New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-15
TROUBLE IN CLINTON PhISON.
CHARGES OF CRUELTY AGAINST WARDEN
FULLER.
THE FACT THAT HE IS A CLEVELAND DEMOCRAT
THOUGHT TO BE sIGMFIcANT-GoVERNok
HILLS CANDIDATE FOR THE PLACE
SUPERINTENDENT LATHRoP LOOK
ING INTO THE NATTER.

SUPERINTENDENT LATHHOP LOOh-
ING INTO THE NATTER.
Albany, Aug. IA specaD.-The State authorizes
have been slow TO move in the matter OF te oha'so9
that crletes and fortunes were practsed IN Clh'oh
State Prison. The reason given for TINS tarulcsS -
that exposures OF rigid discipline In prisons are Oh He
ouent occurrence and that the source of the nform
,ton IN the nresent case was O discharged keeper.
The persons charged with practising these alleged
barbarities IL would seem should be either proven
Guilty or innocent. But they say that they w nV'
mind long wait for exoneration; that they near 30
much OF this sort OF stuff that they are hardened 10 IT,
and whether the public believe them guilty or innocent
makes but little difference to them There Is an army
Of men kept in confinement. Many OF them are OK a
vcous nature and never let opportunity to assault
n heepar escape. These are the worst class OF men
when released the prison officials Gege, and 1t Is from
them generally that the great stories OF wrongs are
gathered The easiest men to get along with in a
puson are those who more Sinned against Ihau
shining. They do the work assigned them, and when
released from prison do not complain. 1t Is only
prisoners who will not work, are surly and msolent
that are so badly used To this class of men any KIND
of discipline is burdensOme.
ave have got to have strict and rigid discipline
said Warden Durston recently when speaking OF thc
matter alt is no easy thing to manage 1000 crini-
nals-men who are kept In confinement cohstahty'
II we let these men have their own way 1t would be
the OF your paper JIuhB VAN~ WV y"
the employees and allowing them to run it, In order
70 maintain discipline, something must be done that
the prisoners fear. Deputy Moon, who IS charged
with atrocities is one Of the best dscipnarans In the
state I lave never heard Of his being anything but
humane"
Governor Hill, when asked whether he would direct
an investigations said that the superintendent Of
Prisons Austin Lathrop was supreme in the matter
70 he thought the subject worthy Of investigation
bo would make one The Governor said that ii there
were however, any glazing irregularities or crneues
brought to his knowledge and the superintendent did
NOT act he could as Governor direct an investigation
He believed that superintendent Lathrop would care
fully look into the matter
The allegation has been made that Warden Fuller, OF
CLINTON and Senator EmersOn's brother we're very
thick and that the former must have had some pecu
mary interest hrryns along the slir industry IN
the prison. so as to turn out as many shirts as
possible for Mr. Emerson. This Warden Fuller denies
Hc says that prisoner Is compelled 70 WORK over
eight hours day. whether his task be ,dope or not.
One or two of the prisoners can make over thirty
shirts a day. but lie will not allow them to. The
daily task Of prisoner is eight shirts. If he finishes
them before the day is over he can remain Idle at
his machine until the day Is done. Some prisoners
who want 10 keep employed, not caring TO read
are allowed TO take shirts to their cells with them
20 finish This counts on their next days work
| and gives them Just that much leisure time. Some
~ the prisoners are eight days ahead Of their work
They do this so that when they don't feel well they
can remain In ldeness at their machines. All pr1s-
oncrs unless Sick to 50 into the shops each day
whether they work not II left In their cells they
| would be up to some mischief. Warden ruler ue-
clares that the punishment IRE not brutal and are
| none too rigid for the proper enforcement OF us
cipline.
Ex-Keeper John Drophy lives in Troy, the home oi
| Ross Edward Murphy, Of the state branch OF the
Democratic party. Mr.. Murphy got prophy an ap-
polntment through Governor Hill, rs a keeper Ill
clinton state Prison. Dlr. Brophy began writing for
newspapers right after he got into his prison employ
ment Some of the prison officials said that he was
| a dangerous man. Whether they meant that his
articles would create false impression, gave away
too much OF the inside machinery OF the prisons, Is
NOT known lie went 70 work In Clinton Prison last
| October. lie was not satisfactory to the manage
ment ana was late In February unloadcd on Auburn
| prison. lie remained there only three weeks, when
he was sent out into the cold world TO buffet the
| March winds.
Warden Fuller Is a stanch Cleveland Democrat
He has the reputation Of being good discipInarian.
and Of IooSihg af,er the welfare Of hi, prisoners lie
otcn gets no entertainments for them, and tries in
many why's TO ease up their close confinement. Last
wear Governor Hin wanted MIR. Fuller's place lie
| wanted # for Troy named Michael Conway
hrother 81 County Clerh Conway. Boss Murphy urged
| Mr. conway for the place, but Mr. Fuller "oud moi
| r,.ipn some say now that the Governor. having
set his mind upon dspacng Mr.. Fuller was bound t,
do II before retiring from Office, and that Mr. Brophy
was the man selected 10 o. the dirty WORK; ,,a
John Brophy Is of an erratic nature and MS friend
heyCve tbat he wrote the story published when sezco
With one OF his queer ts Others oe M 1a n,
tbe story which he did IN fact ne stated time an'
ogaln tfat he entered upon the work for the purpos'
| :" superiftendent OF Prisons Lathrop and his chic
cIerk Charles X Baker, spent the first three days o
| he week nj the prison inqulrng into the charge
| made by BrOphy General LathrVp would say
| tIo oSuii of
| ne was formulating n report which would be glveI
| "a the public probably tomorrow.