The New York herald., 1876-01-13
DROWNING A PRISONER.
How the WOrkhOuse Is
MiSmanaged.
AN OFFICER CHARGED WITH MURDER.
Singular Story by a Colored
Boatman.

ADA4S5 NAe~A OCOA OJ q OOAOA ONe
Boatman.
Another discredtable occurrence by which one nris
escaped and one his life transpred at Black
wells Island Sunday night The particulars OF this
affair TO light only yesterday, although the
knowledge OF the main facts connected Herewith has
been possession Of the Commissioners since Monday
afternoon II appears that fireman employed in the
Workhouse, needing assistance, obtained the SER
vices Of two inmates Of the institution,
named William H. Chatterton and Louis Gardner,
the latter having cork leg; and when the work was
finished instead OF returning them to their cells went
with them New York boat not belonging to the
Island, where all three got drunk While out Chatter
ton escaped and while returning the Island Gardner
was drowned. A negro who rowed them to New York
and back says that the fireman threw the prisoner
overheard. Both the fireman and negro custody;
the former held two charges one OF homicide,
the other Of aiding prisoners to escape The
body OF the drowned man has not been recovered.
now IT HAPPESED.
The Warden of the Workhouse, Joseph Keane, has
been III for some time and Deputy Warden p. Golden
is acting IN his stead. The fireman of the institution is
Jonn Kidd. On last Monday afternoon Kidd told Deputy
Warden Golden that two prisoners whom he had taken
off the Island the night previous miss
ing, one having escaped and the other been
drowned by falling overheard on their return trip
census of the Workhouse inmates, now numbering
about 200 was taken and it was found that the miss
ing William II. Chatterton, aged twenty
eight a machinist committed for six months on the
9th Of December on complaint Of a policeman, and
Louis Gardner, thirtysx years old self committed for
three months, beginning December p, and having
cork leg The former, Kidd said had escaped in New
YORK and the latter was drowned On asceriaining
these facts Acting Warden Golden made the following
report TO the Commissioners
NEW YORK WoRKnoUsE Jan. 10 1876,
Hon. Isaac II. BAILEY, President Board OF Com
SR-I have just by John Kidd the fireman
OF this institution OF the OF the death by
ing the early part Of the night OF sunday the
1t from the report OF the case by Kidd that having
two men William Chatterton and Lewis Gardner, to
proposed walk to the upper end Of the island, and,
e %c ws SaSn Sne by R so Boat o& S s
After reaching the city result they became in
Gardner and Kidd entered the boat The was Tcwed
BY e9ored man known , B91ny ~, and % was & owned VI BY
sixth street On the return trip Gardner drowned,
proper to of the cells hasten
port the occurrence TO your honorable Board Very re-
On receiving this report the Commissioners wrote
Acting Warden Golden as follows
DEPARTMENT OF CHARITIES AND coRREcroS,
Mr. p. GOLDEN workhouse
against Ohm Kidd brennan before police magistrate in
the Of William Chstterton and Lewis Gardner
Mr. BAKERS boats not allowed to Backwels Island
JOSHUA PHILLIPS, Secretary.
Meanwhile other events transpired in New York OF
which the Island officials were not cognzanL Mrs
Baxter, finding her boats prevented from landing at
he island and noticing something peculiar in the man
ner, of the colored man, Thomas Bounty though not
knowing anything whatever OF the drowning Of Gard
said TO him half jokngy, ~ think you must have
drowned Somebody The negro stammcrtd
frightened way that he had ot It was Kidd who had
dopa ThQnM Mr. ami hpr
quires obtained from him the following story which
was subsequently, reduced to writing by Captain Rob
bins, OF the Twenty third precinct-
BoUNTY's STATEMENT
On Sunday night was summoned by persons on
Backwells Island to come over With the boat rowed
and took in John Kidd and man with wooden
leg mo one else and brought them from the Island
over to the foot Of Eighy.sixth street They left me
then and that the last saw of them until ten ?.
NJ, when they awoke me by knocking on
the window. l out and We started
to 60 back to the Island. short dis
tance from the float KIDD and the wooden
legged man began 20 quarrel kiid said, You -
you have been quarrelling with me all the way over"
The man with !hs wooden leg asked KIDD TO let him
aiohe bat Kid Kept on pulling the wooden leg. The
man with the wooden leg was very mucR lpl3Xlcateqt
After got to the boat house KIDD took hold Of tho
man with the wooden iegb ana without saying
a word, upset him into the river and went
over with him Both went down and Kidd
up he caught hold of the boat and helped to pull
him in. Kidd then asked me to say nothing about what
took place. Then left for home and nothing OF
the occurrence until Tuesday when told Mrs. Baxter
| did not tell Mr. Baxter until Mrs Baxter accused
OF drowning a man. she knew something had hap
pened because the authorities the island mad stop
ped the ferry.
with this information in his possession Captain Rob-
BINS proceeded to the island yesterday where he ar
rived Just IN time to intercept Deputy Warden Golden
who was on his way the Fifty-seventh street Court
with Kidd against whom he intended prefer a charge
OF aiding prisoners escape knowing OF the other
charge The Captain told Golden he Intended arrest
KIDD for murder, and the prisoner was at trans
ierred to his charge
An crossed over together and Deputy Warden Golden
made has accus against Kidd before Justice Wan
dell on this action deferred, however, and the
prisoner was remanded until this afternoon Bounty
also court, ana he contradicted bis FIRST
to the extent of saying that three
and only two returned
in substance the same that made by him the Act
ing Warden He added. however, that on arriving at
the island boat house his return he immediately
ported the drowning OF Gardner TO the man charge.
This statement remains 10 be corroboratod yet At
present II is not considered true
PRISONERS STATEMENT.
The following is kdd's statement tho police On
Sunday, January g. about halt past O'Clock NJ,
left the Island in company with William H. Chatter
ton and Louis Gardner in boat brought there by
Bounty colored man. and after landing at the
foot OF Eighty street went up TO Third avenue
and had several drinks Then I down Third
avenue two three blocks Chaterton left
at Eighty sixth street and Second avenue,
saying he would not SO back TO the Island but would
60 home Myself and Gardner went IN the boat,
with Bounty m charge OF it. After reaching the boat
house on the Island ! saw Gardner hll backwards
and heard him say, For Gods sake, Jack. save me
or 'ca ch me" All could see was his feet | m-
medaNy jumped after him. but could
nothing of him Bounty then told me
to TO the stern Of the boat, and be helped
me In. | asked Bounty what should do about IL
and he said be did not know then went up stairs in
the boathouse and told George Thompson Who takes
charge OF the boats what had happened. then went