The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-09-01
PENIrENTIARY BRUrALTrr.
New Testimony against Keeper Geary- Cow
enhoven's Disappearance.


Patrick Geary, the penitentiary keeper
charged with brutality toward Michael Connolly,
was committed to the Tombs yesterday, In de-
fault Of 5000 bail. by Coroner Croker. Deputy
Warden Cowenhoven could not be found. lie
left the penitentiary on Monday morning, say
ing that he was going to New York TO consult
counsel lie has not been seen SINCE. The
warrants against him and Keeper Geary were
drawn up by Coroner Croker on Saturday night,
and sent to the Police Central Onice on Sunday
morning. but the officers were not sent to Black
wclrs Island until Monday.
Yesterday morning Jeremiah Calvin OF 20l
Monroe street went TO the CorOncrs office. and
testified that he was prisoner In the peniten-
tiary from oct. g. ls74. until Monday last. lie
knew Michael Connolly, ADD saw Keeper Geary
strike him on the back with heavy stick about
two months ago, when Connolly was employed
on the ash barges.
In response t. summons from Coroner
Croker, nine Of the twelve Jurors met yes
I, rday In the Morgue, and with the Cor
nner, Deputy Coroner Cushmnn, and John
oven. the discharged prisoner, VINO first
drew CommHsioncr Drennan's attention to the
inhumaI treatment Connolly had received,
went to Backwell's Island. They were con-
Quoted past hundreds OF wondering prisoners
win but halff-ormed ideas OF the revolution
taking place in the management OF the institu-
ton In which they were confined, between rows
Of tables spread for supper, and cells with open
doors and monotunousiv white walls, until they
reached one ceii. No 600. where the door was
closed ana the bed gone. the keeper unlocked
the grating. and the jurors were invited to IN
spect the apartment where "a diving prisoner
passed NIGHT after night that should have been
speuG Ia tue hospital, and IN which death relc s.
cd him from his suHeginCs on Friday morning.
The cell Is similar To those on each side of IL
ana above Il. 1t Is la one OF the lower tiers. and
ls siH feet nine inches long and four feet wide.
The cot on which the prisoner lay was two feet
wide, and the same length a. tue cell.
The Jurors were then conducted TO a place
where a gang OF prisoners was at work ttum-
ming stone. lhey were All ANXIOUS to be Wit
nesses and further tue ends Of Justice by brief
visit 10 toe city. Drpuy Coroner Cushmru
took the names OF niucteen OF them. who with
Keepers Osborn. Kennedy, and Skelly, will DO
examined a. the inquest
owen produced the handle n. a shovel about
two ana half feet long, al, s'ly thick, with
which, he said. he had seen Grdry strike Con.
molly several lines. Thero still a heavy
uiece of iron attached to IL, and owen said whe q
he saw IL IN Geary's hand there was much more.
One OF tho reasons why the keeper struck him
was because he could not carry u heavy beam Of
wood, one end Of wnich rested upon his Shout
der while two stswart prisoners bore up the
other. some Of the jurors desired to question
owen with regard To this seemingly freshly dis
covered piece Of brutality, tut the Coroner told
him to ray nothing more about II. rs IL Was not
proposed TO hold the inquest there.
owen, VINO seems TO nave been more familiar
with Cuunolly's clrcums tances tn any of the
other prisoners says he was sent to the pcniten-
tiary for alleged petty larceny. CHARGED against
MIN by woman with whom he lived, sue say
iBg that he rObOed DER of go lie was not sick
~ or feeble when he reacr Ell the island, but, ON
the contrary, was "A large, powerful man, about
twe.ty- eight years OF A long course Of
brutal treatment reduced him ...uyst 10 tue
weakness a '.ssssi