The New York herald., 1874-09-02
SING SING SURPRISED.
The Prison Temporarily Aban-
dOned to Its Fate.
WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED.
Views of Warden Williamson on
Prison Management.

At . little before six O'Clock yesterday morning
james Williamson, the new agent and warden ap-
pointed to succeed Gaylord b. HubbeT, assumed
charge OF Sing Sing Prison. There were none Of
the iormailtes observed or courtesies inter-
changed. which are usually noticeable between.
Outgoing and incoming onicials the present In
cumpent entering oy the main door OF the prison.
and passing through to the already deserted pri-
vate once unnouced by any person, save one or
two drowsy night guards VINO were anxiousIy
looking for rhe day men 10 relieve them. Under
ordinary circumstances the change OF wardens
takes place in the forenoon, when tho
daily routine Of prison life is being carried
on Then the keys. records business
papers and other prison documents are
formally transferred by the retiring warden. who,
nom sense OF duty II not out OF politeness pleas
antly congrstulates his successor. In this in
stance, however, the ex-warden Ola not see At to
remain and tender welcome to brother repub-
hcan, but Immediately after the convicts had been
locked up at six O'Clock, on Monday evening. no
remarked, 'I'm . Tree man. and in the language
OF one OF the oficials, "leaving everything opens
even leaving the house open, he took his depsr-
ture nom the Institution. While attending to hi
duties as Postmaster aoout hour later,
warden Williamson was informed by the prin-
cpal keeper, Matthew Benson, that tho
prison had been abandoned, and that there
was no person in charge. This piece OF informa-
tion. a. may readily be imagined, Tell with as
founding effect upon the ears Of Mr.. Williamson,
who at once ordered Benson to go down and
take charge Of the prison until morning. The ac-
tion OF Mr. Hubbell IN leaving the prison without,
at least duly notifying hts successor OF his inten-
tion TO do So has oecasioned q miniature storm OF
POPULAR INDIGNATION.
in the village and neghbOrhood OF Sing Sing. Ono
gentleman residing in the village named while
speaking Of the matter yesterday, said to
the HERALD representative, suppose nro
had occurred in the prison between
six and seven O'Clock last evening,
there was no one present to give orders or 70 ss-
sumo the important duty OF directing anaars IN
such crisis. aud the result might have been the
smotnenng OF every inmate OF the prison. Its
true the provides that IN case OF fire break
ing out the convcts shall be at once removed 70
the nearest place OF safety but as there was no
one In charge ut the time mentioned this would
not and could not have been done or suppose
that one Of the lower galleries had been LETT un-
locked either by accident or design 1t would Do
the means Of hoetating simultaneously MY s men;
and these, by easily overpowerng the night guard
of four men, could have IN rev moments
let loose upon the community the entire 200 con-
victs. Had known that such state OF anAlrs
existed at the prison last night tell you there
would have been little sleep or me or my iamiy."
.v esd THE SITUATION YESTERDAY. Mh
A visit to the prison In the afternoon reveaie0
nothing unusual In the general appearance OK
things either inside outside OF that instiruton.
except that the chair OF authority. which mas oeen
filed by Mr. Huboell Tor the past eighteen months,
was occupied py Warden williamson aud that the
! cautonary card suspended on the wall behind it
and bearing the inscription, Time ls precious,
Durinr brief interview Warden Williamson, In
reply TO o preliminary question by the writer as TO
raaical a1ci changes % in the management. said -
.'YOu are, doubtless, aware That my power IN
that respect Is limited 10 making suggestl3ns the
| tnap Cfora nIliV cQn
course, have some suggestions to make as soon as
the Inspector in charge, whom am looking for to-
"rhere are lew Of the subordinate ofncisls who
are not known to you. Now, what do you think
We'll, some OF them are good men, but others,
among the keepers, have oeen here nearly all
convicts have asslmilated to such degree that
they are almost like convicts themselves. There
these around me, can hardly hope TO carry out
anything like reform. l met Keeper on the
as his o assea nm
belonged. He replied, In the north portion OF
the yard.' then told MIN that understood he
KEPT A HOTEL Up rHERk
to which he replied Come up ana see " do.'
SAID time won't permit me TO 60 up tnere here now.
kept up there or not, and that Ii such were the
case should hold him responsible. he then SAID
brought sT % IN there there and disposed or told him
there must be stop put 20 y at once"
living, as it were, In the prison. do you Iavor a
mo do not. don's think il right TO have
these women In the prison believe Captain
rs, tried 9 ~ the PLACES S now
proved failure Tie reason given for their living
In the prison Is tnat, II they were compelled TO 60
outside for their meals or to sleep guards would
have to escort them; otherwise they would be an.
noyed and tnsuted by the convicts." ..e
ra WOMEN EXCLUDED FROM THE PRISON.
'sUnder the administration OF Warden Nelson
you are perhaps aware that all females, lncluding
visitors, were excluded entirely from the grounds
II am; and / consider that It was an excellent
order" !, 49,. .,.,.n :. - :. ..o.,,,,,, ,,,..
.My ideas on that subject are well defined:
believe that men sent mere ior crime should be
properly cared for-that is, they should be well
led, well clothed, and when sick, well attended to.
Every man ought to be made to work, and no cou-
vict should iare better than another, no matter
who or what he was, am no theorist, but think
that system II carried out, would excel even the
Irish system, about which we have heard so mucn
"&So 10 :, 70 be your successor as Postmaster o.
"fhst Question cannot answer bu. do moi
think that any appointment will be made before
sOth instant. According TO the Post orlice reRula
ti0ns, postmasters have TO wind up their business
s aeoa anxious 70
appointment, but OF course some ol them VIII nave
to be disappointed"
convict named Robert Lyttie, hanged himsel
in his cell early on Monaay morning. Deceased
who had been complaining OF illness for some tims @
past had tied towel round his neck, and theI
fasten5cs to the ventilator managed to ssrsng' ny,
himself Whis his eet rested on the moor OF ms cen
Coroner Bassett held an inquest, whcn veruiv S y
WIS rendered OF death from strengunson ,aii NM.
rAborinQ under temporary insanity. Tne suicid' !,
was twenty years old and mad been sente1ceu M :,
February 1878 to five years imprisonmas ~ or - -
q SAINT With deadly weapon. Hts relatives remove'
Q the body to New YORK. -tFlAe
}. NAVIGATING WITH A KITE.
y PARTIALLY Successful Attempt to Cros