The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-03-05
DEATH IN THE DUNGEON
Moro Testimony about snook, the Convict
who Died while being Punished.

TRENTON, March 4.-The Legislative Joint
Committee on the State Prison held an extended
session in tho Senate Chamber at the State
House this afternoon. and continued the nves-
tigation into the charges of cruel punishment
alleged to be inflicted on convcts ia the New
Jersey State Prison
Col. william X. Murphy was recalled. He
testlneu that the effect OF the excitement caused
by the investigation had been such rs to lead all
the contractors for convict labor TO give notice
that they will not continue their contracts and
consequently he is now looking out for others.
The effect on the convicts had also been bad
He did not consider that Gen. Mott had ex-
ceeded his authority in nhicting punishments
although there may be n question Of law in
volved in the method of punishment used.
,olD,iaaM' "a w W, l." thilllps the prison physician
showed TINT Shook tho convict. who died while
undergoing punishmant in the .stretch"r had
cnronic meningitis. There had been consider
nbl" eiiusion, and for from twelve to eighteen
hours previous To his death congestion of tho
brain which led to acute inflammation. Shook s
ucill, ~ ills opln,on. was from an alta Of nute
meningitis added to chronic meningitis. In a. =
condition Snook WIS liable Ia die suddenly. No
vital organ WAS an ctcd by the punish M mt. en-
ccp the hurrying Of the crcuhtiOn-in rrpased
action OF the heart. Does not think that there
was necessarily nervous shock caused hy the
punishment to such man as Snook but there
would have been to- u person of fine nervous or
ganiN,lon. Snook was Of negro descent. Did
not see any evidence of violence on his body mt
the post morton examination. ON tho visit II
pr, Mackenzie. the County Physician. witness
told MIN that Snook had boon punished mmc-
diHtrly before his death. Did not tell Mnrkrn-
zirthat Shook died III In" strctrhcr. because he
~ not know Of i until Perry. the Marshal. tcs-
titled To- that lar, y fore the committee.
Or. Cornelius shepherd testified that Perry
and keeper named Rose had tried the stretrhcr
punishment at the prison in his prescnc. and
t.iat II caused their pulses to ncrrnse twrntv-
i've beats in the iiitenn minutes that they ,vera
IN the Instrument Ia his opinion. II Shook had
been nnripUtly sound. tho Str.fsl.pr would not
have injured him. II person was stretched up
very hlgh, the punishment would he very sever.
Or. W. Elmer sincd that the strctcher was
dangerous punishment for delicate or un-
sound man. as IT caused vital dcpress sion. Ii
would ruuSe, medically speaking. nervous
shock. He had tried the -trct,.her in tho prison
suspended from his wrists. and il was so severe
that he could only endure II for halt a m nut.
In cases Of lsigned discasc; such as Friedland-
heNed that tho physician should us. his own
judgment as to tho test 10 be applied. Tho
noAa. actual cqutsry. boiling water. steam.
burning with alcohol. are recommended by
modern rs we'll ns ancient authorities
James II MrGuin test fed that he had been II
ko"pcr in the prison. and hat the siret 'hor was
introduced into that institution in 1894 and
had been there ever Snfs'. Gen Mott was not
in enemy OF his VI 'tfuin'-l but he had accused
lipS.
=, Anthony X, Perry. the prison marshal, tcst.
ii"i 10 having informed Gen. Mott and Van
honten. the centre keeper. tnat Shook had died
IN the dungeon. His object IN calin. Robin.
son lone 81 the deputies 10 the dungeon was 10
assist IN putting knook M because he resisted.
When he called him the second time To take him
down. he said, " did So BECAUSE ] felt there
was something wrong with the fellow" Alter
Robinson had examined Snook as ha was
stretched up. Perry sad. Let MIN down. II
h. i not deai, don't want the fellow to die IN
that position. Witness said that he was posi-
tive that Snook's feet were fiat on the floor 81
the dungeon when he first pul him up. and that
when he found him dead his heels wer3 about a
clined forward.