New-York tribune., 1882-03-12
ALLEGED ABUSES At SING SING.

AN INVESTIGATION OF CHARGES OF CRUELTY TO
PRISONERS BEGUN BY TIE ASSEMBLY COMMIT
TEE On PRISONS
The Investigations of alleged Sing-Sing Prison
abuses by the Assembly Committee Prisons begun
at Sing sing yesterday in the wardens Office Elijah 4.
Campbell former keeper, who was discharged in May,
1881, and the publication OF letter by whom led to the
investigation called before the committee. His
animation occupied the greater part OF the day. The
statements published gone very thoroughly
Campbell said that he had been connected with Gin
and Dannemora Prisons and that he went TO Sing sing
1877. He finally discharged in 1881, and had, az
present, no occupation. The spoken Of In his
written statement which occurred after he had left the
prison, furnished him, he said, through anonymous
letters These letters he destroyed soon as he had
learned their contents detectives constantly
his track aud he did not wish TO get the writers in
trouble. The moral interests OF the convicts were
he thought, shamefully neglected at present
They sometimes did not hear the chaplain from one
year end to the other The chapel would not hold all
the cOuvics Night schools had been started and abO
ished 1t had detrimental effect the working powers
OF fconyc;s and the contractors did not like it. Often
times the conyics were compelled to work on Sunday in
the interest Of contractors. He had working
in the laundry on Sundays, the any other day
This work. he admitted generally in the way OF
repairs the Monday work might not be interfered
with
quent. johnny HoTe and " Billy Kelly were exam
pies Hopes business was TO turn shirts inside ont,
and Kellys business was 10 count them. He did not
know why these men, who were strong, should have
such light work, while weaker were sent TO the
foundry. "Joe" Coburn, the ex-priZe fighter another
robust convict TO the messrOo, where the
duties were trivial Convcts often treated with
undue severity. Mccormack padded because
he would not answer questions He did not
see Mccormack padded. He was never per-
mjtted TO padding done. Keepers Middleton Horn
beck Mulgan and Dixon could testify TO the extent
and severity Of this punishment. Frequently Campbell
state sick cOnycts whO applied for medicine
refused. In the winter OF 1881 j. N. Clark, con-
Wet was suffering much from malaria that he could
dc his work He was peremporily refused medicine
wav. had ns prescription duplicated and while the
convict sick presents OF tobacco to other con-
There are no baths at Sing Sing, and inmates have
facilities ior securing personal cleanliness Inc wash
ing OF clothes was systematically neglected. AT one
time the OF 1850 the shirts not washed
men shouting dirty shirts through the gallery IN the
polishing shops the emery wheels provided with no
modern Appliances to[ carry Ing Oh the 1us ana II was
the belief ~ witness that many WeaAchested prisoners
driven Into consumption He thought : Gentle
man Joe was illustration Of this theory Campbell
CHARGED thdt tue prison wac pelhg run DE Tue Sou'
tractors Keepers were compelled 70 do work f0r them
the neglect Of proper supervision over their com
panies In the stove shop Camp0el duty assigned oy
tie contractors and approved by the warden, was 10
ns pieces at one end Of the convict's line
prize fight might be going on at the other. On
times the cOnvcts required TO do night work
By contractors and per5 Of course retained
these times beyond hours 70 guard their companies
COuycts doubled up I'm cells at sing sing. very
much TO detrmen Of their hea th The capacity or
Sing Sing 1900 and the ster generally shows frou
l5UO 900 inmates Another evil was the placing OF
one another when work This was done Oy
contractors expense Ot citizen Oyerseer These
convict iOremen usually ignorant, and neglected
done and returned on the cOuyicts hands He would
have TO do it again IN addition t. hs regular task,
and would often break down Ii was usual FOR c0nYcs
be pur az work which they not adapted. The
contractors would refuse TO change saying that they
would get the work out Ot them somehow.
The foregoing the abuses chiefly dWelt on Dy
Campbell dismissed after brief xeInua
ton by Warden Brush. This principally referred 10 his
record the prison aud The fact OF his inc"mpetency Tor
the position BE- held.
Dr BarAer the prison physician, was then called He
was appointed May H. 1850. he did not remember the
case OF j. ~ Clark spoken Of by Campbell "Gente-
man joe whose real name was Eugene Fairfax Wiz
hanson, did die from consumption but from nVer
complaint His lungs perfectly sound at the time
OF Lls decease When came to the prison be made
thorough examination OF their physlcal
them accordingly. He made changes from one
department % another every day In the
matter OF Joe" COburn. he IN fairly good health
with tendency 10 rheumatism. He had nothing TO DO
with his assignment To the messrOOm. de did not find
that doubling up" at all prejudcial 10 the mems
health He had applications day for men To Oe al
low ed TO double up"
time no; definitely fixed Another hearing will be had
nj sing sing and the examination then concluded az Al
Jauy.