The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-09-04
A MAN TORTURED TO DEATH
WHAT WAS DONE TO CONNOLLY ON
BL1C WELL'S ISLAND.
Pounded with Clubs, kicked, starved, Over |
worked, and otherwise Abused Untii He |
Dted-Ex-Deputy Cowcnhovfn IN Custody. |

worked, and otherwise Abused UntiI lie
Dted-Ex-Deputy Cowcnbovrn IN Custody.
Ex-Deputy Warden Cowenhoven OF
nackwelrs Islano, whom the police had been
unable to lnd since the inquest into the causes
OF Michael Connolly's death began, made his
appearance Yesterday and surrendered himself
to Coroner Croker. lie was sent to the Tombs
in default OF 5000 bail.
II have not been out OF the city at all, said
he' Yesterday. 81 didn't try to escape. for am
entirely innocent Of these charges and have no
fear, but thought II was going to be locked
up wanted my business in good shape. have
an invalid wife, and wanted TO leave things all
night, so have spent the week arranging my
business. As sure there's @ cd In heaven
never hurt that man any more than have YOU"
Cowenhoven Is a large, red-faced man, with
good-humored expression. He tried to appear
unconcerned but when talking tho tears filled
his eyes and ran down his cheeks.
The room was packed when the investi CATION
was resumed yesterday afternoon The hrst
witness was Henry Smith of Delaney street,
who swore that being prisoner in tho penitcn-
tiary, he saw Keeper Reilly make Connolly
carry big log for punishment; and also saw
Geary knock and kick him. lie heard Geary
order two eonvlcts to place Connolly in tho
water on the 2Oth OF August, and saw Keeper
kees hit Connolly on the legs and body.
STORY OF INHUMAN CRUELTY.
John +. Owens, Of lOs Mott street while on the
Island for assault. saw Connolly struck Tith a
stick by a German keeper, who had charge OF
the NTH tier Of the new prison. ON tho 28th OF
on the back with the handle OF a shovel, ana at
least two dozen times with cane on that Same
der, legs, and arms with a piece OF wood. ON
the next day Connolly was car wing beam,
wsrden Cowen6o"en @ licked MIN ""sh Mbep Deeoty op.
molly got up, Coweuhoven struck him in tue
face, knocking him down against barrel.
10 move along, and struck him with the
handle Of pickaxe. shocking MIN down,
and then kicking him. On Saturday he
On the 10th of August the witness saw Cowen-
hoven, with piece OF board, strike deceased
board, saying, You want to 20 to the hos pltal,
but III XII you before you go there" He saw
clenched fists and knock him into a wheelbar-
row, and then Kick him; Geary deputzed half
" You make that man work-work him to
death. ON this same day the witness saw
He knew Of Connolly being locked up in a dark
cen Tor not doing as much work as the other
prisoners. Connolly would say that he would
do all he could. He seeued to be sane until the
latter days OF his life, when be foolish.
Geary once ordered three or four prisoners to
throw Connolly head 1rst into big iron tank
full OF water. Then he was ssken out aud set to
work again carrying boards. The keepers were
which they often struck prisoners, but never in
the presence of the Warden.
AMPLE CoRRoDoRATIos.
Herman Buerye, Of 10 Spring street, w. dis
CHARGED from the island on the eth OF August.
lie testined that, one day, Connolly was carry
ING boards. Cowenhoven said that II the keep
ers were afraid to club him, he not, and
struck Connolly with stick, and kicked him.
Al another time Geary gave his stick 10 prls-
oner and told him to strike Connolly while he
stood toy and laughed.
Thomas Quinn, on the island. swore that Con-
molly WAS foolish and seemed disinclined to
a. Aa - hDN haa afAra
was made to carry one end Of a heavy plank and
rest deary struck him with club. After Con-
molly had put down plank three men would
were about twenty-fOur feet long. eight or nine
inches wide and three or four inches thick.
This witness saw Connolly thrown into large
iron vat dsed In washing the prisoners buckets.
He also saw Connolly pick up small stone after
down, aud when kicked again he said, For
Gods sake, don't hit me-" He was placed In his
cell in his wet clothes, and the next morning
when he was taken out he was raying maniac.
He was then put 10 dark cell. Another day be
was carried into dinner and thrown Oh a pile Of
brck by men from Gearys gang.
VARIETIES or THE CRUELTY.
John McCann, another prisoner on the island,
swOre that week ago last Tuesday Connolly
was in Geary's gang carrying beams twenty. I'VE
feet long, a foot wide. and four inches thick.
Two men carryied one end and Connolly tho
other. towenhoyen came up and said. with an
oath, You lig loafer I'll make you work."
hitting him With a cane. Afterward Geary
struck him with the handle OF shovel, and
CoweuhOVen struck him again. Then some Of
GearN's gang put Connolly In a wheelbarrow,
tTund,ed him the brick pavement, and
tumIed bin out against tree Geary saw
o. I'm. when these same prisoners ducked the
Door fellow into the tank Cowenhov laughed.
Often while the other prisoners we're eating
Connolly WAS in his cell locked up; but whether
he was atterward fed, witness couldn't tell. lie
saw Connolly on the day previous to his death
coming out Of his cell with his bucket. He Was
very weak, and staggered and fell.
James McCafrey. prisoner testified that
about two weeks ago his gaug (teeses) were |
under shed while 1t was raining Connolly |
came In and said that one OF his keepers had
told him to rest, for no Was sick. Keeper BOYLE |
came In and showed Connolly out, and Cowen- |
hoven kicked him 10 his gang. About ten min |
utes afterward COwenhoven kicked him again |
and knocked him down. Two or three prisoners |
would take hold OF him, run him down to the |
lumber pile, put beam in his hands, and then |
hurry him back. Reese, Cowenhoven, and Geary |
struck Counully at different times. 1he day be- |
Tore he died two men we're holding him up, and |
the hall keeper said, " " hat arc YOU holding |
that Dig lonier up furf Let him fall" Thcv let |
him 40, and he fell Once when Cowenho oven |
knocked him over a wheelbarrow, he picked up |
a stone as ne got up, but did not throw it, lie |
did not seem able to work. The Commissioners |
were on the Island almost every day.
The inquest VIII be continued ON Backwels |
lsahd iOr the greater convenience Of getting the
prisoners who are To testify. There are about |
thirty more witnesses to be examined.