New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-27
ABUSES IN PRISONS.
INQUIRY BY AN ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE.
SEVERAL WITNESSES HEARD-FREE USE OF THE
PADDLE -" BREAKING" A PRISONER.

SEVERAL WITNESSES HEARD-FREE USE OF THE
PADDLE -" BREAKING" A PRISONER.
The Assembly Committee on State Prisons
which was instructed by the Assembly to investigate
and report within thirty days in regard TO the charges OF
barbar0us and nhuman treatment OF conycs as causeu
by the contract system held its first session yesterday III
the Hotel Brunswick. The members OF the commi'tee
are: Mr. Keyes chairman, and Messrs Emans, North
rop, Kelly, Roche Clapp, Geddes Ernst and Taylor
Warden Brush, OF the Sing Sing Prison. was also pres
ent and conducted the cross-examnation OF tue VII
nesses testfyng in regard to the institution oil which
he Is in charge.
The first witness was James NJ Columbian, OF Jersey
City Heights who testified that he had been sent 10 SihB
Sing for term Of three and half years he arrived
there October H. 1879 and was Gent to the shoe ue
partment where he remained six months lie was then
transferred TO the dspensary because he was drug
eist and he remained in that department twenty-five
months worten Brush assumed control on Aprn l.
1880. and Keeper Bowes was appointed the WITNESS
principal Bowes Immediately ordered the tasks OF the
increased from 10 to Is per cent Dr. smith was IN
charge hospital but transferred TO the CLINTON
Prison because he protested against the nhuman treat
men OF the convic Who for failing IN their tasks were
padded. Tho paddle" OF sole leather. with
blade six inches WIDE smaller one was kept Tor the
inspection OF visitors On convict named Lewis 3io
blows were inflicted at short intervals during two ana
one-half hours. Tho witness had known fifteen or
twenty blows to be inflicted, and then recess was
taken to allow the flesh to swell In the padding room
the clothes the convict removed his wrists joined
together and fastened his head to the WALL his ieet
being held by staples. The witness had known four
offers to do the work, ana man and an OTHER would
infct thirty or forty blows before getting tired Dr.
Barber succeeded DIR Smith. Though required by law
to Ice present at the padding Dr. Barber was oftener
absent When sent would say he was too busy to
go, though he might only be smoking cigar. lie eft
the dspensary work to the witness and the later DE-
ton His general prescription sulphur He did not
make thorough investigation OF the patients ana II
the witness thought patient should be In the hospital
he would whisper to DR. Barber who would order nun
taken up stairs The doctor visited the hospital once OF
without knowing what the treatment was man had
boiled beef and potatoes DIR. Barber generally went
out when prisoner wasliying Lloyd Haign. IN con
Hagh spoke the Witness saying that he stood well
with the doctor and he would give $500 get into the
ter and the was broken of BY the exposure
OF the payment for the position in the ehaplans ONCE
and nigh was sent back TO the shoe shop me Nlness
declared that convict named Stone entered the prison
strong and healthy He was at toe-asting eignleen
months. having 1870 pairs per day TO burnish Pressing
against his breast with his implement caused tnOr to
was taken TO Bellevue. where he died Other c9nyics
were afflicted with lung disease from this work Keeper
Dickson the witness said determined 10 break down
prisoner mined William Iauncy. alias TEDDY" Hess
lie kept him in dark cell for five or six weeks, and the
yiyed him aud put him in another cell, giving nm
mattress and blanket Hess attempted TO end his lie "
right If not pushed around, but spoken kindly TO- The
witness interceded with Dickson. saying; Give the
break him" Tho witness reminded him that II was
Hess forth attempt AZ suicide Dnt b Dickson sara
afterwar sent to the Clinton Prison, bis health being
very bad Large doses OF opium given 10 Hess to
ordered 10 report for padding. protested when ne ar
rived Keepers two Officers were behind tue
door, and he knocked senscess with bludgeon the
wound the head beng six inches long ana one men III
jumped from the fourth tier and broke his thigh aud
gaslcd bis head. Another named nghes Jumped from
Young received nfy blows and was seized with violent
vomiting Tue witness renonsifs,ed WIN DT BarDer
intcrercd with padding. but DR. smith did Men IN
the foundry with burned ee were Obliged to work with
only salNc dressing IN tbclr Wounds Instructor Nssn
terror 10 The convicts lie had man paddled or
drafted 10 the Clinton Prison as being useless hands and
reduce the siok list. some died arriving at elm
and Dickson not many Thirty to fifty were the nun
The next Witness. Richard Patt Of Ncw-Brunswick, |
j. served siH months - the Albany Peite1s d2
blows for staining shoe. The food and medical treat
FREDERICK Clark boy who said he had no friends |
home had lust released from years service at the
Albany Ponitentiary. The food at times wac unht to
cat lac said. aud he had not once had fresh meat lie
had dubbed and cucd Tor being behind IN his work
john A. Liant who had been In the Albany Pcniten-
tiary complained OF thu food; u was poor aud INSULT
Client, ahd the NotA i'Isu va ,o n',,y Ia ~ ~ hs ,
carCeratcd through Anthony Cohsl"ch hhu Sve MS IN
prisonmcnt had suffered from pulmonary troubles The
man the work performed being worth IRON - to - 90
illha r. Campbell OF No. 50f Grand-st.. next |
called had been Keeper IA the slug sing and Gin
Prisons sing sing lac had seen prisoners show
cred In their cells with hose until they became in
sensible. lie any padding. but under the |
contract system done before the Keeper o gang
would know The keeper AT night would b" ordered 10
leave certain convict Ia his cell IN Tue morning. nc
padded and sent back To work Ia catch up Tor
the work h. had failed lie would also mise MS break
fast Charlcs Boylau and Michael Mct ormick had |
been 40 pndled Tho dreaded ~, and having more
work than could do become runzicd ANA jumped from
the ties such frequent aud common sub
ect OF talk among keepers lie had known prisoners
be without clean shirt for six weeks The food was
generally fair but he hhd GOO men crying out sour
breadi Sour brrad n the men hurried through work
additional labor was imposed on them la the key |
ne keeper jesse Dickson distribute tickets
at election time, directing the officers tO vote FOR Mr.
IIapgood, OF Sing sing. This IN 1881. Under tho
contract -ysem the hay state shoe aad Leather Cun-
pany have building themselves at the prison The
yitnes, considered II abuse. He also complained
that he was unable To procure qunine for his men. VINO
Nere suffering malaria and he bought u Tor them
flo also bought them thread 20 sew their rags with.
They were also improperly sbod. some having their
shoes mended with wire those IN the foundry burned
heir feet stepping the hot lead which had dropped
from the ladies' Campbell spoke also of nyiot being
continually engaged ~ making furniture Tor me warden
tra al