New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-27
PADDLED EIGHTEEN TIMES.
STORY OF A PRISONER AT THE ELMlRA
REFORMATORl.


pRocKw,Y's METHODS BEGUN-TEsTI-
MoNY OF CoNvICTs-AN INsPEC-
TIoN OF THE PRISON.
fey TELEGRAPH THE TRIBrSE.1
Elmira Sent 26-Oscar Craig and DIR. stephen
Smith Of the State Board of Charities. began to-
day their Investigation Of the charges of cruelty
brought against Superni endent Brockway, OF the
Emira Reformatory The first days session OF
the investigation was held i'm the big Reformatory
itself; and a few OF its inmates gave their testi-
monv concerning their padding Accompanying
Mr. Craig and Dr. Smith were ex-Judge Francis H.
Gilbert of the Supreme Court. who acted as their
counsel and James 5. Tanning. assistant secre-
tarv of the State Board of Charities, VINO had
drawn up a summary OF the afiidavits made re-
earding Superintendent Brockway. When the COM
mittee met. Mr.. Craig announced that MS sore
desire was to learn the truth Of the charges MADE
against Superintendent Brockway. Ex-Judge Gil
bert said that as the representative OF Attorney
General ROsendale he also desired 10 learn the
truth about the charges against Mr.. Brockway
Mr. Craig asked Superintendent Brockway and
DR. w c. Wey, the chairman of the Board OF
Managers If they desired to be represented by
counsel Mr. Brockway and Mr.. Wey replied that
Judge Gilbert could represent both themselves
and the State This arrangement having been
made. Mr. Craig suggest I'd that the Board OF Mana
gers should pass a resolution authorizing him to
make an assurance he desired TO give 10 each
convict witness examined that he would not be
punished afterward for giving testimony adverse 10
the superintendent. The Board of Managers there
fore passed a resolution declaring that no convict
who should thereafter testify before the committee
should be subjected TO corporal or severe punish
rnent hereafter for any offence. without the con
sent the Board having first been obtainec Inc
committee then decided 10 inspect tho Reformatory.
and visited a large number of the workshops where
m were engaged their several tasks.
There are 40 coflvicts.- and |. 200 Of them have
some kind OF employment at the forty trades In
the institution. When, later in the day, the COM
mittee visited the 'seclusion cells in one of them
a prisoner named Van Ness found
IN EXPERT on PADDING FOUND.
HAS he ever been paddled?' inquired DR.. Smith.
Eighteen times" replied Superintendent Brock
way
This information led the committee to have Van
Ness striped I'm the bathroom and they examined
his body The marks plainly upon his back
where he had been padded
"Dil it hurt asked DR. smith.
VERY much" replied Van Ness
The paddle then exhibited by Superintendent
Brockway. IT proved to be strip Of leather belt
ing | foot 10 inches long and a quarter of inch
wide. attached to a handle of wood l foot and
inches long The entire length of the paddle was
thus three feet Mr.. Brockway said the average
number of blows he struck with the paddle was
seven Four other prisoners who had been recently
padded sent for and examined. Upon three
Of them the paddle had not left any mark; upon
the fourth there were marks visible. and in this
the skin not broken.
Superintendent Brockway in reply to questions,
said that when prisoners who had been brought
to be padded proved refractory they We're tied
by the wrists the iron grating of a window that
looks into the bathroom In instances. he
stated. they were suspended by the wrists from
the grating. and their feet did not touch the floor
But this was rarely the and not long con-
tinued The committee had Superintendent Brock
way exhibit to them AN iron bar nine feet in length
with a hook at the end which. he said. used
to drag refractory prisoners from the rear OF
cell when they had barred their cell door. 1t ap-
peared that this iron hook was heated when used.
How hot do you heat To- said Mr.. Craig to
Patrick Mclaughlin. one OF the keepers
1T is redhot when take 1t out OF the fur
mace" said Mclaughlin.
But Mclaughlin carries it hal; a mile from the
furnace before putting 1t in the cell" said superin-
tendent Brockway.
And have not used this iron hook" said
Mclaughlin. ''in eight years"
EXAMINING THE sECLUsION CELLS.
The committee also examined the "secluson cells''
with great care. 1t found that prisoners could
be handcuffcd iron ring in of the
room and that another ring a bar of
iron and could be slipped along IT, Super
lntendtnt BfOckNdy Sdlu tnit ne never
handcufred prisoners To the stationary iron
ring but to that which could be moved. The prs-
oner confined in the cell could thus move from one
side TO the other of it although handcuffed.
There was where you imprisoned Wallace
It not" said Mr.. Craig to Superintendent Brock
way
Yes" said the superintendent. "ie
fined in one of these cells"
why did you thus punish him. inquired Mr..
Craig
BECAUSE" answered the superintendent, 'he
would not answer my questions. | regard myself
as an officer of the State and entitled to have my
questions answered. This Judge Seaver. in Buffalo,
witnesses for contempt who would not answer his
questions. | hold that / have the same right TO
iinprson in these s-clusion cells those prisoners
who do not questions
At sunset Superintendent Brockway exhibited to
the committee the Interior plaza OF the prison
the Elmira Reformatory regiment of LOO men. All
the convcts subject to military drill, and
march with wooden muskets There are sixteen
companies, and they have four battalions of four
companies each The regiment marched with the
skill of veteran soldiers
The committee this evening attended a special
meeting in the chapel of the 1tOo inmates OF the
institution. Superintendent Brockway made an adj
dress to the convicts, telling them OF the present
iuyestlgation and informing them that tonight
and a gummed envelope. and have the opportunity
of writing down any complaint OF cruelty upon
his part He said these letters they must seal, and
all the missives would he given to the investigat-
and assured them that he would not punish them
hereafter for doing Mr.. Craig, upon behalf or
the State Board Of Charities, made the same
proffer protection to the inmates In giving testi-
mony Of cruel treatment.
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