New-York tribune., 1884-02-03
The TRANSFER OF PRISONERS.
WORK OF MR.. RoosEvELTs COMMITTEE.

AUDITING THE SHERIFF BIGLS-MR. PORTER On
THE srAND-MR. KEENAN's ELECTION BILLS.
Mr. Roosevet's committee, which is investi-
gatine departments held another session yes
terday In the Metropolitan Hotel The first witness exam
ned william ]. Lyon auditor OF accounts in the oice
of the Controller. Mr. Miller showed him three vouchers
rendered by the Sheriff with his last quarterly BILL
After questioning him the method OF examination,
Mr. Miller asked:
What papers as vouchers other than those before you
accompanied the quarterly BIZ You audited bearing
from the city prisons TO the Tombsl A-The3e were the
only papers presented in that connection bhere were
Island and the House of Refuge.
Q-In this bill there Is also charge for transferring
prisoners the Tombs TO the General Sessions aud
Oyer and Terminer As to that item were ere there any
ascertained from the laws and resolution OF the
Board OF Aldermen that the Sheriff could charge for the
Court OF over and Termner and General Sessions and to
the House OF Refuge and Blackwell's Island
Q-Now II there had been any charge III any or these
bills for conveying prisoners from police courts TO any OF
the institutions on the island, what would you have
dOnei Al should have refused 10 audlt them, OF
Q.-was there any voucher of any description which
either directly indirectly could be regarded as inti
mating you that there intention TO charge Tor
the conveyance Of prisoners except to the Penentary
the Courts of oyer and Termner and General Sessonsf
A.-No, sir.
President Henry Porter of the Board Of Charities and
Correction WAS next examined. He stated that the
Board charge OF the city prisons namely the Tombs,
Essex Market Jefferson Market FIftyseventh Street and
little prison the other side of the bridge, Bellevue Hos
pital and the institutions Wards Randalfs Black
wells and Hart's Islands.
Q-Do you know anything TO how prisoners who are
tried and convicted in the police cous transferred to
their places OF dcsnatiOnl Ave transfer them In our
Twenty or from one prison To another Inc ex
pense out OF our appropriations ana our department
has exclusive charge of these vans.
Q.-rhe Sheriff has nothing to do with themi A-No,
carry these prsonersl ANo sir am not cognizant Of
anything OF the kind.
Warden Finn was recalled and said:
Every afternoon take census Of the City Prison. II
find have greater number OF prisoners than cells
a2 'eecs cells some iS the Tom6s ' All selections r
for transfer made from new commitments on the same
& Tbcse sent out are delivered to Deputy
sheriff. who signs receipt, and the commitments are
sent with the prisoners Wien there are empty cells in
thc Tombs prisoners arc brought back from the Ludlow
the passage Of the act in 1888, TO the JAIL The avcrlge
per day OF feeding prisoners ut tho Tombs Is 81 s.
cents. There is difficulty IN obtaining the exact NUM-
Of prisoners fed in any OF the city prisons. The
name OF each prisoner Is recorded.
H. Roden clerk to Warden Finn, also recalled, and
briefly examined respecting the records OF the prison. aud
the system for delivery OF prisoners to Deputy sherf
Mr. Cochran. the Shors counsel remarked that there
were many things in the bills rendered by the Sheriff
which required careful examination well intelligent
explanation. Under Sheriff stevens, he said per
fecty willing to appear and It was understood that II
able he would he heard on Monday.
sergeantat-Auns Wheeler stated to the committee his
inability TO find County Clerk Butler lie said he had
called at his house in the of the week AMI told
that Mr. Butler would surely that evening. He
left the subpoena and Friday evening went again to
the house where he told that Mr. Butler had not yet
returned and not known when no would be home.
County Clerk keenan, arrived Just after the committee
had voted recess. They Immediately reassembled;
however and he asked whether he had contributed
10 any political organiz atoms prior to his election. He
repG with franknc that be had sent cheek for $1,000
to j. German. treasurer OF the Iammany organza
ization he had also given money IN various amounts
a different times but hal preserved no memoranda by
which he would he enabled 10 specify the sums paid or
the persons receiving them. Beng pressed 10 state
whether thought he had dsbursed much as $4,000
nc replied that he positive that the sum would aee
gate less He had given money TO Republican leader
lie was asked, alsO whether be had looked up the law
under which he claimed authority 10 retain $1,000 or
money which apparently belonged to the city. lie re-
piled that he had not done so, but at some future ume
would make a statement on the subject
The committee adjourned to Monday at 10 a. m.