The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-04-16
PATTERSON WAS BUNCOED
The Willy Colonel Wood Raised
a Loan from the State
Prison Keeper.
Special to the Jersey Ctr Ne.,s.

TRENTON, April 16, 1890 There seems
to be something exceedingly peculiar
about the investigation of the State
Prison by the United States authorities
yesterday. and it begins to look IS If good
Keeper Patterson had been buncoed. :Ac-
cording to the keepers version of the af-
fair, a tall, blonde stranger, clad in
brand new light suit. and without any
overcoat, called at the prison on Monday
night. He introduced himself as Colonel
Wood, United States Prison In
spector, and told the keeper that
affidavits had been filed in the Office of
the United States Attorney General to the
effect that the United States prisoners
we're mob properly taken care of and that
he had an order to transfer them to the
Eastern Penitentiary in Pennsylvania He
also stated that the affidavits had been
forwarded by Sheriff Davis. of Hudson
county.
Although the man showed no order, and
produced no credentials the keeper in
vited him to investigate matters for him
self A long and snort term prisoner
sentenced by the general government
were produced, and closely questioned by
the colonel. Ihey both affirmed that they
were well treated.
Colonel Wood expressed himself salts
fled and said he would telegraph to the
Attorney General that it would not be
necessary to remove the prisoners just
yet.
The Colonel was entertained with that
hospitality for which Keeper Patterson is
noted, and during the evening grew
somewhat communicative. He stated
that he had had talk with
the Governor and the Secretary
of State over the matter and mad also
conversed with General Sewell and a
| Ina In,
concerning the object of his visit After
while he said he was obliged to 60 to
Philadelphia, but would return in the
morning. as he thought he would con-
tinue the investigation further. AT the
same time he casually made known the
fact that he was financially embarrassed
and candidly asked the genial keeper for
loan.
A United States prison inspector is q
man whom perhaps it would not be profit
able to offend. AT any rate the generous
keeper produced sum of money which
he refuses to name and which is various
ly estimated at from So to $50, and handed
thanks the colonel left, and up to the
present writing the genial keeper has
seen nor heard nothfng from him. zssa
Moreover Governor Albeit and Secre-
tary Kelsey both say thar the man had no
connection with them and General Sewell
says AC 0tu uOu AtSSb hilAA Al 4S0W 4OI n.
/ The General relegraphed to Washington
for information concerning the Colonel,
but up to the time of leaving town had re-
ceived no reply.
Keeper Patterson will not admit yet
that his visitor was not all he claimed to
be, Notwithstanding the fact that this
general government does not send out its
prison inspectors in such a manner.
Supervisor Butler and Contractors
Cook and Tobin, who were arrested for
violating the act regarding the stamping
of prison made shoes, were released on
$500 bail, and will have a hearing Thurs
day.
Davis Laughs at 1t.
Sheriff Davis simply laughed when a
JERSEY CITY NEWS reporter asked him
for particulars of the charges he was said
to have filed at Washington.
"They have no existence" said he. 81
never made any. l never heard of the
matter until l read The JERSEY CITY
News last evening. / don't know
whether there is anything in the matter.