New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-03-07
yEwJhRSEY PRISON INTESTIG ATION.

THE TESTIMONY CLosED-GERsHoN MOTT II HIS
owN BFnALF-BuENING ALCOHOL AS A TEsT Oh
FFIGNRp SICKNESS.
TIENToN, March 6.-Thc investigation OF
the state Prison crucltes resumed this evening.
Gershon Mott who has been keeper Of the NewJersey
STATE Prison sine, April 10, 1876. the first witness
examined aud testified sfoows: "The charges made by
Dr. Corson ard Ia the newspapers Of cruel and nhuan
punishment In the prison. false. The paddle has
never used. The object Of the Il 10 punish
for loud talking. Formerly much more severe kind
OF gag was used have found the present gag useful
and No such siretchcr ~ Dr. Corson described
was ever used In, the prison the term strctchcr con-
ycys "a wrong impression ~ its character have been
In the habit OF seeing punishment applied have never
seen lficd Of the balls Of his feet 1t would have
been contrary my orders II cannot be called terri
HE, Nv experience has been that give all the
men all the punishment they entitled to ii leads 10
better discipline. I never permitted man To he
I'm the dur geon scvora days. consider such punish
mcn brutal AMI have never allowed IT. 1t Is much more
humane re man up; am satisfied of ms Tact since
this Investigation commenced; the tests that have been
made have not been fair because the men were drawn
off the balls Of the feet there has not been single
instance where person has been Injured he has always
been able 10 20 TO work dately afterwards keeping
a man in the dungeon long time breaks MS spirit
,inc. Ina one month He told me that had been told
nat II he could stand the punishment he need not work
rca' deal OF disorder. from the fact that prisoners be
oyel tine Legs had abplshc punishment Dam
mn,tratons had already been made In The prison
ON thr subject. There are now 81 con
ycts in the state Prison. No lawful authority
La. been exceeded administering punl.hncnt
Corporal punishment means foseug short ana sharp
p5ui-hmcnt f.. IN my opinion, much better than the
dungeon. All The appliances for punishment now used
were there before | In charge" Mr. Mott gave an
account OF the improved discipline and sanitary CON
diuon of the prison. He stated that he was
not aware OF anything beng the matter
with -nooks H. sent 10 be punished
Tor twenty minutes because he disOrdefy. As soon
s I was told that there something the matter with
Suook. went 10 the cell and sent for the physician
Everything done for the man that could he done
No lnaury into hi stiii'd. SnOOks had only
breu tp for fourteen minutes and have no Idea that
the NUM- shurnt produced death
DE- cursOn desired To III confederation OF MS pre-
vous statement that he had consulted DIS Morton, d.
HAYES Agnew, Hunt r. H. Hutchinson and Others In
rc,ard the alcohol hot water and clutcrl2ng tests Or
feigncd sickness aud that they agreed with his state
mrnt mat there medical authority for their use
and that such would he regarded IA inhnan 10y
an scientific Dr. COrsOn reiterated his former tes
tin.nY.
DR. Warman cited Professors Hammond and Sayrcs. or
New York authority against the OF the caucry or
burning cigncd disease, and for the statement
that ali such fortunes should not he resortcd to-
DR. Ribbe testified that all medical authorities con-
denim tho violent measures or tests III fclgncd
disease. -,
Tine testimony has been closed. The committee Will
meet uc Monday afternoon.