The New York herald., 1878-02-07
PRISON HORRORS.
New Jersey State Prison Investigating
Committee at Work.
SHOCKING INHUMANlTIEs EXPOSED
Convicts Tortured and Burned
Into Submission.
[Bx TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD

TRENTON, N. j., Feb 9, 1S7S
The State Prison Investigating Committee met in
the Senate Chamber at eight O'Clock tonight
Patrick H. Laverty, Sheriff OF Hudson county, was
the first witness sworn. Ho testified tina. he knew
nothing oi any cruelty having been practised The
criminals He referred TO Freslander. a convict
from Hudson county. ~ didn't know OF any
cruelty practised him, except what l
practised on him myself; this man was arrested In
Hoboken and sentenced to State Prison. whom he was
first arrested he weighed 200 pounds; whio In jail he
would not do any work ho became conveniently
afflicted with paralysis; two three mon carried
HIM into court Tor sentence, when found no
fraud; visited him IN the jail two or three
days before he was taken to tho State
Prison; found HIM lying on mattress In
corridor of the jai; told him to
got up, but he would mott stuck pin into the calf
Of his log, when he arose; he pretended to have n
proposed TO give him cold bath, when some OF my
men intertcred; but for that would have drowned
him or made him walk; took him to Trenton, when
two three proposed to pull him out on
the sidewalk, when he crawed out mis-
knees; he was taken to the prison and
put TO work; he Is the man upon whom the news
papers stated alcohol had been poured; that mild
treatment, and l would not have been mild with
him, although am u humane man thero are but few
saints IN the State Prison. this man had reaiened
kill me- his age about or torty-sx no
he was sentenced to one year and hat"
CHAPLAIN THE STAND
Alexander II. Warner testified that ho was chaplain
of the prison nine years and Ave months left on the
3lst OF last August; was chaplain Tor seventeen
months whe General Mott was keeper; ~ know
very little" he said, "abou: tho punishmonts, because
l was afraid to speak; saw a man suspended by his
hands IRON the ceiling OF coll one time could not
tell whether his feet touched tho floor or not;
merely cast my eye In; have seen convicts
In the cells at other times by the walls but not
pended; had to keep my eyes straight before me or
l would get IN trouble; that IS tue reason did not
stop and look; there WAS no sucn punishment prac-
tised in Mr.. Hennion's time; the dungeon punish
ment has always been IN use; it DID not do to
interfere; have heard squeaing; used TO sleep IN
inc prison Mt night heard the CO use
proane nguags; prisoner behaving himself al ms
work and IN his cell is allowed iour days of every
month, while Tor sell-controi, no., he is allowed
another day which 10 allowed by the moral instructor
that sa powerful lever-a strong law the gag IN the
mouth is commvn and severe punshment saw
nalf dozen men In the centre hall at one time with
gays their mouths that punishment was never used
before General Motifs time General Mott interiered
witn my duties a. chaplain and prevontcd me from
talking with the prisoncrs; In the prison thorc
law defining my duties until General Mott made a
law for me: lie had no right to make u
law for me; some .oi tho prisoners whose consti-
tutions were broken down could not keep up with
their work aud they were then punished; l
saw a scar on "a mans thigh which said TO DO tho
effect OF alcohol; he was lying naked IN hts cell; he
said TO be dcrangcd; | saw only one man pulled
up by pulley in his cell | found there was great
little intercourse between us eit there out OF soIf
respect; Mott treated me with indgnlty"
DR.. John W. Ward, Superinte don't and Physician
OF the State unatic Asylum ut Trenton testified that
man came direct from the prison TO the asyI Ium who
afflicted with epilepic INSANITY he had no sore
his leg only red mark that would not cause in
sanity; cannot give any information 0t my own
knowledge about the alleged crueties.
John Bates testified that he had been employed by
a shoe company Keeping machinery ia repair IN the
prison; he SAID The uoot heel gag used and
were often standing in the centre with bags their
eyes; saw mems wrists much cut: few weeks be-
fore Lett the prison saw Two or three men with gags
in their mouths AZ work. sometimes they would work
and come near choking; one man with the gag in his
mouth in the shop Tor about threequarters OF
hour.
George W. Brook, a shoemaker, testified that ne
had worked In the prison ior week instructor
first punishment saw Inflicted was two tor
not finishing shoes well; Cooper and Thomson were
their names; they were taken out, and when they
turned had gags IN their mouths from winch they
suffered from hall to three Quarters of an hour;
Cooper said he would rather be strung up
than have the gag; man suffering great
agony from the effects OF having been strung up no
Crying bitterly; another man showed me his
wrists, which were cut TO the bone and deep rdgo
around them he saId he had been strung up, he mad
been reported Tor not having properly put heels on
shoes; refused TO report convict second limo
and was then discharged; had TO report little or
would not have been there as long as was; was rep
rimanded time for calling convict ''mster ~ tie
foreman sai1 10 me, lt never does to let prisoner
know or think that h~