The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-13
STATE PRISON TORTURES.
Revolving Cruelty Practised
in New Jersey.
M . DE r N DISCIP LINE.
Prisoners Stretched. Gagged. Burned and
Chained in Dungeons.
TESTIMONY or DEPiiTv kEEPEPc
DE R N DISCIP LIN E
TESTIMONY OF DEPUTY KEEPERS.
[bY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.

BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
TRESroS, n. j., Fen II, 1878.
The JOINT Committee GU State Prison met at half
past seven O'Clock tonight In the Sonatc Chamber,
and resumed the investigation INTO the charges made
against General Mott anc other officials OF the State
Prison The floor and galleries denseiy crowded
| with eager looking spectators
| TnE TERRoRs OF THE PULLEY.
Henry 'eghie was tho FIRST witness sworn. He ties.
tined that he had held The position OF guard on tho
wall In the prison under General Mott tor about a
year; saw different modes OF punishment; saw tho
gag used IN the centre several times; with
gags IN their mouths quite often; many as six ut a
| time; they stood with their faces to the walls
| generally, saw one man lying TIC aoor with tho
gag In his mouth but before got IN IL was taken
out; It was tried in my mouth, not very long; never
buckled L very tight; saw men in tho dungeon
Jdepths Of the wills into something resembling =,
village in their own island, who had encouraged
heir husbands to continue their fidelity despite
II adversely, were also rewarded. The children
+ the chiefs who had accompanied from Zanz
mr. TO the Atlantic, and who. by their childish,
areess prattle had often soothed ME in mid
irica, and often had caused me to forget my
responsibilities for the time, were not to
,e forgotten. Neither the tiny infants,
ssued into the word amid the dismal and tragic
scenes IN the cataract lands. and who with their
Eyes now WIDE open with wonder at the gathering |
satisfied men and elated women about them, to
omitted in this final account and reckoning
THE DEATH ROLL
The second pay day was devoted to hearing the
;laims Tor wages due to the faithful and martyred
lead. Five were condemned to captivity for their
'rimes. Seven died, rather were murdered IN
he endeavor to appease the savages OF Bumbireh.
SIX were slain because | permitted the natives
.long the upper waters OF the Livingstone the
privilege OF first fire. Three were hacked to pieces
the ruthless Wanyaturu before were aware
at the negro might be tempted, out OF sheer fe.
nesswas occasioned by inc sife.cher and from pun
ishment inflicted aftorward; he SAID he had neen
thrown INTO cell ana neglected while IN "a helpless
condition another named Butler told that he
had wrencned his back from punishment The ,esti-
mony here objected ana tho witness after
answering u lew u,stions from Mr. Mott, retired.
AN INSPECTOR KNOWS NOTHING
An Inspector, Henry L. Butler. OF tho prison. testi.
God that he had been for five years thres Of
which were under the predecessor oil General Mott:
he Tho prison at the regular monthly
and occasionally o!tener; he had seen no punish.
mont, and could testify nothing Of his own personal
know,sdEe; the sanitary CONDITION improyed had
treatment; knew nothing OF the Snooks case
DEFINING ToRTUREs.
| J. q. Vanhouten, deputy Keeper, testified that be
has been employed as Keeper Oh Tor twenty
years; now acts the place OF keeper during atteris
up 10 tho wall, the ''stretcner" tie 'Sag" aud blind.
ioldng; the gag Is not u severe punishment; never
|
gag 1'Ss wa. no ps. %asS ~a S,s
alcohol saw the Aconol placed on Friediander, and
1t made hlm get up; It was put on HIM to make MIN
Murray both were sha%@nS, M xsn
tended 70 have NJ; Or. Philips applied tho alco-
hol; = was, was SET set, hro to, and made soro
tho right thigh; Murray had hts afterward, but
the remedy was not tried again. the at he got was
a genuine one; he once saw prisoner vomii from
use Of the gag.
now THE "srRErcnER" IS APPLIED
Tho strelcher Is used from fifteen 10 twenty min
utcs General Mott ordered for forty minutes
saw anooks hanging dead, though was not aware OF
such being they generally make noise alter
a lew minutes; sometimes a man viii club InaI
up on the crossbar, in which we
chain him to the door So as TO prevent his escaping
punshmcnt We let him stand the balls OF the Toe
General Motifs punishment IS shorter than his preds-
cessors "Fidder" Ncary, the pugilisi, chased
"stretchor;' Henniop, the former keeper used the
slretcher also. but not the gag or alcohol; snooks
he was punished twice by the stretchcr
General Mott ordered the punishment which
under punishment; frequently bud sudden leaihs
saw the nose used on prisoner who cried out;
Hennion where u convict ieigned death to escape
work tue hose wSs turned into The cell clean II
out AZ well US TO cOan The prisoner, who was nlthy
beyond description; men have been kept dungeons
TOUR or Ave days; In ono case The stretcLcr en-
poyed several lines whilo the prisoner was in tho
dungeon
HALF AN HOUR WITH TIE .'GAG.n
George ID. Murphy, former deputy keeper, testified
that ne had seen the pun ishnents spoken OF Inflicted
Helped W string up prisoner once the gag used
| In the shoe; saw man have 1t IN his mouth hall
:. led to be very wratnuI auCds' n..-.e
ubshed IN your journals, another body was said to
ave shaken mis- head ominously. Possibly there
hight be trouble. | was advised by friends not ,
90 on shore. | requested Captain lIatnorne, the
merican Consul, to apply for an interview with ,
eyyid Barghash. The Interview was granted. 1t ,
as the longest and most interesting one ever
)taned with His Ilighness. Never was he so
nable, so fair minded. He was soon informed OF
slave traders doings In Central Africa; nothing
coCLD HAvg srooD aitsLLY.
G,rsbom 81. Howell, former deputy keeper, testified
that he saw the gag strctcher hoe aud dungeon scd
as punishmcnts; the gay is "a com mon, out not "a
severe punishment; could stand tue gag yseli for
hall an hour, out never tried II the strctcber Il
severe punishment when used IoUg; a. man who
was punished thirty minutes by tue sirctcher some
times men arc chained ~ the noor OF a dungeon aud
LETT there all night; knew man TO DO strung up for
thirty ninutes until he vcile Tor mercy
THE sHooks
Anthony X. Perry and DR. Mckenzie were recalled.
Tho latter lurthor tnstcd that lac hal been Informed
by Riley the prison apothecary. that SDooRs had
IN his cell aud not n the dungeon; the man was
diseased and the punishment Aasteued his death
| published card III the newspapers 10 clear ysciI
FROM coDsure.
BELIEVE Ia iSQUEsrs.
Coroner Bodnc tcstinod mat Mott had told him that
II any ol ms men infOrmcd him OF death he (Mott)
would discharge bim; witness never held inquest
IN the prison; neara " snooks death, but tho body
wac out OF Mercer county whom got word.
After examining lew more witnesses the commit
L