The New York herald., 1879-11-30
A CONVICT'S STORY.

DECLARING HIS LIFE WAS EATEN AWAY BY IN.
HUMAN TREATMENr-Two YEARS EXPERT
ENCE IN THE NEW JERSEY STATE PRISON
THE STATEMENTS DENIED By THE PRISON
AUTHORITIES.
In Newark, N. j., some days ago, word was com.
municated to a HERALD reporter that if he would
call upon a named Richard Livingston. at GER
tain place. statement of alleged cruel and inhuman
treatment the part of the New Jersey State Prison
officials could be obtained. Acting upon the hint
the reporter found Livingston. He looked .
broken down. prematurely old and worn out
man, though only twenty-three years of age.
He had just come out of the State Prison at
Trenton. where he had been for two years. He
halls from Jersey City. whence he was sent to
Trenton for entering with intent to commit burg
larry" He admits having led a wild life. of having
been once or twice implicated in prize fights. but
says he was punished for crime he did not COM
nit. though confessing that under advice of his
counsel he pleaded nult conten1lere. This was
IL November 1877. On the way from court
to the Jail he tried to escape. but was caught and
after heavily ironed and removed to the State
Prison at Trenton. After being in that institution
six months his health began to give way, consump-
tion having set in He admits having been carefully
examined by the doctors and having received good
deal of medical treatment. but stll he declares. he
q sick man and one who was gradually growing
worse every day. He insists that he was kept ut
work when he sick that he fell down in his
place in the shoe shop and that repeatedly when hc
could not hold himself up and habituay splitting
blood the doctor rejected his appeal for hospital
treatment, and told him he was q sound. healthy
man. Sometimes, he AYERS. he was allowed to go to
his CELL but was only allowed prison diet, and once
this continued ten days. Another time. he says.
he kept at work and tainted away while stand.
ing the centre and had to be carried to his cell.
The doctor, he declares, told General Mott that he
gave him more bother than any man in the prison.
and by and by Mott made the same complaint.
''The charge make against the prison people,
said Livingston. ''is that they treated inhu-
manly; that in consequence OF the treatment re.
ceived in the institution 1 completely broken
down, ana that two years in the Jersey Prison has
fairly eaten the life right out OF me. For sick man
l was treated shamefuily. Ii they cay they didn't
know sick then they proclaim their ignorance.
If they knew was sick and reu used me proper treat
ment then they are more guilty still. Imagine
unable to stand-sent to the centre for talking.
handcuned and removed to my cell. and there
chained and fed one gill of water and piece or
breadl q, nv Godi it's awful. awful"
Since his liberation Livingston has been under
medical caro- constantly. Tho attending physician
corroborates his story far his long illness IL
concerned, and any could see that he is but
shadow Of a man of l75 pounds weight las he claims
to have been on entering the prison) and that be-
tween him ANA the grave is but very narrow strip
of time.
WHAT TIE PRISON AUTHORITIES SAY.
A HERALD reporter visited the New Jersey State
Prison to inquire INTO the case of Livingston. Gem
era there, but official spoke for him
and put in n general denial regarding the charges
of iphuman treatment. The official stated that
Livingston treated well any other
convict, and that his confinement in the
dungeon was deserved, because he had violated
the rules of discipline Not than three
hundred out of the SOO convicts were at work. and
the idle ones would rather work than lie in their
cells. Consequently the official AYERS. IL Living
ston in unit condition for work he would
not have been compelled to do so. there being too
many to take his place. 1t not denied that con-
fnement in the prison fastened or aggravated con-
sumption especially when that disease devel-
oped in the convict before he entered the prison.
lie also said that General Mott never punished .
convict for the first offence.