New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-10
MR.. McKEON ACCUSED.

CHARGES SENT TO THE GOVERNOR.
ms BRorHrR-IN-IAw's STORY OF AN ILLEGAL IN
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. BUCKS OPINION.
Charges were preferred yesterday against District
Attorney John McKeOn and the aindavits ana
other documents In the case were sent 10 uoyerno5
nss; detention s1ssbsr Of Lew" " HaRsSss
wife, who was confined ;a.. Tor .v,n near ay
Hsr;'s Island. Suits were begun few months ago
by John ID. Townsend Mr.. Sloats counsel, against
slon i Of Charities and Correction; The trouble
began when Randall Roberts. one OF the clerks IN
the District Attorneys Office. was discharged and
resigned his position Some Of the facts concerning
the imprisonment of Mr.. Sloat were then made public
Mr.. McKeon denied all wrong-do!ng, and sald thas
before his brother-in-law was sent TO Hart isian
his reason had become impaired by sickness ana
habits of gross intoxication. $1,000 a.
The long statement OF the case aodtess en- 10
Governor Cleveland by Mr.. Sloat begins by asking
for Mr. hcKeons removal SO that no other human
being may be subjected through him, to the suiler,
ngs have endured Tor more t toaR naoe b.ore
Mr. McK-..n became District-Attorney. but u is
charged that he has continued the i-tssa,men1 or
Mr.. Slot since he has been In once. MI.
Bloat sara that he is sixty-eigh5 years
Il auo. and is the only, surviving
sos Of sbn D soat who was ra,sr adm1a
Sloat left property valued at 1000. An elder
aou. now dead wasted it is sand by MIR. Mckeon
and others large part Of thus properly s,on c Mo
tnues i'm his statement, that he had LOT s9seIia'
wears desk room the law office OF Jerome buch'
nce J TO sisu bower of attorney to Mr. McKeon,
and "thereafter." he says, my sorrows CON-
He gives the following account of the manner in
which ne was taken to Harris Island, and his state
ments are corroborated by MIR. Buck
On the sixteenth day of July. 1879 was invited by
James r. Roberts, then clerk In the law ohce OF John
MeKeop TO accompany him q pleasure trip up the
East River which invitation se 81 PIE
OF Charities and Correction and Roberts mad there
w Robarts and board
boat belonging TO the Department of Charities and Cor
Da % at
poor from the same place prepare for death While con-
srus heTs w.t. TO %o
me- heard the whistle Of the boat which conveyed me
1 parpcsey left on sH' the snd and remained
until May g. 1888 when my present counsel N came up
acted as am informed by direction Of John Mekson:
are 70 year NV 1s
testa,ions against Treatment TO my sister anu M
time Of nv captivity received not single letter from
either of them only compelled to suffer great
was Obliged TO endure other abuse and lireatmeni
the Lowest Of Gods creatures who were confined there
STssns MY Robr wa. sent by Mr. McKeon
am informed aud can prove to quiet me- when no oo
sometimes threats Of worse punishment, ana some
times by stating to me matters which have since my
discharge discovered 20 be absolutely false"
from an entry on the record at Harris Island 1t
appears that the cause of commitment there as
signed appears to be "desttntlon" soon aIter Alr.
Sloat was taken TO the island, Jerome Buck wrote
letter to Mr.. McKeon in which he SAID that he had
received two letters from Mr. Soat The letter con-
tmues:
think you should be prepared If he appeals to the
pubic. His family relations age, appearance ana ap
Of course will ngenuously and with some show OF rea-
son claim that he was kidnapped and wiz doubtless
find friends real pseudo, who Will testify tha ne mas
all Of his senses Ny Judgment is after all that you
should proceed regularly and have his insanity declared
by q commission, If 1t exists"
Acting on this suggestion. Mr.. McKeon wrote to
Commissioner Brennan, asking that an examination
be made as to the sanity of Mr.. Sloat Dr. James
nation and according Mr.. Sloats statement sent
the following report to Warden Dunphy:
"In reference to Lewis W. sloat, an inmate OF yonr
Institution and whom was requested TO examine as 70
two prolonged interviews with said L W. sloat ana
am Of the opinion that teougn ne may nave
ing passions and defectye memory ne Is not insane
I'm answer TO the statement of Mr.. McKeon that
his brother-in-law was willing to remain on Harts
Island Mr.. Sloat produces number OF letters sent
by him to Mr. Mckeon and nr, Roberts wnfl ., ne ne
~piteous appeals. In one of them, written when II
was thought that Mr.. McKeon might be nominated
him then. for he is "hfe-long Democrats" but he
warns hlm of the future. Some correspondence is
appended IN reference to the appointment OF rela-
tive of Warden Dunphy, who is now clerk IN the
District Attorneys Office In conclusion Mr.. sloa:
makes the following specific charges against Mr.
McKeon:
New YORK County with making use OF such office for
corrupt ard unlawful purposes and hat instead OF en-
degyorng suppress crime, lie has himself Deen guilty
while District Attorney Of crimes Of tie grossest charac
specication rst On the LIST day OF January. 1892
when he John McKeon into office as District,
Attorney and promised faithfully 70 aSe qaes
w. sloat, was then, and had . peep IoL Two
bT ms own direction and through his influence. without
legal authority Of any kind, and he thereafter tailed to
he contrary made use Of his power DistrictAtor
ney compel me to remain 50 imprisoned thereafter
Specification secOnd.Ihat on the lst day Of January
1850 when he John McKeon, took the oath OF oice "a
District Attorney and promised faithfully to perform
.sas ana srs., sy t T s ss'@ se%
any authority OF law for than TWO years and he
has sr @aSs mo but 30 on has with
full knowledge such crime, rewarded them personally
Of trust in bis ONCE Of District~Autoraey
Jerome Buck who has been acquainted with the
Soat family for over twenty years ana VINO had
sstsd L. last S nsht by ' TRsUSE reporter
s "a Il knew [. ". sloat for many years
While e2innk Win MS lbt1ci, huunIdi Csoat' HcdL
the coast Of Africa, he had a severe attack of
ship fever which left him with almost
no memory for events occurring after
his sickness. friend might have long talk with
him one evening and the next day Mr. Sloat would
be unable to recollect that he had seen such per-
SOB If he got possession of money he would go on
the widest "sprees" and At such times was
affected as other persons are"
"Was Mr. Sloat insanef"
mot III the least. have had experience in the
ObrrIght aud other insanity cases, and know he
was not insane. Except for his weakness OF memory
he had good mind, and he was a courteous polite
gentleman when sober"
e"Whst do YOU know of the manner
of Mr. Sloafs commitment Mr.. Buck asked