New-York tribune., 1875-08-31
LOCAL MISCELLANY.

BRUTALITY ON BLACKwELLiS ISLAND.
CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION IN REGARD III
. THE DEATH OF MICHAEL coNNoLLf-phfoif
WARDEN cowENHovEN, PATRICK GEAhf' AND
,AMrs noYLE REMovEp-oTHER OFFICERS sus-
PENDED OR TRANsFERRED-ARREsto VI 'IAN'-
CowENHovRN NOT TO BE FOUND.
The Commissioners of Charities and Correc-
Non Yesterday resumed their investigation OF the case OF
Michael Connolly, who died at the Penitenuary on
plackwes Island on Friday last President baiey anu
Commissioner Brennan went TO the Island ABOUT a. '
and began the work by taking the testimony Oh h"ir
Thomas Corcoran Corcorab stated that ne never
saw ANYBODY strike Connolly He also stated 'na' he no
cever seen Deputy Warden j. I. Cowenhoven srike
Connolly nor any other prisoner The witness oen h"o
heard Cowenhoven at both prisoners ana Keepers
President Bailey here explained that striking OF swear
ing at prisoners is gross violation OF the rules Oh tue
Department The officers, he added who are mpica'eu
An this case are those who have served longest.
Keeper Charles Osborn, who appointed April "a,
1878 testified that he Connolly on Thursday last
He was al work in Geary's gang He came out OF 'he
prison without his hat and looked sick Connolly saia
that he felt very i'll The witness told him TO so INTO
shed near by and sit down. About half an hour aer
ward Keeper James Boyle came along. and seeing Con-
molly sitting idle In the shed. commanded MN 10 eono
ont and go 10 work carrying lumber The prisoner was
evidently feeble and did not work fast enough 10 s
Rov,e. who struck him twice on his hand and body
,onv 20 work Cowenboven also struck Connolly four
or Ave tmes upon his legs and body, using heavy SICK
three feet long inch an inch and hait tncR
lanes Rovle a guard who has been Is months In the
seryioe of the Department testified that Connolly was
regarded as half idiot Wednesday last he was sent
down 10 work in the afternoon, and he got along wen
that day: on Thursday Connolly was carrying plank
The witness said that Cowenhoven came to him and sald
"Put that big loaer at work II You are not arau OF
him. as believe you are" Connolly acted cmms! anu
seemed 10 be utterly unfit TO work Witness SAID tha' he
tapped Connolly with his cane but never struck nm 10
hurt him. The witness added that nc never s"oi' d" m
nor at any other prisoner.
Keeper Patrick Geary, who has been hve years III 'lie
service, testified that on Sunday last he sa" 'sono
strike Connolly and knock him down. and that nc clou
Cowenhovens attention TO the fact as ne wac III co
uand during Warden Foxs absence soon afterward tne
witness said he saw Cowcnhoven strike Connolly four or
Ave times on the shoulders and hand then Cowenhoven
kicked Connolly five times more; Connolly kept AT
work in that gang until o'clock that afternoon when
the men were called in; Cowenhoven habitualy USED
proane language; the witness declared that he mad
heard him swear prisoners at least twenty dlereD
fines the witness added that from the time that Con-
molly was sent TO his gang Thursday morning unti
the dinner hour he permitted to sit down because
he was not deemed to be fit for duty still the witness
acknowledged that he did not report him sick when he
returned 10 the prison. although toe Ah ueu 'ne ueA'
day. ~ w.. ,,-.,.,o, .. .bo Charity
Hospital testified that he first saw Connolly on Monday
or Tuesday last at that time ne did not form decided
P,oish; one OF the keepers told keep Connolly
In the cell watch him; the witness never sad tha ne
was shamIning The doctor did not see Connolly again
until the morning of his death ON the morning in ques
o'clock but nothing said about COnnoys sickness
About while at breakfast at the Cha,y IosIlta
ance The witness went over to the prison soon arer
ward hut found Connolly comatose. He ded in lew
minutes after the physician's arrival. ,,..
Commissioner brennan said that 1t was ey accidehs s
That this brutality discovered on saturday !he
commissioner visited the island and discovered the
truth IN the following manner: prisoner named sloan
had condemned to carry ba ana cram Ior aItepe
Ing TO escape with Dutch Isrmon sener - uaS , hn aHo
Commissioner Brennan hearing g0od acc0nht Oh nun,
sought him ont and told him that he would nterceue
with Warden Fox when he returned TO have t1e pi ana
chain taken OFF The man seemed very grateful ana on
Saturday made bold to approach the Coininissoner anu
te him the story Of the brutality that nad Seen Pac apd
those under him. Commissioner Brennan linneaateH
teiegraphcd for the other Commissioners ana they % ac
such inquiries satisfied them OF the truth oil Sloan
story. -, ., Nd .o. =.
The Office of the department OF Charities ana ooIroc
At Eicyenthst and Thirdaye. II was resolved unan-
rousy That Deputy Warden Cowenhoven should be dls-
missed from tile Department that the minutes OF the
Testimony should be forwarded TO the DISTRICT Attorney
,Or nSn 6s patrick Gsary keeper and James Boyle
Euard should be removed for having violated the rules
M of or swearing at prisoners; that Edward
Reese be suspended from duty ana summoned 10 appear
before Board 10 charge or cruelty; that
Gakeepers Haywood and Corcoran be transierea 70
cnside duty Or neglect OF humane attention 10 cases OF
iouse Physicitn of Charity Hospital visit Connolly
foni Aug "a when the physician was unable 10 ueclue
smnoned ~ the prisoners deathbed is reprehensibe
and referred to the Medical Board OF Charity HOspIaI
for prompt inquiry and action. ,
sperntendent Wallng placed warrants for the arrest
Of Cowenhoven and Geary issued by Coroner croker IN
teenth Precinct Police yesterday. They arrested Geary
al the Penentary and took him TO the Police Central
Office. Cowenh0yen went away from Baekwells Island
yesterday morning could not be found The inquest
u TO begin on Friday at p IN