New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-08-30
ABUSE OF PRISONERS ON BLACKwELLs
ISLAND.

ABUSE OF PRISONERS ON BLACKWELLS
ISLAND.
DEATH OF A CoSvIcr IN HIS CELL IN THE ABSENCE
or TIE wARDEN-HIs BODY BADLY BRUISED
sTATrMFNTs OF TIE KEEPERS AND OTlEES-A
THOROUGH INVESTIGATION To BE MADE
Warden Fox returned to the Penitentiary on
Blackwels Island at midnight on Saturday ahd theh
learned first time Of the death OF Micbacl connolly
and the charges of brutal treatment against Fist Deputy
Warden j. T. Cowenhoven Keeper John j. Failon, Keeper
NcKenna and other officers OF the Institution Tie
Warden had been absent for 10 days He said that he
had remained at the Penitenary, nothing OF the kind
would have happened The substance OF the story
ia as follows: Michael Connolly, who was SEN
fenced to six months imprisonment in tie
Penitcntary on June 6, 1875. for stealing
property valued $50, died Friday last at $50 a. H.
DR. Kitchen Chief Of the Medical Staf Of Blackwelrs
Island was informed Of the mans death soon afterward
and in short time went out to the deadIOuse Where the
boay had been taken DIR. Kitchen said that it an
unusual thing for 10 die In his CELL and be wished
20 ascertain the possible Several other members
Of the medical staff, who had been summoned, arrived
IN a abort time and among them Dr. Lenahan who
va attending Connolly the time Of his death. lie de-
elared that the prisoner had evinced symptoms OF
Ergs disease of the kidneys, and he said that he be-
Ieyed that this was the of his sudden death
DR. Kitchen ordered the BODY to he stripped. II was
then seen that legs covered with hyid bruises
The left arm and the back of the right hand presented
similar appearance There were evidences OF three
wounds upon the right leg below the knee and the nail
of the great toe tor from the roots Dr. Kitchen
askel Deputy Warden CowonhOven whether he could e.
pn how these bruises had been received He answered
that Connolly was halfwitted and had frequently fallen
while at work or when walking Dr. Kitchen said that
he had never seen bruises result from the falls of
bawed insane and ne had Detn Tor several
wears in the Utica Insane Asylum. Dr. Kitchen added
yesterday that he had doubt that Connoys bruises
were the result of beatDgs but 10y whom they were IN
fcted was than lie could guess He said also that
b swavs had had great confidence in Cowenhoyen and
had found him TO be kind and humane In treating tie
prisoners.
The body Of Connolly taken TO the Morgue
ma Coroner Croker took charge OF tho case Deputy
Coroner Cushnan made "a careful pos-nortem examine
ton OF the remains and besides the bruises found soften
c ~ the base OF the brain which, in his opinion caused
Connoys death Coroner Croker inpaneled jury, who
viewed body and adjourned the inquest until some
dayto be selected during this week On Saturday night
Coroner Croker went to the Pen,entay TO make some
preliminary inquiries In regard TO the case HalKeeper
(orcoran was command, and his deposition was taken
He testified that Connolly had worked in different gangs,
the In Il being under Keeper Geary; Ire saw Connolly
alive last on Friday about 730 n The witness said
that he had known OF Connoly's being beaten,
though be might have been without his knowledge he
W. an noensive, harmless prisoner Connolly did not
work ON Thursday AFTERNOON. ,.,
ned that Connolly In his gang ten weeks AGO. but
frequently had been changed about; Keeper McAenna
usea orco 10 make Connolly work hut the blows that he
struck him with small suck would not have injured
child; when Connolly was III heese shG hkeny gang,
snI hall thick; ii was ike heavy naing stick Wit
ness had Reese strike Connolly frequently with this
stick both to make him work and to keep him IN hne
Reese would exasperate Connolly, who would work him
sell n ana t5e latter Would Sos Connolly With the heavy
cane and aeSe that he had done II in sedC iense Wit
nss had also CowenIoven strike Connolly one day
when Reese was beating Connolly, witness ssd that lie
heard COwenhoven cry our, " Give u 10 MN On Iues
~Srk on the docks the day appeared to be sick
aud crazy COwenhoVen believed thai ne wac snamulhS
and usd him locked up III dark coll; two days aitos-
hn III Owens whom Warden Fox remembers to have
been prisoner In the Penitcntiary recently, described
Connolly as stout young his1ai WHO wa IN c CoS
health 10 days ago lie sad aa' e Ss e eSa
Connolly with the handle Of broken shovel kocking
molly thrown mic the iron cistern where the men empty
the sop buckets Then he was injured severely Co~en
Corcoren Ovens added dubbed lin whenever he esked
20 DC taken the hospital. Owens said that Connolly
was worked severely that he sometimes fell from OK
haast,on; while wheeling load Of ashes from one end
OF island 10 the other Connolly said on THURSDAY,
"Pm going to die GeaTy has killed me-" ON the next
morning he died in his cell. .
Warden Fox said that he had not had time since Dig
ascertain the truth OF the stories told ID regard 10 Con
Comnissoners Of Charities aud Correction, and they
have visited the Penitentary preliminary TO besnhng
that they propose to st the to the bottom Warden
Fox said that there was no rule that was so Iiedly
any officer t. strike prisoner, except in case
Of actual selfdefeDse The Warden said tia be renlem
teycd Connolly. lie always looked strong and healthy,
bui seemed half witted Thus there even less ex
case hs said for striking him The Warden added that
n case Of beating prisoner came 10 s knowledge the
keeper would BIZ discharged peTernptoriy There were
regular methods VI Furnishing refractory prisoners, and
beating and striking was not allowed The Warden said
thai ho had employed Cowenhoyen for long tame. ard
no instance hsd 20 his knowledge where lac
had either struck prisoner himself or countenapeed
sueh action in any osher officer under him Warden
foI declared tlat be should do ytng in his power
81 clear up the true facts OF this and the testimony
taken onrOborated, summary punishment ID 10 be Wis
tied upon tie offenders
C1roner Croker the necessary steps last night to
senre the attendance Of the officers OF the peDtcnay
nj lie inquest upon the remains OF Connolly WarranIs
and suuiDonsos served upon Deputy Warden j. 4.
Cowenhoven Keeper Patrick Geary, Hall Keeper Corco-
ran. Keeper Johu J. Fxl0n, Keepers Kease and Mc-
Kenua John L. Owens OF No. lo3 Mottet., and many
others who alleged 10 DO implicated la tho
splc 10 give some information In regard ~ lie Of
Connolly death The inquest Is 10 be continued nj
early date a. possible. The Commissioners OF Charities
ana Correction to continue their investigation OF the
Connolly case this morning
TIE NOE TRAGEDY