The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-09-07
T0RTURING NJ. CONNOLLY.
AMPLIFYING THE ACCOUNTS or mrs
BRCTfL TREATMENT.
warden Fox Di-avows Knowiedee Of His
Subordinates' Inbums uity-A Keeper whs
has Never Read the Con, ,nissionerp' Rates.

Subordinates' Inbums uity-A Keeper whs
has Never Read the Commissionors' Rates.
Michael Conuolly's death In tho Blaok-
wells Island Penitentlary was the subject OF
further oficla inquiry yesterday 10y Coroner
Croker. Warden Brennan was present during
most OF the proceedings. Tho nrst witness was
James Doherty, who swore that he saw Keeper
Reese beat Connolly with a cane, because he
wanted TO drink out OF a bucket. contrary to
orders. Keeper Genry struck Connolly with the
handle OF pick axe and his fists, and kicked
him because he would not carry a plank. Con-
molly did not strike any OF the keepers, nor
nght with the prisoners. He did not Get his
meals regularly, and wts often locked In his
cell while the Others were eating. This witness
saw Connolly last on the Thursday before he
died, at dinner. He was being held uD by sone
Of the men Ia Gray's gang. lie also saw Cow
George Miller testiacd that two months ago
Connolly was working In the ash gang, OF which
Connolly TO go TO work, but he was not able.
Then Hardy struck him with a stick and repeat
edly on the same day. Connolly showed the
witness a mark ON his cheat, which he said was
made oy Hardy. lie complained 9i being weak &
several weeks on aowenSoyens order, and did
not gCs his meals regularly. He told the witness
tnat be had no dinner nor supper on that day.
After he came out Cowenhoven struck him with
n board and Geary with the handle Of shovel.
Once Cowenhoyen put plank In C9nno'lys
kiii ham. Warden Fox not In the prison
during these occurrences.
james Murphy testified that when he first no.
tlced Connolly he was unable to stand. Gesry
struck nm several tunes with the handle uf a
% on avg or and sS fnSc saw S wn ve1
ptlo Of buckets. Connolly said that he was
sick and weak: On that day deary kicked and
struck him. Reilly made him carry roller all
day, and withheld his dinner This witness
saw deceased alive on the Thursday before he
died. lie had been IN the dark cell, rnS was
| taken out to he put IN GeaIy's gang. lie stag
gered white IN line and the other prisoners held
| MIN fail. and when they let ~ OF him he iell
| lie w.s carried into the hall by four conxicts
nan that Connolly would not work sever al Of
| the prisoners struck Connolly and the keepers
took no notice. Usually, " convict struck
another he was punisned.
Michael Ryan swore that he saw Connolly
struck hy Hardy, 0eary and Cowenhoven.
| pauick Fitzpatrick saw Geary strike Connolly
with a hammer on the neck, arm and shoulder
NEE Heal swore that he had known Com
without dinners, receiving only his breakfasts
| and suppers. When Cowenhoven struck him he
sS'q or beat out your iS Aiter%aTd when %TiS tue
gang we're coming In at nleht Geary said 20
Cowennoyen. ~ gave It 70 b,e Mike pretty well
| 20 him too, AND guess ] hnished hun. William
Young, Francis Prlnty, Jonn Vuinn and John
| keefe testified corroboratively.
James Higgins testified that on the 23d Of
| August he saw Connolly on tue grounds without
| head. He went to his cell staggering as though
sick Keeper Farrell said to Keeper Boyle" That
man:is sick" On TUESDAY, the 2tth. witness saw
| lie was taken from the tines and ordered nv Cow
enl oven to be locked up IN the oark cell. Con-
molly was wet Dry clothes were given 20 him
which he was not able To put on. lie had nothing
To eat that ay. The witness was ~ u dark cell
keeper Corcornn. hut Connolly did not get any
thing TO eat. On that NIGHT Connolly was rhvinR
IN his cell The next Cowenhoyen % asked C"n- ,,
lie seemed blind. and the witness led him To
the W shIng place. In walking up some stone
| steps TO his WORK he staggered. fell, and struck
| hts side on the stone railing Other prison, r.
picked hln up. and he started to walk again. bu.
stageered and fell over board.
John Nolan related that he occupied a dark
cell next to CDnnolly's two weeks ago. Conuol
" call Il tor water, nd Watchman Rubb and an
o,her watchman opened the cell door, and Con
nu,ly said: " For Code sake stop." 1hc witness
thought they ktCked him. lie was put In the
cell on Tuesday morning was taken out on
Thursday. and had but one ration OF bread aud
water witnln tina time.
John NJ. Fox swore that he had been Warden
Of the Peniten lary since the sth of January
molly. except that he was large, strong tppe r.
ing mau. lie heard OF nohodys striking him
before the inyestieatlon; The witness went on
Deputy Warden James 4. C"wenhoy on Ia charge
lie returned ON the evening Of The 2stn OF
August, and heard OF the beating of Connolly IA
he got out OF his carriage. keeper mas nc
rllht to beat prisoner, except In soll-defeuce
| II a prisoner refuses to wofk. he u sonnet lines
| GepIived OF a meal. nd sometimes locked up
| lie knew Of no case Of a prisoner being deprived
OF more tndn one SUCCESSIVE lDedl. lTirOllefs hTt
| locked up In dark ceiis, by orders of tue WaIdeI
or ueputt, ON a cuarge Of the keepers IN whost
gangs the offenders are working. No charge
was made to hun against Connolly. When
prisoner Ia sick he Is usually placed IN the prsOi
iiall 10 meet the doctor. II he IL too SICK e
leave ms oell, the doctor visits hm, and II he Il
sick enough, sends him to the hospital.
| Order twentv-fOur for the guidsnce OF keep
ers was read. as follows
Keepers or any other employee Of this penitenti
will strike or snJ violence toward any p.sOn
OF any prOiALe language while IN their pres
| enCe.
Keeper Boyle swore that he had been a keepe
on the island iteen months. He knew Con
molly as easy going simple man. lie saw
Cow enhoyen, Ge.ry, anu Reese strike hin, bu
not To hurt him. IL was not hard work 10 carr
lumber as was their custom. lie never saw an
man strike Connolly with IA snovel-handle. II
never read the rules of the prison, aud did no
know that II was forbidden to strike prisoner
when necessary. Connolly DIDN'T refuse I,
wOrA, but would walk away from his gang
Connolly not nt 70 work. 4 ne doctor vis
tied him ON the Wednesday before he died
Co molly told witness that he had been ten day
without his dinner. lie believed that Connol
was st. rved out, but did not think thlt eitne
Warden Fox or the Commissioner knew IT,
| Tna inyestiQatiOn will urpDhDly onu to-day