The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-25
THE TORTURED coNvIoTs.

WHY THE PRISONERS REvoLTED AT THE HUD-
SON COUNTY PENIrESTIARr-'aIvE Us OUR
THREE MEALS AGAIN"
The investigation into tine management OF the
Hudson County Penltentiary at Snake Hin, which
IL being held by a special committee consisting or
hessrs. Wickham, Dwyer, McPhillips, O'Rely and
Meinken, has developed SO many irregularities
that the cause OF the late revolt and the almost
total absence or discipline IS no longer secret.
Six witnesses have been examined and twenty
three have yet TO be heard. The testimony Ia
voumlnous, but the points established by IL are
sufficient for the Information OF the tag
payers at whose expense this system
has been maintained. There are two
features in the investigation winch will Intensity
puDnc Indignation. The FIRST Is that the commit
zee nave decioed not 10 push their inquiry into
transactions previous TO tae LIST Of May, whereas
rue graVer charges OF cruelty toward prisoners
whicn the committee were instructed, by a reso-
iutlon OF the Board OF Freeholdcrs, to investigate
nave reference TO occurrences previous TO that
time ana the inquIrj Will be the merest farce II
those transactions are not Thoroughly slfted. The
second Is the persistent attempt made by Messrs.
D'Reiliy ana ieinke TO have Warden Post, VINO
ID the subject or the inquiry, admitted TO seat
with TIE commlttee. In this, however, they have
not yet succeeded.
1t has been proved over and over that two pris-
oners-LawIon anu Cassldy-were treated In 4
brutal manner by Post. His sons ana other men,
oers OF his family hold keys Tor the Institution.
and these keys carried at large are liable TO be
or more OF the convicts. IL would be then trlning
matter 10 restore prisoners TO liberty. Mrs. Solo
mon. daughter or Post. who mas never been ap-
pointed To any position b. the Board o! Chosen
freeholders, superintends the management OF the
prison at times and holds the keys one OF POSTS
sons, who ls brakeman on the Central Railroad.
not only enters the institution at any hour
Dt the night ne plesses. but the horse and
wagon belonging 10 the county Is placed
at mis- convenience. Another SON, who has
never received any appointment rs u county off,
Ger, drives the county horse and wagon 10 the
county JAN for prisoners. while three OF the
keepers remained unemployed. Inc deputy keep
ers complain they have not proper accouimoda-
room large enough toaccommO0ate six EeeperS.
One OF the female prisoners named Mug Johnson,
was taken one evening from her cell and CHARTERED
IN Inc private apartments OF the Penitentiary, ner
language III the hearing OF the keepers meanwhile
being TOO foul Tor publication. IRIS occurred on
the l7tn OF March last. On the 18Th OF July the
Warden and mis- entire retInue left the Peniten-
tiary and proceeded TO saloon on the Secaucus
road. leaving the AFORESAID Mag Johnson and
Ellen Burns, both prisoners, Ia charge OF MS
apartments I'LL he returned at late hour IN the
night.
Mr.. wickham, chairman OF the committee, made
. tour oil the Penitentiary alter the investigation,
and one OF the prisoners, VINO recognized MIN,
Baid, ''For Gods sake, Mr.. Wtckhanl, give us our
three meals again and Wen DO any,ning III our
power Tor you We can't stand IRIS"
Al the meeting next Wednesday two persons
VINO called at the HERALD ONCE yesterday stated
That they VIII testify 10 something more startling
regarding the management OF this institution
tnan anything that has yet transpred. Mr..
cumming, the prominent reformer Of the
Board OF Freehooefs. said to a HERALD repre- .
sentative This Penltsnuary scandal Ia not
only disgrace to the county, but TO
The State. AS far as am concerned, will insist
on thorough Investigations The disclosures
concerning the PROCLAMATION OF the nall for sacred
worship are not lit Ior publication; but II known
they would arouse the Indignation OF every honest
man IN hudson county.
Tue foIloWiDg are The incipal prisoners who
made their escape james Powers, June Y; John
Lahey, June 2S; James COOLEY and Rudolph Pahud
uhe latter sentenced to hye years., June 30; John
Barrett, July j. william Harvey. VINO escaped on
the 2Sth OF June, was recap ;ured. The total num-
Der oil escapes within three years was three times
"a large as the number previously from tho
foundation OF the institution.