffering OF Il poor creature suspended for
even minute. And YET the keeper told me
that a prisoner once endured this hellish torture
for FIVE minutes and a half without fainting Ii
sinews on the inside OF the wrist were being
drawn out. felt that my arms must leave the
shoulder sockets, and that the muscles of my
back won d be literally torn away if were not
let down Immediately. found wien my thumbs
were released from the slip-lLnotS that there were
evident signs that the cord had almost buried
itself in the flesh. An indcntction over an eighth
Of an Itch deep encircled each thumb 1t was
of a transparent white color Then came band
slightly dScolUred, and then band of red. The
f,sh did not altogether regain its natural appear
ance on one thumb for some time after. And
yet was victim of this engine Of torture for
only five seconds! Many tender hearted
and humane PERSONS may be inclined to
comfort themselves with the hope that
the infiction OF The punishment Of the pulley is
of rare occurrence. Let me undeceive them by
quoting from the last official report of the in
SpectOrs OF state prisons. In table No. Il. under
the heading, Exhibit of Punishments during
the Year. the following item appears: Pul-
lied---20S! Omitting Sundays, this total
gives an average Of four prisoners pulled
every week through the year.