The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-05
Who HaStened the Death of Jacob Stock
Wis, the Paralyzed Prisoner?
STATEMENTS OF OFFICERS AND FRIENDS.
A Handkerchief, Plainly Marked with His Full
Name in His Pocket all the While.
WHY WAS HE CALLED JOHN DOE ?"
Preparations for a Thorough In
vestigation by the Coroners.

The case OF Jacob stockvis, the Hollanoer who,
1t Is believed, died from injuries received while In
the custody OF the police or Department OF Cnarl-
ties and Correction. details OF which were very
fully given in yesteraay's hEIALD caused
much excitement and comment In the commu.
nifty yesterday. The o1cias OF the departments
interested and the attaches OF the committing
court were greatly alarmed at the tragic termina-
ton OF what the police believed to be debauch,
and some, more directly involved, were much de-
moralized. Everybody who Is familiar with the
routine OF station house, police court and prison
business agree that 1t WAS clearly the duty OF
Keeper Cunningham. when he found the demented
and paralyzed man speeches., TO
SEND FOR DOCTOR
and, when he received Judge Hammers commit
ment OF him to the Woi khouse for SIX mon hs to
have informed the Judge OF the mans condition.
They also agree that 1T was reckless disregard or
the most simple precautions Tor Judge Flammer
to commit the man without rearraignng him be-
fore him for o second examin alton, the more so
| from the fact that on the first arrangement the
man was speechess.
| With view OF ascertaining every fact likely to
throw light upon the case, reporter yesterday
proceeded to the Workhouse, on Blackwels
Island, where he arrived about hall. past eleven.
From O clerk IN the once It was ascertained that
Warden Keah Is still confined by sickness; that
Keeper Hodge and Engineer Golden, who Is act
| ing temporary warden, Is well a. Thomas
| Brady and Peter KerriQan,
TIE TWO LUNATICs
with whom deceased was confined, had been sum.
moned BY the Commissioners to appear before
Coroner Kessler at eleven O'Clock and at that time
were in the city. This Official was questioned as
10 the DOCTORS examination Of Stockvis when ne
was admitted. He reports that the regular ply
scian had detailed student named James and
|
Kean had called for report from James. whom the
reporters informant styled q student and In
reply he stated that he had no recollection OF the
case and could not state his treatment OF the
man unless lie saw lis remains. From the store.
keeper 1t was ascertancd that James Is graduate
and therefore is supposed to be competent for the
duties which he Is assigned.
YoRKvILLE POLICE COURT
The reporter next visited the Fifty ninth street
station house. with q view Of seeing Oncer Fall
lon, who made tho arrest. The sergeant either
aid not desire to let the reporter have access to
the o1icer or he did not know where he could be
found, and consequently the part the policeman
played IN the tragedy could not be definitely as
certained. Judge Hammers court was next
visited at fifteen minutes after twelve with
| view OF hearing what that magistrate had to say
as to his action in the premises and 10 obtain
transcripts Of the complaint and the
!
| court hours which under the law. extend
from sunrise until sunset, vet neither Judge Flam-
mer any clerk was present. Ofncer Rodgers
and o brother ofiicer lounged on bench, and
when questioned as to the Whereabouts OF the
officials Rodgers answered that Court had ad.
journed until three O'Clock, that the clerks would
| likely be tack at two. He further stated, in
answer to questions, that the Judge and clerks
are in the habit OF leaving after the despatch Of
The morning business, about eleven or half-past
eleven until about two This Is, to say the least,
an easy way for
CLERKs TO EARN THEIR SALARIES.
Friends OF prisoners may come in seeking in.
formation only 10 ind all the clerks absent and no
| one to give them any Information. or course that
visit to the court proved abortive.
COMMISSIONERS BAILEY's STATEMENT.
| About O'Clock reporter met President
Bailey in his ONCE, corner Of Eleventh street and
Third avenue. Mr. Bailey stated that the com.
missioners early yesterday morning had before
them all the parties supposed to know anything
OF the case, and among them Keeper Cunning.
ham, who was evidently In q very unpleasant pre-
dicament, and that they had sent all the facts
Oflcia.ly TO Coroner Kesser. He stated that the
Commissioners are determined to have the In
vestigation as complete as possible and II they
find that any OF their ofncers are blamable they
will act very summarily; that Cunningham
clearly should have sent for the prison
doctor or his representative and In
formed the Judge of his discovery that
the man was demented. Mr.. Cunningha ex.
cuse. he reports, 49, that the judges are very sen.
sitive about receiving suggestions from keepers.
Bailey further stated to Coroner Kessler. who in
the meantime had called, that there was lack Of
disc pine IN the prisons. Warden Quin, oil the
Tom6s, has general supervision OF ali the court
prisons and the doctors should never be absent
| without leave. In this the ather OF the phy-
slclan attending the prison had died and he was
absent He should have secured another physIc
to relieve him and asked permission to absent
himself. In neither particular DID he comply with
these conditions, and consequently The Keeper
called physician. The President assured the
Coz oner tnat tina Commissioners would cheer
fully render him all the aid In their power
oner Kessier stated to the Commissioners that he
had no doubt that the mans injuries wen received
In the WorKhouse; that Df. Hirsch brother-In. Law
Of deceased, stated to him that when he and Q
friend vislteI the island in search OF the man,
one Of the attaches OF the institution informed
them that he had been beaten there.
HIS FELLOW PRISONERS.
Coroner Kessler further stated That he had ex-
arrineu informally yesterday all the parties sent
MIN by the Commissioners, including tho two
fellow prisoners VINO occupied the open
satisfied they were Tnnatlcs. He had
thought OF sending them to the House OF Deten.
the custody OF the Warden untll they can be ex.
amned BY physician TO determine whether they
witnesses. The Coroner declines to give TO the
press the reports and other data supplied him 0y
the commissioners INC Iuquebt IL nelu NJ one
O'Clock on Tuesday, as he Tears the publication at
this time might defeat the ends OF justice. He
has summoned
ABOUT THIRTY WITNESSES
and expresses the belief that tue inquest Will
likely last week Among the Witnesses sum
moned are the following Warden kean, Engi.
neer Golden, Keeper HOughs, Edward Johnson,
James Frel, John Buckley and soaring Robbins,
ali oil the Worghouse; Tnoma as Brady and Peter
Kerripan, the lunatics; Captain Mount. Serqeants
Robbins and Hamilton, Doorman McCreary and
OGicer Fallen. OF the police Judge Fiammer and
hjs clerks. Keeper Cunningham, Warden Quinn !;
the police surgeon OF the tityseventh street
prison, the de tective offcer VINO made the search
and lound stockvs entered as John Doe. Friends
Of the dead man will also be called TO testify.
WHERE rs srocKvTs' WARDROBE
The Coroner stated that he Is informed that
when committed TO the Island the man was well
| dressed, and when discharged he was dressed In
an INFERIOR suit. He always carried q POCKET
handkerchief with his name upon III as yet the
family nave been unable 10 secure the mans
ol...I La nInra fhaf Arm In m