The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-28
MOST INIIU MAN TREATMENT.
sEvERE ACCUSATIONS MfDE AGAINST
STATE PRISON KEEPERS.
Trenton Convicts Punished with the poot-
Heel Gag and the stretchc-, burned with
Alcohol, and Tortured with Cold Water.

TRENTON Jan. 27-The following letter.
written by one of Trcntons most influential
physicians. has been sent TO tho Grand Jury:
To THE GnAND jury OF MERCER COUNTY
Gentlemen: For " considerable time ruinors
have been rife in this community that the con-
victs in the New Jersey State Prison were sub
icctcd TO cruel and unnecessarily severe pun
ishments. but on account OF the reticence Of the
officers OF the prison II was impossible TO ascer-
tain the true state Of affairs.
On the 9th or 9th Of the present month the
physician Of the prison. DR. W. W. l.. Phillips.
said TO me thnt the following modes OF punish
mcnt were prattiscd in administration:
First. the hoot.hecl gag have never seen
this instrument. but It is said to be very painful
in ts application
Second the paddle. This instrument IL used
to beat prisoners on the bare buttocks. and it
innicts intense suffering.
Third. the strntcher. The mans feet arc Sc
curcly fastened to the ioor he is handcullcd.
and thon. by means ol rope attached to ring
In the collins his arms arc drawn up as tightly
~ possible. Tho Do tor said that fiom Ave
~ twenty minutes ~ this will make any ono
sgueal' This is u most terrible mode OF pun
The doctor also informed mo thn, in the case OF
2 man who WIS supposed tO br shamming, he tthe
dodor) after getting tn promise of the keeper
TO sustain him. poured alcohol upon the mans
bnck and then set fire To IL. \ second .applica-
tion of alcohol was made and fired. Such an
act OF hnrbarous inhumnnity must excite thrill
OF horror in every breast which contains hui
mnn heart. Directly after undergoing this
baptism hy fire the same man was put into
the strctchrr twice.
On the 10th If this month DR.. John w. Ward,
chief physician at tho asylum for lunatics. told
me that during last summer an insane man was
sent from the prison TO the asylum. Upon ex-
nmining him severe burn was found upon one
of his huttocks.
Another mode Of punishment alleged TO be
prartised at the prison Is the throwing Of cold
water from hose upon the naked body OF
prisoner. This causes the most agonizng puin.
and s very liable to produce insanity.
As cltlzen OF the state OF New Jersey md tho
county OF Mercer. and in behalf of the cluse Il
lustrc and humanity. ~ well us for the snkH IT
me irieudlr.1 AMI ioW'rlcss ronNicts now IN
the state prison. | r-p"etiullv hut most urgent
" request thr Grand Jury 90 take such qction
as shall riegtuNllv put p -trp to thes" abuses
now praotcci IA that Institution.
charge Ger~hom N.it. krNI yer. nr. ". w l..
Phillips. physician. and their Ue41ein" officers.
with being guilty OF having inn nrted and iuflirt
ing cru"l and inhuman punishment upon tho
bodies ~ prisoners confined in that inst tuition,
and. to sui ~tauii1tc the truth of this rhurge |
would s-prctfuuy request tnat youwould sum.
mon before the Grand Jury heiollowing named
Felix AleGuire. ~ Trenton: Anthony Perry
I und - Murphy, now deputy Keepers Oi tho
prison; Henry Nc.,i" formerly deputy keeper:
and br~ john W. Ward ami thurl s j. Brittun.
physcians of the lunhll asylum near Trenton.
hold myself In readiness To- appear in per-
son before the Grand Jury whenever summon
ed TO do So
am. gentlemen. your ohcdient servant
THOMAS J. ConsoS.
Three conviots who wered lscharged from the
prison gave Dr. Corson and hs assOciatc-
facts which were corroboratcdh by Mr.. Nccte. that
confirmed the assertions made by Dr. Phillips
to Dr. Corson, 1t is probable that the charges
will be taken before the Legislature.