New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-10-01
LOCAL. MISCELLANY.


CouRTs-sEssIoN OF THE SENATE SPECIAL COM
MITTEE.
The Assembly Committee for the 1nvestiga-
ton OF Crime held session in the Warden's Office at the
Penitentiary Blackwells Island yesterday Warden
Fox testified that he had experience in prison dis
eapne before his appointment. His salary was $3.50
per annum lie thought there were prisoners under
the axe Of I6 in charge Mr.. Campbell then called
his attention prisoners Ia Is Of age, who
had been committed by different Judges This 1t was
claimed, was against the statutory provision
that all offenders under 16 shall he commit
ted TO the House Of Refuge. Mr.. Campbell
said he agreed with Mr. Townsend that the
plan proposed by eSGov, Seymour was good one This
was 70 deduct from the earnings OF each convict enough
10 eray tho expense Of keeping him while in prison and
10 Let each have the remainder in order that when dis
charged he might be induced 10 drop back again into
crime by being penniless The witness thought there
should be four and several more Keep
ers aud that would be better to keep prisoners COM
ntted for fret oense separate from the old criminals
because young criminals often learned further lessons ID
crime while in the Penitentiary.
Dr. Kitchen Chief OF the Medical Staff testified that In
Temperance the primary OF most Of the oenses
for which the prisoners Bacwels Island were com
mtted To prevent the sale of impure liquor, he would
suggest an increase Of the license fee TO $500. He
thought It would be well TO give every prisoner "a
thorough medical examination when received in order to
learn ply steal capacity for labor that none might
be ignOrantly oyertaXed.
James Douglas testified that he had been keeper on
Backwes Island for IL years; that 10 more keepers
could be used with great advantage; he thought there
should be four more guard boats around the island and
that would be better to take inmates Of the wolhouse
for crews the boats than TO Pcntenary prisoners
Appointments as keepers he testified were always OBJ
tanned through political other personal influence Win
the Commissioners and examinations as TO special fit
ness for the work fred. Charles Robb night
Douglass
Robert Nolan testified that he committed TO the
Pcntcntiary years plea OF guilty of burglary
in the third degree; he had insisted he was not
guilty; but his counsel told him If he did not
plead guilty he would be sentenced for 10 years
SO he pleaded guilty and gave his age as 4" II
going on 10 !" Judge Sutherland sentenced him to
the Pentcutiary; he knew of two other boys now in
tie Peuitentary under 16 years of Robert suffer,
Nolan Jane Lewis s icsGed That She was Sentenced to
term OF 2Q years the Pcnitcnary by Recorder Hack
cit after giving hcr age as -.
The Committee adjourned until this morning.
CITY PENAL AND CHARITABLE METHODS.
The Special Committee of the Senate for the investiga
ton Of the City Departments, continued the taking OF
testimony at the Fifth Avenue Hotel yesterday.
Isaac H. Bailey President Of the Department Of Chair
ties and Correction testified in regard TO the contract
system" the hiring contract OF the labor Of the
prisoners. He said he very DESTROYS that
the system should be adopted he believed ii
would be source OF revenue 10 Tue cry
great deal Of money might be saved II the Commits
si0ners allowed TO purchase all the Winter coal in
July or August The increase in the estimate OF next
year that Of this year was because was intended
60 give better food the sick and to the unatcs The
witness said he had not heard that any assessment was
made for political purposes upon any OF the employees OF
the Board. letter from the Democratic Republican
General Committee to one OF the employees OF the Com
mssiOnCrs calling for a donation Of SIS was shown TO
the witness, and he said 1t the rSt ore he had ever
seen Al te Almshouse inc inmates were snp0fea at
II cents per day and at the hospital and Lunatlc Asylum
a. 30 cents per day. -
ment, next called. Before his testimony was taken
he said il his wish that no examination Of him
should take place lie believed that the Commissioners
had power do contract work and thought would he
O Of much revenue 20 the city lie said the sys
tim adoped the delivery Of coal to the outdoor
was ." a swindlc" "As for all the work." he said,
which il Is claimed IS done by the island IL Is
Ali bOsh There are 800 or 400 men scattered over the
island and they do not do the work OF % good men,
When asked what his opinion OF the schOOlsp the
witness said il was the means OF running seyentenths
hut sit around ana become skful in various kinds Oi
crime" Mr.. Bailey said he agreed with Mr.. Lalmbeer
although his preudces were not SO strong against the
John Quinn Warden of the City Prison, testified that
about TOO prisoners under his charge the report
that Coroner Croker who had been held IN inc IolnS
for murder had been allowed out at night, was un
ne he had never left the prison except upon orders
from the Court the Distrct-Attorney. These orders
Mi. Quinn produced. When asked II he Dad ever taken
Mrs shOtwe prisoner under his charge, out OF inc
TOmbs he said he had not without the proper orders
He had stated to Mr. Lambeer that lie had done
He was never asked 10 take her out OF the Tombs by
Commissioner Stern any other person.
Mrs Catharine Frazer OF No 2O5 East Thirty ninth
the mOtherinaw Of Coroner Croker said that lie had
been twice after his arrest both times
c0mpanied by Deputy Warden DAILY. Nj. Laimbeer then
said that Warden Quinn had told him that he had taken
ShOtwell out Of the Tombs for the purpose of shop
ping saying that Commissioner Stern had requested it,
On Mr.. laimbceTs demonstrating with him, the Warden
promised not to do ii again. Mr.. Quinn produced the
orders for the delivery of Richard Croker.
The Committee adjourned until next Tuesday at 1880
O. IN.