New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-03
CRUELTY IN STATE PRISONS.
AN AFFIDAVIT BY WARDEN BRUSH.

The Investigation of the charges OF cruel
and inbuman treatment Of convots as caused by the
contract system resumed yesterday al the ho1el
Brunswick by the Assembly Committee on state PrSOhs
Ex-cOnvicts and keepers witnesses the FORMER
giving evidence their and the latter as 10
the management OF the institutions The first witness
Patrick McAlster He was sent to the Sng-Slng
Prison, he testified for years and six months. lie
had been confined in the dark cell four times and had
been padded twice. He worked in the stove SHOP
fitting DOORS He was padded by Keeper Dixon for
not finishing his task The first time he received thirty
strokes and hit the head with the handle OF the
paddle" besides having it rammed down his throat.
The keeper said he would put him in the
hill" There was cemetery on the hill,
and the throat thought equivalent to saying he would
kill him. He corrobOrated the statements Of other wit
| nesses regard to vermn and changes of blankets
W. NJ f. Round, corresponding secretary or the Prison
Association OF this State testified that the society was
constantly receiving complaints from convicts' but
could not verify them except by the cor
robOrating testimony OF other oonvicts' Inc
next witness George Lewis, had spent eighteen months
at sing Sing. He had been padded" twelve times,
and when he said he could not finish his task Ironing
shirts, he told he would BIO padded" until he
could Becoming desperate lie Jumped from the stoop
for which he again "paddled" ana confined Tor
twentydays in the dark oel When released, he had to
make up for lost time. If ever had paddle, he con
ouded a. would give them dose OF their own medicine
j
the Clinton Prison for years. He worked hats,
and had been padded" for doing bad work. A
Wet named Buchanan he stated had been chained to the
nocr Of the dark cell for ITO days He came ont
alive for "they murdered him" For trying to escape
one Croswe chained In the dark ceior ten months
and died OF the three others who attempted to escape
with him. ONci shot went crazy and the thlrd
"a in the prison The cOnyicts feared the dark CELL but
| dreaded padding" more. He knew OF men manning
themselves escape their tasks. and he also knew OF
men being Kept fourteen months over their time for
| triGing offences
James r. Cooper and Michael Conner keepers In the
Kings County Penltentary, testified to the working
OF TINT institution without tao OF the paddle or
raw-hide. The labor OF the convicts il contracted
for by the bay STATE shoe and Leather Company, the
county receiving average fifty cents per day for
each
Robert " Powers alias Robert Green, testified that he
hal been "pa idled Sing Sing and confined In the
cooler four times When his foot was burned In the
foundry he obliged to work for some days before he
| WAS allowed to 20 to the hospital Under
| Bowcs." no said. there was q reign OF terror
Charles Young testified that when at Sing Sing he got
along nicely the shoe-shOp until Keeper Bowes as
sumed charge Then his tasks were raised, and TO save
him-et from padding" he cut OF the end of one OF
his fingers Another Nelson by name dreading
another padding" after having received two cut on
| three OF his fingers.
| warden Brush then presented affidavit which he
asked the committee to admit rs evidence. objection
was male but II was admitted by the chairman. the ex-
animation OF the Warde in regard 10 being ueerred
Mr. Brush states In the affidavit that 200 reputable
| citizens will TO tho falseness OF the state
ments made by Columbani and Burnett. C0.um,
| on KenOe The Warden says that Columbian
standing at the hospital window could not hear the
sounds from the punishment room. Burnett had sworn
Meyers committed suicide through fear OF the pad
% ~, Nnyrrss wife and brother VINO visited him fire.
quenty James DOlan he said did not die OF Oyerwork.
6nt nom fatty d. generation OF the heart the Cor
| 4
ported amt his work was easy IN me case OIL 'I ~
! when confined on former sentence Lawney was
padded" Tor hitting keeper on the lead with
hammer He could he made TO work and wac trans
rrred to the Clinton Prison. lie refused to work there
aud was sent 10 DannemOra where he played he lu-
sanity dodge refused food tore MS clothing ana ~,
! tempted 70 hang himself when there was always some
one close at hani lie was nIay sent 10 tae S Int1n
Prison, wnore he acknowledged summing ana Went ~
work Referring TO the general details OF the pIisOI
| arrment there hnve been only forty-one
deaths. or the who died twenty -scycn had noye"
OF the twenty-five convicts sent TO the unatc as um
only seven had been punished. These punahments ne
| continues are severe tuen are necessary TO
preserve discipline. Last year thty were l'Bhter
Than ever before IulJ tWo..nir1s oi mo ,t ~
doors since me- took charge he says have always been
omen f any respect !. person, and thousands had
% , ad thc food serve, Tor dinner and not one mad
said A. wns poor. Though many had remarked that It was
b,t,r than aat got ID, aboring men liz denies having
iousut ola cows OF the beef he purchased,
| the hludquar,,rs were used by the "Sst
! Point officers ana cadets The prison phyeitaa, Dt.
Hiram Baruer, inc Warren dcc'res, !. a ply sican o.
! rtctgugei iblfF. been tWCut. -uNe years IN
pacuco. lie devgtT All hIs time To ns WORK ana ns
! Appointed by Mr. P,Oury upon the Recommendation oil
sinclair rousey. chap am the Rev :. W. Edgcron'
| ul4o devoted all hl- 10 ms duties. ana tue
keeper Dixon has been PRISON officer tor twenty
seven years, ana II humane aud JUST man la cOuclu
| sion Warden Brush says That tine PRISON is open and
visitors will ne afforded every opportunity for thorough
| iuYostllnt On II desired .
| ihomas wilson, the next witness called. smllinely
bowed 10 each of tnc committee III utn HIS testimony
caused COusde able meIIultnt Inc coffee NJ sad.
wa, good water spollcd-hut in summer and odd In
winter" IL served two terms at sing sing. In his first
! term lie occupied the dark cell three ia! :
! f,r r,Isug his eyes 10 look NJ visitor.
I'm the ,cond term ON tue night OF De cember 49, ISL
lie confined in the dark cell IL was cold ana the
water flooded the cell, obugg MN tosla'd up al night
ll, gave history of sworn To by other witnesses
uud described the medical treatment. Warden Clark
hc snd, was bad, but you pointing 10 arden Brusn
| cell" IA closing his testimony lie said tDGt
| during the recess no had been eppro ;cnrd by
| ana testify tat Meyers hanged himself ln the bake
| house. Rai.g and pointing hi7 Niger at counselor
Barrett ne siid: " haven't got dollar 3utI Wouunt
! take $1,000 20 do What you Wdu'1u me 10 40.
Barrett put to the witness various Questions III re-
e' E Campnrii t@.nncd to ovcrleaIn Mr.
! the bur-rOonl on,r t. Xix the thlhg win wilson
Muen leaving tue eand Ic s;hH maj flr Jarrett was
UorAlug for the contractors aud was Orbhs Witnesses
4ua,'s lc.' shouted Mr. Barrett e. A. la'e.lo aso
! testified 10 tue cDuYtr5du0n
regular CN InuAtion WAS resumed Dy Gaming LOUIS
Ircwottr tuc stand. lie hal been III tue lOuhcIy
| at sing sn- convict aud though ne had heaft
disease hey would change ais wurA. When be pro-
t. At he would 90 crazy II they Kept on puuishing
| rim. Keeper Dixon repIvd: 81 uOut care Il )
! you're no good anyhow
SANDS shueuak T. and prepared by Tue ioemah.rS
Lmou was sented 10 the COMMITTEE II askod Tor tHe
auolishuen Of the ract labor system Further tes
| tllnUny Will DO taken tO-dny
A LETTER FROM THE GOVERNOR
| HE WRITES TO MIR. BAKER REGARDING PUNISHMENT
IN PmsoNs-TnE LATrER's REPLY.
nm TIM