The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-08
KEEPER ADAMS TO ne ARREs TED,
snyder's Death nftc~ nm As,nuit In n Black.
weII's Island stem mboat

Justice Kilbreth in tho Yorkvillc Police
Court yesterday issued warrant for the ar
rest OF Keeper Michael Adams OF the Black
Wells Island Penitentary. on n charge OF caus-
ing the death Of Christie Snyder. alias Brock"
n convict. Snyder died in the Charity Hospital
on tho Sd Of June.
Patrick Traynor. n convict whose term ex-
pired last Monday. was accused by Warden
Fox Of having caused Snyder's death by kick
ing him during row in the hold OF the prison
steamboat Minnahanonck on her way from
Backwel's to Wards Island on May "a. Tray
nor was confined in cell in the penitentiary
until Monday. and was then taken before JUS
tice Klbreth. Wbn arraigned he denied hav-
ing kicked Snyder. and accused Keeper Adams
Of having given the injuries to Snyder on tho
dock Mt Wards Island after the convicts had
been taken out OF tho boat.
DR.. @, sumner Witherstlnc OF tho Charity
Hospital, the FIRST witness called. gave detailed
history OF Snyder's condi ion from tho day tho
injuries were received. Snyder had chlls
He sank steadily. and died on Tueeday night:
In the Doctors opinion death was from blood
poisoning the result Of Inflammation caused
by rupture OF the urethra.
Tho testimony OF n score OF convicts who
were In the hold OF the steamboat Mt the time OF
the assault was contradictory and inconciusive
Patrick Traynor. the prisoner, testified: |
wns until recently an inmate Of the peniien-
tiary. was sent up for thirty days Tor rolling
n baker wagon on the street. Ivy the Court of
Special SrsS ions. On May "a WAS sent with
others on the boat Minnehnnonck to Wards
Island. from Blaokwcll's. We wore IN the hold.
/ was near the rear as | went down. |
passed stand and stood against it..
some one pulled my hat over my face Tho
Kicked away. / g got Knocked down. snyder
was sitting on tho seat and man was sitting
ON his. knee. As | was laying down. Snyder
pushed aside the man who was on his knee.
and kicked me. said nothing. Whom was
getting up he. kicked mo again. got up and
U- gtft them feet
fixed said I. meaning | would report him. He
got angry and swore NJ me. Then ne lumned
pp ana squared on. drew hack' and me- lol,
lowed nnd struck mo in the l,it eye turned
to look for n keeper, and he hit mo again.
breaking my nose. Then we were separated.
| told him would get him stood out. We landed,
and. MS ] went up. DIVER asked who had
struck mo. | did not answer r. at first;
SaydST e yas IN Ton, G9nT HeIad re- }aaT69gd 6
roughly to 20 on. He followed tho others of
the boat. We marched around to the scow
dock. then we broke ranks and stood together.
Ryan and Miner were saying, something about
NV injuries. Snyder wns short distance ofi
espId sI wilkins m pp so saw Ad2ms oy WALK 9ycr icr to
- pointing TO my face. As he did So he
! struck Snyder ia the side of the head with his
hand. Then he struck him again, knocking
! rs he was doing so Adams knocked him
! from behind. Snyder turned pale. Miner
| told him To 20 stand on the hill. Snyder held
| his hand on the injured part. and walked away
STOPPING. was sent to the hospital. and WIS
| | entered the hospital | did not SEQ any Of tho
convicts until WAS brought here In the hold
! | attracted Snydcrs attention by touching hin
| would ncht him. | saw Snyder in the hospital
| Hc asked Tor drink of water. and said should
not fear II was arrested Tor inluring him. as
Counsellor Nesbit said that tho sister Of Sny-
| der had visited Snyder In the hospital. and was
| In court ready 10 swear that Snyder had told
| hcr that Adams had kicked him.
| The prisoner. Patrick Traynor. VAS released