The New York herald., 1878-02-20
STATE PRISON TORTUREs.
FURTHER DETAILS OF KEEPER MorT's IRON
DISCIPLINE DEVELOPED BEFORE THE LEeIs-
LATIvE COMMITTEE.

FURTHER DETAILS OF KEEPER MorT's IRON
DISCIPLINE DEVELOPED BEFORE THE LEeIs-
LATivE COMMITTEE.
by TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
TRENTON N j., Feb. 10, 1873
The Joint Committee on state Prison resumed the
investigation tonight III the Senate Chamber. None
but privileged persons were allowed on tho
floor. The galleries were crowded to excess
aud police officers present to suppress
applause and preserve order. Theodore Hail. an acting
Prison Inspector testified that he visits the prison
two or three times month; does not know vi any
punishment inflicted except what marked a
book kept for that purpose; the last com.
paint made 10 me by prisoner about
SIX months ago; prisoner never sont
to me TO complain that he had boon cruelty punished
no complaints about food or bedding had ever been
made; the law provided tho mode OF punishment to
be six days In a dark cell, on broad ana water; any
other punishment woulr DO against tho law; never
heard Of any other punishment inflicted; saw the
rope IN the dungeon two years ago and did not know
what IL was for; never knew anything about the
stretcher until to-day. although have been inspector
Two years
This witness seemed to know bu, little about tho
management oil tue prison, aud whom he lott the stand
the chairman remarked that 1t was about time that
inspector should be discharged.
Samuel NJ Lippncon, another prison inspector, tes-
titled ho never received any complaints from prison.
eTss anu uOeS not KNOW why inc keeper never MADE
any application tor powerto inhict more punishment
titan what the law allows; never saw q gag; never
made IN Investigation about tho mode OF punisnm
never tried II never intcriered with the keepers
orders; no punshments by the stretcher or gag
Kept on record knew nothing about the discipline OF
the PRISON.
THE BURNING ALCOHOL TEST
Dr. James ]. B. Rbble tesiined that burning With
alcohol to test diseases was rude one by unsven tlc
men; II was not scientific, but 10 marsh test.
DIR. Mackenzies description oi Snooks' condition
read, when witness stated that IL would
not have been sufficient 10 dcaIh In III
teen minutes without some other cause; consider
the stretcher would hasten death In such have
been stretched up Tor one minute aud half myself,
with my toes on the floor, when 1t produced most
tremc suffering; would be dead In forty minutes by
that punisnment he tested tho stretcher nj
to DAY in order to DO able TO answer INTEL lgcntiy
THE srRETcHER TRIED.
Dr. Jacob Warman testified that from tho descrip.
ton OF Snooks' death by DR.. Mackenzie he did die
from natural Causes; the stretcncr would
redly have FASTENED his death, tried tho strctchsr
to-day, and found 1t very painful; 1t was absolute
torture; could stand II ouly TWO minutes; would not
difficulty could breathe. (Hc described numerous
painful effects from It's trial.
DEATH or THE PRISONER syooKs
DR.. Mackenzie recalled, when hc testified that
he did not recolect that Dr. Philips or Riley told him
that Snooks had been punished; am almost positive
that Riley told that Snooks found dead IN his
CELL
Thomas Link, q former instructor in the prison,
testified that he had scon good deal OF gagging the
prison saw ono man with gag In his mouth SO large
that II made him vomt; SmaIIs tho keeper, punched
him In the RIBS to make him keep II In his mouth
work; mans wrists bleeding l was dis
charged for not reporting enough.
Richard Howell. deputy Keeper, testified that tho
gag and stretchcr had been used; hoped to carry
Sn0oks out.
At this stage tho committee adjourned to Thursday
afternoon, when they will visit The PRISON, and then
rcassembo 10 tho Senate Chamber IN the evening Mt
hall-pAst seven O'Clock, when the defence will CON-
mencod