The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-10-05

causes, viz: " Idleness, RIGHTEOUSNESS, and in.
TEMPERANCE" The order IN wilton be states
them IL that Of their several importance as evil
influences. Although . temperauce lecturer in
beyond the boundaries of fact, and bis expert
ence has shown him that one-third OF the con-
v,rtsnine,ndlng me most danserous onesUne
seek eKtenuauon for their offences In the plea
that they have been hard drnkers. But the
curse ~ idlencss l. apparent everywhere. First
come the idle by choice, who may be deemed
criminals by nature next the idle by necessity,
Imaginary compassion. After these, few are
left. Yet this bane Of human lives Is perpetuated
here in this State institutiOn, under such con-
ditiOns as inevitably multiply ten-fold Its de-
mUraiiLing influence.
now the INNOCENT SUFFER-.
Even the innocent may be plunged into these
fact Is believed tO be afforded in the case OF
Young man from Buffalo, now inCarcerated here.
Il Is affirmed that he came from Buffalo to New
York a few months since In search OF emplov-
ment. aud found here some " his former
acquantances VINO had, since his knowledge Of
them. entered upon criminal lives. He, not
knowing their real ci,ar 'ctcr became their ASSOC
ciates, or as he subsequently came to be regards
cd one OF their gang and when they commit
ted a burglary-withOut his knowledge, but un.
der circumstances which seemed to fix COM
plicity upon him-he was arrested, and sem
fenced to twenty years imprisonment. His
previous character had been irreproacbable, his
lam " connections were among the bust IN the
state. his story NJ least probable. ana the evil
dence against MIN only circumst ntial, Yet he
was condemned To pass n score OF the hest years
men SO wicked thS. they resiied his Inn cence.
and even told HIM that he deserved his fate for
being such n id fool IA to be honest His
friends are now making great exertions to pro-
cure bis Liberation. His story may not be true,
although the probability Il that II Is strictly so :
but even should II not be. there are sill alum
dant instances In the long list " youths SEN
fenced 60 short terms upon pleas OF guilty OF an
have been thus ruined through bad company,
though actually innocent themselves. IL would
be idle to suppO.e that impres sionable youth
could long en0uIe existence IN the atmosphere
~ crimtrality and Iaziuess existent here, with
out it, having the most iuinous effect upon
their whole future lyes.
MODES OF TORTURE.
The punishmcnts used In Auburn prison are
the " iron cip,"" swing" aud dark cell The first
named L. a cage for the head, fastened ON 10y n
collar about the neck. Ii II wholly OF iron, and
weighs from seven TO ten pounds The Swing y
II sim ply an Arrangement 10y means OF ropes aud
| a puilev for hoistine a culprit up 10y his wrists.
| The torture thus inflicted must be very great,
| yet men have been known 20 endure IT for nine
| hours continuously before they would succumo.
Had "a IL is. IL cannot equAl that fearful invcn-
| ton Of diabohcal ingenuity. the dark cell. Ins
| latter punishment Is only inflicted la extreme
cases. never until DIR. Button. the resident ply
sician, has thoroughly examined the culprit CON
demned to II, and has pronounced him II co from
srTofss or disc aes OF the lungs and Sr in
| Even with all this cure Dr. Button and Narden
Carpenter are both exceedingly reluctant TO avail
| preservation Of discipline. Tue former does not
| hesitate to afirm that the dark coils have MUIR
dered many men and driven mad many more,
and he stouty advoostes even the shower bath
as more merciful and at the same time more
| effective. Chaplain Sears unites with them 10
| pronouncing the cat-onine-tails hundred
| times more humane than the dark cell
THE LARDER.
| Prisoners In Auburn Prison are exceed ngly
well FED. Iney get excellent meat twice day
green corn. potatoes, tomatoes fresh onions.
| and other vegetables IN season. mush aud mo
| lasses, chile, pepper sauce ana condiments.
In. he Ian
| haIf so well IA these convicts are fed, ami few
families Of law-sbiding, industrious laborers
| fare 50 sumptuously the year round. Owing 10
the advan tageous location Of the prison the cost
| Of this is small cOmuarHtiNely, but II does seem
TO be somewhat high living for these idle ras-
Gals. They expect II now, however. lnder tue
fotmer Warden they got up riots IN the dining
hall one time because they were dissatisfied
with the beef, and again on account OF Tue
dread not sulting their delicate palates. Hut
they attempt no sucn nonsense under warden
pline In the dining hall. The convicts are
| marched In with locked step 10y platoope aud
after all are seated signals for eating and re
forming 70 march OUT are made by taps OF
bell. During the meal keepers stand at the
ends Of all tne tables 10 see that order and per
feet silence are preserved. The main dining
| ball seats 1915. When the prison Is az crowded
IT now is some go have TO eat In a corridor.
CARING roR THE SICK.
The hospital is better than the prisons OF
| either Clinton. sing Sing, or Albany possess
| being larger, more perfectly ventilated, adapted
with greater perfection In other respects u
| meet the requirements upon II, and Its useful.
| ness is developed to the fullest extent 10y Or
| Button. the estimable physician In charge
There Is special hospital kitchen for the prep
aration OF alpetiZing delicacies and props
nutriment for the sick.
In conclusion. let 1t be well understood tina
neither Warden Carpenter nor his suoordinate
can Justly be held responsible for the prvse n
alarming condition OF aft irs IN this prison
There are no contractors to employ these nun
drods OF Idle convicts, the State g1yes no mean
| for supplying them with work, and the aruel
Is absolutely poweress TO remedy the evil. In
| doing OF that rests with his superiors. But evei
tae n;ding Of work for the Auburn drones vii
not be enough 20 meet the evils. A total re
form In the oonsregate prison system Is what !
demanded.