New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-03-20
NEW.JERSEY PRIsON METHODS.
REPORT OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE GENERAL MOT
VINDICiTED-UIs MANAGrMENT a CREDIT II
IIN-FtF aNp IIIF STATE

REPORT or THE JOINT COMMITTEE CENTRAL MOTT
vINpICirED-IIIs MANAGEMENT CREDIT TO
HIMSELF AND HE STATE.
TRENTON March 19.-'The Joint Committee
State Prison, who have FOR the past two months been
investigating the management OF that Institution and
tne charges OF cruelty against General Mott the keeper,
made "A report TO the Senate and General As
sembly th. afternoon, which was made the special
order for next Thursday morning IN the House.
The committee speak OF the thorough examination they
made Of the charges and arrive at the following
conciusions
l. That the boot-hec gag il device made Of leather.
somewhat N the shape OF boot heel. ana is used To
compel silence the part OF ptrsiscny noisy prison
ers II is 50 constructed a. to canse me least ncoi-
venicnce consistent with the end desired ana Is les
painful and cih%,e an upon ani , G
committee necessity for lis removal.
.. There is no testimony that such an instrument rs
II paddle ever used.
g. The charge that the prisoners have been punished
by having cold water thrown upon thcm while naked Ia
untrue There was one case In which hlihy prisoner
A. That there has been in nse for number Of years,
and under several Keepers an Instrument OF punishment
The committee describe the instrument md say that
the severity Of the punishment by tins method has been
shown by the testimony 10 be entirely dependent upon
whether the cupnt is allowed to remain wholly par
italy his feet or O be entirely withdrawn from
them and the weight bearing c0rre3pOndlnsy upon his
wrists Tho committee that General Mott the pres
cnt keeper found this system OF punishment IN vogue
when he took control He has continued is but has
made changes rs to allow more liberty OF move
meHt.
The certainty Of punishment has been found 10 have
good effect upon the discipline OF the prison Prisoners
punished FOR the first offence, and only for
repeated violation OF the rules Is the stretchcr
| or punishment rcsoried to. Punishment
on the stretcher has always been for n
| specified time, not exceeding forty minutes.
and often only fifteen twenty minutes during which
at periods OF about i've minutes each, the condition of
the convict under the supervision OF The person
conducting the punishment. AT no time has any
prisoner been drawn on his feet
The OF Jacob Shook who died IN The stretcher Is
referred and the details of his punishment given
The committee say that all the evidence shows that
Shook = man Of good physique, well developed,
and looked Ike In good health. There indi-
cations which could have caused any apprehension
that the result Of the punishment would he
different from that IN other caes, ana
diseased condition OF the brain. accelerated
by the punishment. IL would have been by ner-
vOus shock undue excitement, cxertiOn or emotion.
They think the strctchcr dangerous IN It's operations
when caclcssly managed and inasmuch iis applica
ton been under the control of the marshal the
mIltee think that II should either be abolished or used
under the constant supervision OF the keeper.
The general management of the prison IL highly com
mended, and the committee that the discipline,
alike upon the keeper and the state. The committee
speak Of the charge IN regard to the use Of alcohol
poured upon back and then fired, in order To test
eases OF iegned epilepsy. The test successful and
and was recognized by some medical author
tiles. The committee however are OF tho Opin-
ion that the method IL one that should not Dc
reSortcd To when mder remedies VIII suffice.
in calling the attention Of the County Physician 10
the circumstances attending the death OF SnOok They
also conclude that the inspectors have not fulfilled their
duty In regard 10 the examination OF the puBshmcEt5
inflicted and the general working of TIE Institution
TIE report is signed by all the members OF the COM
uiItec.