The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-03-07
GEN. MOTT ON TIE STAND.
DENrING THE CHdRGEs or CRUEITy
IN TRENTON PRISON.
What he Has 20 say About Stretching Up.
G"auing, md BurninG with Aicohsi-
snook's Desth-Mox oxa and Cautery Tosss.

Whnt he Has TO Say About Stretching Uo.
Gagnins. md Burning with Aicoh.I-
snock's Denth-M oxa and Cautery Tosss.
TRENTON, March 6.-The Senate Chamber
wns crowded tonight at the investigation. be-
fore the legislative joint committee. OF the
charges OF alleged cruelties to convlcts in tho
New Jersey State prison. Con. Gershom Mott.
Keeper Of the New Jersey State prison. testified
that the charges contained In tlso preamble Ia
the resolution under which the committee was
acting were untrue So far as he knew. no such
crueltes or inhuman punshments had been In
nicted since he had charge OF the prison. Had
read Dr. Corson's charges and heard his evi-
dence and did not think he had substantiated
them. There is no such instrument in the prison
as the paddle. The boot-heel gag Is used but
not In such manner as to be severely painful.
IL may be slightly painful Another kind Of
gag had been used before his time. 1t is use-
iul punishment. and since the investigation has
oeRun ne has not changed his mind In regard
The instrument called the stretcher bv DR..
Corson is not used in the prison. The one used
does not fasten the feet TO the floor. The feet
Ts are ps sS that nat f ss S "a, %
twenty minutes. but they were not put up
hghGr t,l,, than on the balls OF their feet. That
did so he would be discharged. Discipline is
necessary TO the government Of the prison. It
time than TO keep him thained TO tho floor for
six days without being able to get up. mem-
Der OF the Legislature had been hung up to -day
Tor twcnty-one minutes.
A. The ke.ping Of a convict in dungeon for six
punished twenty-one times in two months
Corporal punishment is forbidden. That means
npgglng. witness gave permission to DR.. Phil
ips to experiment on Friedlandcr. Snook
looked strong and healthy on tho morning he
was strung up. The friends Of Shook removed
his death. When he visited the cell In which
Snook died which was within two minutes of
the time OF his being informed Of his death
Shook lay upon the floor The body was re-
moved TO the dspcnsnry. where II was
viewed by the County Physician Mackenzie
VINO said an inquest was unnecessary. DIR,
Mackenzie was not kent In the dark in relation
Snooks death. Does not think Shook died
from punishment, as hc WAS up only fourteen
minutes. Others have been up for two hours.
Complaints can be madet 10 the acting inspectors.
who are M liberty 10 visit all parts of the prison.
Tho acting inspectors visit the prison about
once month. He adopted the boot-heel
gag. II WAS gotten mp by one OF thu
gag. He did not think ofirial visitors were
entitled by the statute to visit conyicts IN their
cells. When the Hon. W. Budd Deacon won't
there he wanted to see Sooy the convicted state
Treasurer. who did not want To- see Deacon. and
SoDys inmil did not want 10 40 So
Ribble testified that burning by alcohol. the
cautery, and moXa wore not recogniz a by the
authorities. and produced letters from cx-
Surgeon General Hammond. U. s. A.. Pro's
Morton and Hunt Of Philadelphia. and Prof
J., \. Snycr Of New York denounrins those
kinds Of tests.
The committee adjourned until Monday after
noon.