New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-22
THE ESCAPE From SING SING.

The escape from Sing Sing Prison OF two
murdcrcrs under sentence of death ought to
end the official career of Warden Brown. Gov-
ernor Flower is one of the few persons who
know why it was not ended a good while ago
It has been repeatedly announced that Brown
was TO be superseded and so far as the public
is informed no special effort to secure his re-
,entjon has been made. No doubt he has Wig
oro,,sly protested, and made strong promises
of Improvement and Political fidelity ana 1or
lack of any other explanation it must be as
sumed that these have prevailed with the 10Y
ernor lie has never succeeded III proving MS
fitness for the responsible place which he occu-
MES. and those who have had the best oppor-
tunities for observing his conduct and eStl-
mating his character have been most thor
cughy convinced of the necessity for change
of administration at Sing Sing. The two con-
yicts who got away from him on thursday
night no doubt cheerfully coincide In the opih-
ion that as Warden he is failure, though
from their point Of view his merits as an lhdl-
vidua are considerable.
Brown was more interested in local politics
of dsreputabe kind before his appointments
than in ANYTHING else and he has never since
permitted his official cares and ObhgallGnS 10
absorb his attention or even occupy the first
Mace in his thoughts. lie has valued his Office
chiefly FIR the influence and command which IL
has given him over set OF poll'icii wire
nullors and for the satisfaction which he has
derived from vulgar and irritating d'spay
of authority. That the discll line which n Ms
maintained amcng his subOldlnateS haS ho'
coiresponded to the tyranny which he mas en-
IL.
dcayCred to establish outside the prison Walls
is conclusively proved by the escape OF Pal''>'"r
and Roehl The story told by inc Wa''hih'h
needs t, be critically ,iitcd An expert c!'SS-
examination would certainly elicit numerous
interesting details. Everybody will want to
kpow all the circumstances under which hand
fuls of red pepper and Knockout blows WcfH
administered and be eager fer comllc'e MS
tory of the long and agonizing hours DUNG
| which the watchmcn waited fcr dchVerihcc
from the cells in which their late prisoners
had rudely and cruelty confined them. men
this romantic tale of assault and captivity mas
boon substantiatcd it will not be lmpeitin"M
IN ask various questions as 10 the condit on'
nrccodent as. fer example, how many pounds
Of red pepoer condemned murdcrers are en-
couraecd t. accumulate: whether 1t Is abso-
|
creatures as these watchmen at the mercy Of
Powerful and desperate criminals; whether IN!
connection can be traced between the recent
arrival of Rcehls brother from Germany with
a large sum of money. and the eN'Fi'ia'ha'S
feebloness and dociliy OF said watchmcn anu
what advantage there is in keeping State $
prison SO insecurity guarded at night from
without that prisoners vino have bestowed 'heif
pepper and their fists where they Will % inc
III, st good are enabled TO devote the time De
tween supper and breakfast to flight, without
danger of molcstaiion. Warden Brown achieved
fame bv drawing dcad-linc on reporters we
arc inclined TO think that he would feel more
glorious and comfortable just now il he hal
dawn deld-lnc on escaping cOnvictS. Then
there is the matter of clothes. 1t appears TO
be the custom to amcliorate the huhiiia'ioh Oh
condemned murdercrs by permitting them ID
exchange the ordinary prison garb 1or gar
mcnts Of more tasteful cut and pattern, so that
when red pepper and knuckleS have done their
n,rfcct work they are enabled to make med
ct and innocent appearance in the outer world
Precedent may support this concession but
common sense rcpudates II.
Unless Warden Brown is more dear and scr
viceable to Governor Flower than the public
has been led t. suppose he will have 70 ina a
new sphere of political activity The piac-
,ical certainty that men who have broken jail
will he lecaptmcd ought not to save the official
TO whose delinquency they owe their escape.
If nroper discipline and efficiency had been
maintained at Sing Sing these men could not
have got away.