New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-02-22
NEw-JERSEY PRISON ABUSES.

INSPECTION or THE STATE FEiso"-HNPERlMfNTs
WITH THE INsr9CMENTs OF ToETUHE-THE
DECEASED sXoOKs ONCE or TIE sIRETCuKR
ron FoRTY-THEEE MINUTES.
IFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.
TRE,yroN, Feb. 2l.-The Committee on the
State Prison. with several reporters visited That nstu-
ton to-day and the committee made tour OF the
building looked over the books, examined the gags, the
binders the cells the Dungeons the strccers, and the
general condition OF The prison. The books of
the Institution showed that the number o.
times each prisoner was Fagsed" the times
each prisoner was stretched" aud all the other pun
istnent duly recorded The record III The the case
of snsolts showed that be was punished four times on
the fourth dying in the siretcher Al one time
he WAS IN the strcch,I for forytngce miEucs shown
by the record.
Tie only important feature OF the examination was the
VISIT of the committee to the dungeons. where the pGu
jshuout Is Inflicted. The dungeons similar az
peara3cc and the streteher IN each is The same When
the alr-hoe is closed 1t dark but objects may be
After the vent is closed the air soon becomes foul
and breathing is difficult. Across the centre Of
the cell is a beam, feet from the floor. From
the beam is suspended pully through which runs a
CHAIN end hanging down the centre OF the cell and
the other fastened to the wall On The floor Is Chain,
boed down. on one end OF which is anklct intended
for fastening to the leg thereby preventing TIE prisoner
from hauling himself up getting asiridc OF the cross
beam
The committee gathered in OF the cells and sum
mOned 10 test the strctcher" Two Keeper s
responded One was bandcufed, the end OF the chain
was fastened the cuff, and he was haucd up so that
his toes aid the bl or hs foot touched the floor he
Immediately attempted 60 get asride the crOsbar and
failing ~ this, released, having been IN the
stretcher Just four minutes lie appeared much eN-
hausteG. and his wrists were bruised. Another keeper
was hauled up in a similar He CRASHED the chain
with hls hands, thereby relieving MS Wrists OF lie
strain, and remained in that position Tor Two
minutes. At the end OF abOut forty seconds The
he expressed his willingness to remain longer at The
suggestion OF some tcnder-heared person he was re-
leased. The committee then examined tue other cells
During their absence, reporter. with PaDcDdht,
keeper and a physician VIII" present made more
thorough examination of the stretCher" Al his sug
gesiiOu the reporter was handcuifed and underwent
and lie was raised that bis weight fen upon the
forward portion Of his feet and upon his Wrlsts,
When let down his limbs were tame and his shoulders
very tired. The hands numb and without senra-
cuff. Tie committee retired from the prison about
O'clock and aftorward resumed the examination OF
witnesses IN the Senate Chamber. when testimony IN
behalf of General Mott was gwen. II was cbIcly OF
negative character
Robert H. Howell. farmer. keeper Of the prison, es
.fcd that lie used the srecheT but was alway5 pIesen
sqnarely on their feet when they were put up We al
WAYS punished until be submitted; IL might DC
made very severe; have known men 10 stay III haf
hour; have visited prisons in other States The san
Pilshury nj Albany Prison visited the Congress on
Prison Discipline in London; my experience leads me
10 the opinion that this mode IL infinitely more humane
than that the dungeon and the treatment there TINS
also was the opinion Of Mr. Plsbury and many eminent
men assembled topet her ~ Camden; always regarded
Or Phillips and A. X. Perry kindheared and truth
FIJI men Witness bere described tie nishment once
inflicted by hin on n man Who had not worked for nVe
months and remarked, " This brought him to IT,"