The New York herald., 1879-08-28
THE CRUEL PADDLE.
An EX-COnvict'S Account of Prison
Treatment at Sing Sing.
RTU RING A BOY.
How Refractory Spirits Are
Tanned and Broken.


and it used with vigor, II possible. than
ever BEFORE" said released convict u representa-
tive of the HERALD yesterday. ut was in very
active operation before the Barrett case. but the
death of the young and the row made by the
newspapers stopped it for little WHILE
''who the last victimY'
Michael Ganney. Biglin gave it to him good on
the 18th of August. That's the last case know Of
left the prison two days after that"
what Gaffneys ofence?'
..He refused to work when taken into the polish
ing shop
WELL but he ought to have gone to work"
.'He wasn't able. He's only nineteen years old.
and these lathes for Lad Of that kind
els he delicate?"
II should say so. They had him in q dark cell for
FIVE days and half. That would make very solid
man delicate tell you il it did not kill him alto
gether."
"The dark cell is very severe. thenY
.There is nothing this side of hell, unless
1t is the paddle"
'.Have you been in it
'.Yes, I've been in it. should think So"
"What did you get there for?'
Looking at of the keepeSs."
'.Pleasantly?''
.Well, no; not exactly. 1 was STOPPING to pick up
o piece l had dropped. and. a l not quick
enough to suit him, he kicked me from behind with
al his force and sent headforemost into the clay
When got up turned and looked Ut him-that was
all"
what did he do?"
'.went and reported me for disobedience and got
twenty-four hours Of dark cell. During that time
got gill Of water and two of bread. That's
the regular rations Now you can imagine what
eleven days and half Of such treatment would do
for young lad. The effect his constitution no
man could predict. A dark cell is not Only with
out any light but without any air. What you do get
comes from little grating at the bottom of the door.
scarcely large enough to keep up sparrow"
'Why was he kept there long?'
= For fun, sport Why, bless YOU. these keepers
think that's fine thing Break down his spirit,
Take the mule out of him. that's common talk
with em. mans spirit with these fellows is often
his failure to do horses labor"
''what was done with Ganney when he was taken
out Of the dark celly'
He was lifted to his own cell. He was that weak
he couldn't walk. 1t took three men to carry him.
How long did he remain there?'
''Three days. don't believe he could walk. At
all events he couldn't work. and they lost that time
out of him."
WHERE THE DOCTOR?
'.Did the doctor go to him?"
''Doctorl Now you've struck it. Nary DOCTOR
Why, the end of three days the boy was ordered
into the polishing shop and doctor interfered
protect him. Doctor! He daren't call his soul his
own. What soul he has belongs to Biglin. They're
of the same kidney y-been all their lives in prisons
Their notion is that prisoners are all made to have
it out of en. and they have 1t out. too; all they
can get; at least much the paddle will bring
and that's blood and satisfaction. man 8
thief. That's true. His blood Will come as easy
honest mans for all that. and his hide ain {
any the harder. 1t don't make the thief take any
kindly to punishment when it's given hi
by better than himself. For though o thief
Will STEAL maybe kill. il he's caught III tho act
he'll never be cruel. You can't tell Inc that kind
hearted man. or one fit to be over helpless criminals
would do such work the paddle. Iii is necessary
land he once in u while must punish obstinate
mani he would get some one else to do IT. but
when he does it himself. and keeps doing 1t. aud
won't allow nobody else to do it. that's because he
likes to do it. No man but devil could invent
such an instrument as that paddle. The honor be-
longs to Mr.. Bigln. in Sing Sing. Look at the
wicked cunning or the holes. Every one of them is
i've years willingly for the pleasure O. giving
Bislin nve. Just one for each year. But he'd get
Where had Gaffney been working before he was
put the dark cell?"
''He was in the mounting shop. fling stove pat
terms designs tor stoves for the foundry that
burned down. he had been there year without
any trouble"
..And after he left his own cell?"
''He was sent into the polishing shop-a fearful
place He was put ut a machine. and he remained
before it unable to work.
''what happened theny"
''He was taken down and padded. He was SO
worn out that lie was not able to control himself
but that made difference Biglin."
Where was the doctor? Is he always present at
punisnmentsY"
II he were it wouldn't make much difference. The
boy was allowed to rest one day and then he
nrst sent there and Bgiin came around and discov.
cred him standing there doing nothing he said to
m no, sbs II you 90 don't 40 said Ben M
paddle you You can't do that said daffney. it's
against the law. aud the papers say So What do
laws ourselves. Here. yonng man, I'm gong to
paddle you. He was as good his word and gave
1t to him."
THE LIMIT OF ENDURANCE.
What is the largest number of strokes you ever
heard of a prisoner gettingY'
Zone hundred and twenty-one."
IT Is said Biglin has three particular keepers for
watching refractory men; who they?"
Hes got three heecrs that do the knocking
down-McCormack. Boney and Mackin."
What became of Gaffney after the paddlingy'
"He asked to 20 back into the polishing shop
for few days SO as to make an appearance for the
keepers and then they would give him something
because they've broken down his constitution. They
pretend to think that II they don't paddle the men
all nonsense"
.'Do many prisoners escapeY''
mo. Since tho law passed making them
nll serve out the whole time again there hasn't
been any attempt to escape Besides. they We built
high wall. that makes 1t almost impossible them
to get away"
''iIow long is tho paddiey'
"A little three feet. the they use There's
another for show. That's only about inches
and all leather. IL wouldn't hurt q baby Ia the
hands Of an elephant. Tho real one. though, would
make the elephant in the hands of All infant -
WAS the paddle much used before the Barrctt
AFFAIR."
LIVERY day."
After hearing the foregoing story reporter called
on Warden Davis at the Sing Sing Prison. The
Warden asked IL Gafinoy could be seen.
For what purposeY
lin regard to statement concerning some punish
ment he has received"
you can't him. I'm not going to allow con
victs to make statements against the prison"
HAS he been paddledT"
II don't know. but I'll 20 and find ouf. am per-
fcctly willing that the press and the public snail
have all the information they desire concerning the
workings of the prison. but don't intend that the
convicts shall have all the government of this place
and create a false impression concerning it outside