The New York herald., 1879-08-28
if men don's sleep you can't &c. work ou. of them

ness. aud moment after Dig Italian stood in the
doorway.
.what are you in here for?" asked the Warden.
'Lost piece castin'." said tho. convict in very
broken English. and he WAS instantly shut up again.
some or the prisoners were returning from the
workshops after their days labor. Others were
In the polishing room the Warden up to the
sort OF glass box in which the keeper sat and held
| whispered chat for minutes with the Keeper.
Then approac hing the reporter he pointed out the
subject or the visit. saying. There's Ganney.
THE PRBoNkR GAFFNEy.
The reporter looked the way the warden's finger
pointed aud saw a young man. about nineteen years
OF age sitting before bench ne was afe.ssa n .ssn ~
nothing. with his hands in his Jap. Every other
snd in the act Of washing his body or dressing
| having cleaned himself. Ganney sat Ike
statue. HIS face was thin ana clean cur; ;
There intelligence in the forehead aud
hrmness ana strength III the mouth ana
chin. The expression was ono of resignation
| There impassiveness about him that nude
him look il he had become stone. He appeared
to given up breathing for the time being. and
| yet there something IN the face tnat revealed
thorough knowledge OF ail that going forward
| Whether u caution had Deen given him or lie had
| heard some words dropped that acted q to
the proper thing to do it impossible say. but
his appearance taken with that OF tho other convcts
| in the shop. was remarkable.
You don's know anything OF his having been
| punshedY
| mo; but I'll ask about it."
''How they punishedY
''weli. first We talk TO them and then we shut
| them up for day in cell
| .No the one they usually occupy If that don't
| do we stop their tobacco. Then man continues
refractory and refuses to work We put him IN the
dark cell. II that does not prove ehective We give
| him the paddle
| Let me see the paddle
The Warden led the way down stairs. out Of tho
| shop and into sort OF private apartment with
bath in it, On inquiry it was ascertained the room
| was of thoss in which Keeper Biglin lived. On
| the floor were couple OF iron sockets just large
enough to admit mans foot as far as the instep.
and tour others higher. Against the wall hung palr
OF old rusty handouts fastened to slip OF wood.
| These instruments part OF the general furni-
ture Of the place. On nail beside the handcuH part
| of the machine hung brown leather implement
| probably eighteen Inches long and the shape OF
| the reporter and said:-
There's the paddle"
thing formidable in it. Handled very vigorously 1t
would certainly hurt man. but 1t is doubtful If
it would inhict the cruel punishment that SO many
of the convicts complain OF.
"And that's the paddler
Eyes; that's the paddle And the Warden struck
four or i've blows with the instrument across his
leg inviting the reporter to initiate his example.
SCRUTINY INVITED.
"You see," said the Warden, I'VE have sixteen
hundred sonvicts here and only eighty officers, Of
whom there are never more than sixty available.
We must have discipline or we can do nothing with
these men. The question here Is. Who Is to con-
trol-the authorities or the prsenersY
.I am held responsible by Superintendent Pills
bury, The tenure of Office of the subordinate
officers my will, subject to his ultimate approval
do not wish to shrink from any Of these RESPONSE
bilities while remain in charge. Much less do
wish to have credit for its financial success and
personal reputation for goodness OF heart while my
agreeable duties to perform. are made the scape-
goats for any real or tancieu wrongs. challenge
the closest scrutiny the fullest investieation into
or to its labor or its punishment
my business to stand between the State and the
contractor the convict and the contractor. and be-
tween the and the officer. No officer is al
lowed to strike man while in mis- shop or about
his work, unless in absolute self-defence. Such
officer would be DISCHARGED in moment should he
presume to do such u thing.
"Whut effect is produced by the publication Of the
| statements Of convicts?
| "Demoralizing IN the extreme both to society and
the sO o, SOME psoRe are
paper having the approval OF its con-
ductors. These statements are carried into
| the prisons by arrivals and by the friends OF
the convicts in q still more exaggerated form than
that III which they originally appear. and. If con-
tinued. the convicts will be led to suppose that
ement OF society is ready to sack the prisons and
confne the officers. Let It be understood. however.
that know my duty to the State and to society.
well as to humanity. and dare do it. There will
be no change in the management Of Sing Sing
Prison until the lawful authorities of the state
direct while remain in charge. Notwithstanding
all the efforts OF the criminal class and their
cusers and sympsthzers." n
what have you to say in relation to the stories
recently circulated by the convicts who have Been
discharged in regard to the punishments inflicted at
simply that the man who reports that he has
been punished advertises himself a man whose
conduct hes been such ~ to renuer 1t necessary"
| WHY rHx PADDLE Is USED.
What have you to say about the use Of the
|
II don't know that care to 60 into that. This
Committee OF Investigation, As I understand. ap-
prison and Mr.. Bighn was then pr,ncipsi keeper
Mr.. Biglin assures me. and l have no doubt
ton OF the paddle. aud that they could not de-
wise better mode OF punishment. That was what
What IL considered sufficient punishment for q
man when he gets the paddle-how many blows arc
giveny
ishment ceases whenever the convict expresses
pcntance. II after one blow a man says he will go
to work obey the orders given him it ends there
| l will give you sn instance OF how a would be
padded and what for We have only nine dark cells
In the PRISON and these are located centrally in the
dormitory. man gets ugly and refuses to work.
or spoils what he has in hand. He is
put in one. one o, these DARK cells. When it
shouting and making noise. This will be
answered by hundreds of other men and demoraiizes
| the entire concern. II permitted to go unnter-
ruptedly there will be no rest and no sleep. In the
morning hundreds OF men will refuse to work.
want of rest or sleep. Then only Is to
take that out and infict sufficient punishment
released at any point. We do not want to punish y
| man. But, the other hand. if he Is insolent
blow may do it. may take ten but he is just
| well liter 1t is when 1t commenced
No man has ever been 50 severely punished ss to re-
has had to make use of any sort OF remedy nor has
any ever asked tor it,"
| THE DOCTORS OPINION.
| The Warden then led the way to the hospital and
| the doctors room. DIR. smith said IL have had
| great deal OF experience OF prison lite and have
seen every kind OF pun ment. and the
| paddle IL not what these fellows say it is."
| "Are you present. Doctor. when the convicts are
| punished?"
Always. Mr. Bigiin calls or sends for when
the paddle Is about to be applied. When think
the has much a. no stand wink 1T Mr..
| Bglin and the work stops or course the convict
cannot that, his back ~ turned to Before
| Mr. Bghn starts In he makes great display and
pretends he is going 10 do something TERRIBLE Tho
object of that is 70 frighten tho fellow and make
him think he ~ going to receive twice much
| he really gets. have frequently seen Mr.. Biglin
strike the ground several times before touching the
man. That wins to shake terror into him aud bring
him possible to subjection. with as little
| hurt injury to himself a. possible
"wnat IL the rule about time in the dark cellsY'
"The Will OF the convict. cannot say that am
much in of the dark cell. II Injuries the