New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-18
er Mclean, ex-Judge f. ]. Fithian, Robert Seaman
James I. Wright and Joseph F. TObn.
THE SING SING INVESTIGATION.
TESTIMONY OF CONvICTS AND OTHERs-wARDEN
BRUSH AND MR. sIGERsoN AT ODDS.

| TESTIMONY OF CONvICTS AND oTHERs-wARDEN
| BRUSH AND MR. sIGERsON AT ODDS.
The examination of cOnvicts was continued
at Sing Sing by the Assembly Committee on state Pris-
ons. Assemblyman Kelly acting In place OF Chairman
Reyes, who was absent. The first witness, laundry
man named John p Jones' testified that for complaining
OF insufficient clothing he had been locked In the cooler
so hours and then padded IN sicken youlaundrymen
Keeper Dixon had said. He complained OF bad
| food. Another laundryman william Keely' cohhheu
for the Manhattan Bank burglary, complained
OF his letters being sent to Police Headquarters
and said that his wife had been insted by DetecNe
Jackson He thought the investigation made last year ha
a good effect on the prison management DaVd bI'u
testified that when he asked Barber for medicine for
kidney troubles he was given Dovers powders and sent
to Jail He suffered so much that he begged friend for
a razor to end his troubles Deputy Coroner
MESSENGER of New-York stated that the medicine
given TO Bird improper. The next witness,
David Pendee employed I'm the shoe shop, said
that he had 600 pairs of shoes day to trmtwice the
work done by mau outside working at the same bench
lie said that convict named Anderson. who had
two thousand shoes to paste day. tainted
at his bench and died in an hour. Conrad Striew-
ing employed in the laundry, testified that he had
been padded" by Keeper Dixon. The blankets
he said nothing better than mosquito nets Wheh
the chaplain was sick Or. Barber would give "No. b,
stiff cocktail" Dr. Barber refused TO treat the witness
for rheumatism Charles Preston "laster in the shoe
department, had been punished three times, he sad
For fighting he had been placed in the cooler lie co
planned of the tasks He knew of Thomas Smith oelhg
"pad led until his back looked like raw blue hver
The contractor had too much to say in the work OF INC
prisoners.
A letter from Charles r. Beckwh asking that he be
allowed TO petition the Governor and state his grievances
10 him. as against the warden chaplain and principal
keepers without the warden reading It, was laid Oh the
table. Assemblymsn Taylor read petition fron
number OF prisoners asking that within the SIX "ccAS
previous to their discharge they be allowed to grow
whskers II then proposed 10 visit the cen OF
Edward King and examine the prisoner the bedding,
etc Mr.. Kelly thought that other witnesses should
first be examined After long discussion nc was
overrled and the committee started for the cell The
reporters were excluded and request from the com
mittee that Mr. sigersOn OF the counsel DC ao"ed
to accompany It was denied.
"No"said Warden Brush. that man sgerson has been
committing that which in the eye OF the law IS misde
He has been receiving notes from conNct ana
upsetting the prison discipline AS long as am mere
shall refuse him admttance."
Mr.. sigerson-I demand it my right as counsel and
The matter was left to superintendent Baker, and
Chairman Keyes arriving the circumstances were stated
10 him. the warden repeating MS statement ana saying
"Mr SigersOn is not gentleman" Mr. Sieerson re-
quested that the committee adoun TO some place where
the Brush rule not dominant
Superintendent Baker consulted privately with the com
mittee which then visited Kings cell bringing him back
committee 10 testify He stated that he had
work WSa III the prison TWO years anu "' WIS ""0'
had been In the screen cell for three weeks aud
in the dungeon eight days for refusal 10 work His arm
had been fractured and he could not work In the
foundry. He afraid to take Or. BARRIERS med
lcne II had been padded and would prefer be
ing drafted" DR. Homer l.. Bartlett physician
the Kings County Tenitrnary, described the medical
treatment at that institution The next witness,
Michael Foley. had not been working IN the foundry for
he said having burnt his foot. lie had been
punished six times. and was not allowed 10 bring ms
blankets with him ordered. pr. John Smith. the as
sisant to DR. Barber testified that whskcy and fancy
soaps to the hospital taken away Assembly
man Taylor stated that he had visited twenty cells and
found them In horrible condition. and ne would like 10
testify a future time
James Hamilton. Manuel Mariana. William McCuchin
Richard L. Ryan and Charles l.. Williams. in behalf Of
the warden the food good the bedding
clean and the treatment kind The committee adjourned
to meet in Albany