New-York tribune., 1875-09-01
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
THE BIACKwELLs ISLAND ABUSES.

THE BLACKWELL'S ISLAND ABUSES.
Sn CORoNERs JURY VISIT THE PENIrENrIARY-
NUMEROUS WITNESSES TO BE CALLED -
THOROUGH INVESTIGATION TO BE MADE BY THE
COMMISSIONERS OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTION.
Yesterday afternoon Coroner Croker, accom-
panied BY Deputy Coroner Cushmsn and nine OF the
jurymcn eubpenaed the inquest Of Michael Connolly
vied Backwes Island for the purpose Of getting the
names Of the witnesses who testify to the cruelty
received by Connolly at the hands of the ana
keepers of the Pentenary An important Witness Jonn
e. Owens, was also among those who went with the
Coroner He discharged from the island on the day
that Connolly died. and claims to have witnessed many
acts Of cruelty Connolly the part of the keepers
Those prisoners who had also observed the brutality OF
the pointed out to the Coroner VINO look
the following for witnesses: Thomas QUINN John
McCann Thomas Mccain. Henry Smith, Morris Moriarty,
George f. Quinn. Peter Doyle, James Doherty, John r.
Delaney, William Toung Samuel Jacob John O'keefe,
Joseph Nee raile. William Thompson, John Quinn, Chas
Crawloy Jarues Higgins and Henry Muinford. The frst
eight prisoners to be subpcnaed to attend the
inquest friday ct and the Others probably VIII
be called to testify on the next day.
Among the keepers, the Coroner took the names OF
Michael Kennedy Timothy Skelly and Charles Osborne
The Jury was shown the cell in which Connolly died
The eeil-No 4OO-was locked and without the usual
fixtures. It was measured by one OF the jprymen ana
found six feet nine inches long and four feet wdc
cot similar that occupied by Connolly was measured
also the length the same as that Ofthe CELL anu IL
was two feet wide. The handle OF the shovel with
portion of the iron socket still attached to it, was dened
by overs as Of the instruments with which Connolly
was struck This the Coroner took charge Of He also
made arrangements with Warden Fox for the attendance
of the witnesses Friday afternoon in the Coroners
Office.
jeremiah Calden OF No 800 Monroet appeared before
Coroner Croker yesterday morning and made the follow
ing statement under oath:
was a prisoner in Rackwells Island Peniteniiary,
having been sentenced Oct 1874 or assault and bat
tery. / was discharged to-day. j knew Michael Con-
molly while at the Penitenary, and saw Keeper Geary
strike him the back with stick, telling him TO go 10
work This happened about two months ago. on the ASH
barges This the only occasion on which saw Con-
molly struck .
Patrick Geary the keeper Of the Penitentary who is
charged with beating Connolly, brought before Cor
onpr croker yesterday morning by Officers Leydeu ana
Fiay having been locked up during the night IN the
Central Office The Coroner held him IN x2,OOO pan 10
await the result the inquest the bail was not inr
pishod and Geary locked up again. Deputy Warden
CowenhOven has not been arrested yet.
At their meeting yesterday, the Commissioners OF
Charities and Correction ordered copy OF the test
mony taken at the investigation on Monday OF the
brutality at the Penitentary to be forwarded 10
istrictAti0rney Phelps, for such action as ne may
deem proper The further investigation of the case Is 10
te made but the Commissioners were unanimous tnat
wac necessary discharge other officials OF TIE rem
Tertiary They that they propose TO enter upon i
as As the leaders have been disposed OF
su mary time be taken TO investigate carefully Tie
whole question Of prison and workhouse government.