The New York herald., 1878-02-07
PRISON HORRORS.
New Jersey State Prison Investigating
Committee at Work.
SHOCKING INHUMANlTIES EXPOSED.
Convicts Tortured and Burned
Into Submission.
Isx TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD

[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
TRENTON, N. j., Feb. 9, 1878.
The State Prison Investigating Committee met in
the Senate Chamber at eight O'Clock tonight.
Patrick II. Laverty, Sheriff OF Hudson county, was
the first witness sworn. 10 testified that he knew
nothing oil any cruelty having been practised on the
criminalG He referred 10 Freeander. a convict
from Hudson county. ~ didn't know Of any
cruelty practised him, except what !
practiscd him myself; this man was arrested In
Hoboken and sentenced TO State Prison; whom he was
first arrested ho weighed 200 pounds whils In jail he
would not do any work; ho became conveniently
afflicted with paralysis; two or three mon carried
him into court ior sentence when was found he was
fraud; l visited him tho jail two or three
days before he was taken to tho state
Prison; found him lying on mattress In
a corridor Of tho jail; told him to
got up, but he would not; stuck pin into the calf
Of his log, when hs arose. he pretended TO have fit;
! proposed to give him a cold BATH when some OF my
men interfcred; but for that would have drowned
him or made him walk; took him to Trcnlon, when
two or three men proposed to pull him out on
the sidewalk, when he crawled out his
knees; he was taken to the prison and
papers stated alcohol had been poured that was mild
treatment, and would not have been 80 mild With
saints the State Prison; this man had threatened
to kill me; HIS age about fortydve or forty-sx; no
In German Jcw and was convicted OF ialse pretcnces
he was sentenced to one year and half "
THE CHAPLAIN ON THE STAND
Alexander II. Warner testified that no was chaplain
OF the prison nine years and hye months eit on tho
3lst OF last August; was chaplain for seventeen
months while General Mott was Keeper; ~ know
very little" he said "abou: tho punshmonts because
was afraid to speak; saw man suspended by his
hands IRON the ceiling 0f coll one time; could not
tell whether his iest touched tho door or not;
M eye
In the cells at other times by the walls but not sus-
pended; had to keep my eyes straight before me or
l would get In trouble; that is the reason did not
stop and look there was no sucn punishment prac-
Used IN Mr. Hennion's time; the dungeon punish
ment has always been IN use It did not do Tor me to
interfere; have heard squeaing; used 10 sleep IN
inc prison at night; Frequently heard the convcts
proiane language; prisoner behaving himself a. ms
work and Ia his cell is allowed TOUR days OF every
month"; while Tor selt-control, Ac, he IL allowed
another day which allowed oy the moral instructor
that sa powerful levera strong law; the gag IN the
mouth Is commvn and severe punishment; saw
nall dozen men In the centre hall at one Time with
gags IN their mouths that punishment was never used
before General Motifs time; General Mott intcriered
with my dutos as chaplain and prevented me from
talking with the prisoners; In ths prison thore was
law defining my duties until General Mott made a
law for me: lie had no right to make q
law for mo- some .oi tho prisoners whose consti-
their work aud they were then punished; l
on u mans thigh which was SAID 10 be tho
effect OF alcoho he was lying naked IN his cell; he
was said to be deranged; l saw only one man pulled
up by pulley in his CELL found there was great
tle intercourse between us ielt there out OF self
respect; Mott treated me with indignlty"
PHYSICIANS TESTIMONY
DR.. John W. Ward, Superinten don't and Physician
OF the State Lunatic Asylum Ut Trenton, testified that
man came direct IRON the prison TO the asylum VINO
was afflicted with epileptic insanity he had no sore
his leg, only red mark that would not cause In
sanity; cannot give any Information OF my own
knowledge about the alleged crueities.
John Bates testified that he had been employed by
q shoe company keeping machinery ia repair IN the
prison he SAID The voot heel gag was used and men
~ u
eyes; saw mems wrists much cut; "a few weeks be-
fore Left the prison saw two or three men with gags
In their mouths at work; sometimes they would work
and come near choking; one man with the gag In his
mouth In the shop Tor about throe-quarters OF an
hour
George W. Brook, a shoemaker, testified that no
had worked In the prison ior week as instructor
first punishment saw Inflicted was on two men tor
not finishing shoes well; Cooper ana thomson were
their names; they were taken out, and when they re-
turned had gags IN their mouths from winch they
suffered IRON hall to three quarters OF an hour;
Cooper said he would rather be strung up
than have the gag; saw one man suffering great
agony from the effects OF having been strung up no
crying bitterly; another man showed me his
wrists, which were cut TO the bone and deep rdgc
around them; he sad he had been strung up, ho mad
been reported Tor not having properly put heels on
shoes; refused TO report convict n second time
and was then discharged had to report little or
would not have been there long as was; was rep
rImanded time for calling convict 'mIster;" the
foreman ssii 70 me- t never does 70 iss prisoner
me German Parliament was opened yesterday by Z
Minister'S
SPEECH PROM THE THRONE.
The speech from the throne was read by Herr
Campnausen. In the passage relating 70 foreign
Affairs the Emperor expresses the hope that speedy
peace will enable the principles OF the Constantinope
,onferencs to be applied and durably established.
rne comparatively slight participation Of Germany
Eastern affairs allows the Empire TO display dsInte.
made by the Powers concerning iuturo guarantees
against q Of trouble in the East and for
The ameliorstion Of the condition of the Christian
populations. Meantime the Emperor's policy attained
It's object nasmuch rs II had essentially contributed
10 the preservation OF peace between the European
Powers. and the relations Of Germany with all Powers
remained not only peaceful but altogether friendly.
INCREASED TAXATION
The imperial speech also stated that the budget,
which will be presented Immediately, shows that tho
Empires financial requirements increase fastcr than
BY increasing tho contributions OF the individual
States. but preferable to strengthen the impcria
revenues Bills will be submitted levying imperial
stamp duty and increasing the tobacco tax. The
balance OF tho dencit must be met by loan.
CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES
With view 70 nlling hiatus in the constitution
bill which is now under discussion in the Federal
Council will shortly be introduced providing for the