The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-15
TRENTON PRISON HORRORS.
syOOK. THE PRISONER WHO DIED AZ.
TER HIS PUNISHMENT.
Test. Made with the stretcher aud the Gne-
Prisoners Confined In the Dark Dungeon
Gen, Motifs Prison Rules and Mr.. Deacon.

TRENTON. Feb H-The investigation into
the charges Of cruelty practised upon convicts
confined in the New Jersey State prison was re-
sumed this evening before the legislative COM
n,ttce. The Senate chamber was crowded.
Gershom Howell who had formerly been
deputy keeper in the prison. testified that slnco
he gave evidence on Tuesday night nc had tried
the boot-hee gag upon himself. and found tna'
when II was strapped tight into his mouth IL
was very severe punishment. hurt his Jaws.
and he had II taken out for fear that his jaws
would set. He had also submitted himself to
the strctcher. when only pulled up on the balls
Of his feet it WIS not very severe; but when no
was pulled up an inch SO more he eX-
perienced great pain. particularly In the wrists.
He was Ave minutes on the stretcher altogether.
and he called out TO be let down. II he was
punished for twenty minutes his hands would
shake as il was they We're blue; ,.,
stratcher NJ his iron works. and 10 expert
menting on Mr.. Howell. and to Mr.. Howclrs eN
perimentng on him. He submitted 10 tho
stretrher for minute and half. and that was
enough for him. The pain WIS Intense; -
Gan' Mon Condemned the eng used bv othet
keepers-a piece Of iron pipe like bit iostrnri
into the mouth with piece OF w.re-as cruel
DR.. Jno. L. Taylor testified that when he wos
| prison physician. before Gen. Motifs time. ;ha
| punishment was usually combining prisoner
| In n dark dungeon, or forcing a bread and
water diet for sometimes two or three weeks ~
time. the prisoner being chained down to the
| floor so he could not get up. They also
| stretched men up with their arms above theiv
| hend fastened to q staple In the wall
Tho Rev. Jno. VI. Rogers moral instructor.
test fled that he did not heur tho prisoners COM
| plain OF cruel punishment, and that he had free
| access to talk TO the prisoners.
Charles Riley, the hospital stewart, contra
| dictcd the testimony oi the County Phvsicipn
that he was not informed that any punishment
| had been inflicted on Shook. the prisoner
| who died In the stretcher on the 2Sth OF Drcpn-
| her. Mr.. Riley testified that rs the County Ply
stefan was going To- Wow the body. Dr. Phillips
snd TO him: Il want TO tell you something.
That man had been pun shpd." This witns a
was positive that DIR. Mgckinzie knew that
| Shook had been punished that morning.
The Hon. VIM. Budd Deacon. u member o;
Assembly. testified to being refus,d permission
TO speak to prisoner by Gen. Mott. and naic
an argument that the members of tho Legisln-
ture were official visitors. and had hat rigii
| Gen Mott began to cross-examin" this gentle,
man. who refused to reply. saying that he had
| been insult"d on the previous night, ana una
| the question was not pertinent To the 81, 4
under investigation. The aud" ch heered Mr.
Deacon loudly and tn" stamping and clnppul
OF hands continued So long that the commui',
deemed II imprudent to continu" the invrstigo
ton further Tonight The feeling against Gen
| Mott is very bitter