New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-08
FIGHTING FOR A PRISON wARDENSHIP.

The condition of affairs at the Hudson County
Penitentiary at snake Hill, NJ, remains unf
changed Warden Bownes is still in possession OF
The Wardcn's rooms and the documents OF the
office while the new Warden, Francis Meehan' VINO
has had apartments III the Institution htted up lor
himself and his family instructs the Keepers ana
other employees about the binding as 10 thel
dntIes The keepers, all of whom were engaged In
the scheme by which Meehan was elected are I'D
svn,pathv with him, and refuse 10 take any ordois
from Mr. Bownes. In consequence OF the TouDle
the prisoners we're kept III their cels YESTERDAY
6oth the wardens fearing that there might be
break among them if they were allowed the PRIV
ilege of these corridors and grounds VINE Atne
keepers support Meehan, the police auIorltieS take
the same view of the difficulty as Warden Downes
does Yesterday when kiburn the driver OF tLe
van took his daily load of prisoners from inc TWO
police courts in Jersey city to the Ientent1HIy ne
Perez the Under Warden, was greatly incensed al
his action and told him that i'll the future he must
hand the prisoners over TO Warden Meehan. kllburn
replied that lie would do no such thing, but would
continue to deliver them to Warden BOwnes. until
he had received orders not to do so tlom the ChieI
of Police Peirce then told him that no more pIis-
oners would be received from him, ana there may
be . scene when kilburn visits tue Penltentlary
to-day.
The Board of Chosen Freehoders met yesterday
afternoon, and in expectation that some action
would he taken to settle the dlSpute, there was
large attendance OF politicians After the regular
routine business had been disposed Of tIeehOlder
Schrope one of the Repu blican members, who are
. in the majority, offered resolution declaring the
offices of counsel TO The Board ana superintendent
OF Public Buildings and Grounds vacant. Director
At Large Budden, q Democrat whose arbitrary ruI-
ings have cost Hudson County a considerable
amount of money in law suits. declared the motion
out of order. He also refused 10 entertain an APP
neal from his decision notw outstanding the protes-
tations of the thirteen Republican members OF the
Board motion was then made by one of the ReDub-
lcan members to take a recess for fifteen minutes,
and when it had been adopted by vote OF IL
to T. tie Director refused to approve II ana
ordered the Board to proceed with its business.
FIeehuder Schrope protested against the unfair
rulings of the Director, but without success.
In order to settle the dispute at the Penitentlary,
Freebooter Mum moved TO 90 into the election of
n now Warden. Again the Director exercised his
arbitrary power. lie declared the motion out of
order and refused to eDter ain an appeal from his
decision. lie claimed that the action OF last years
Boarl of Chosen FreehOlders III electing Meehan,
was legal according to recent decision OF the
Supreme Court. Tne Republican members on the
contrary asserted that this decision OF the Court
Was that the old Board had no right to fill
vacancy which did not occur until after il had
ceased to exist. They also claimed that the Board
had right to remove at any time, by majority
vote any officer in their employ. As the Director
persisted in Ignoring the majority of the Board, one
OF the Republican members made motion TO adj
journ. which was adopted
The action of Director Budden Is severely con-
demned by many Democrats, as well as Kepubli-
cans 1t is likely that the Courts will be again
asked to settle the difficulties of the Board well
as the dispute as to who the legal Warden of the
Penitentlary.