New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-08
THE ELMIRA INVESTIGATION.
SUPERINTENDENT BRoCKwAY TEsTIF1Es
HE GIVES THE COMMITTEE \ DETAILED DE
sCRIpT.oX or TIE METHODS OF DIS
CIPLINE AND PUNISHMENT CsED
IN THE PRISON.

tlEllNE AM = NiSi-A4--'H ~''~'
IL THE PRISON.
ElrnIra. n Y. oct THE investigation into the
affairs OF the Elmlra Roformatory was continued
this morning 10y the committee Of the state Board
Of Charities Commissioner Lhchheld. the third
member Of the committee WAS present for the
first time John Fausman. Arthur l.. Manley, H. j.
Murray and T.. T.. Jennings. former guards OF the
rsformaiory were present to testify against inc
administration OF affairs AT the institution. Su-
perntcndcni Brockway testified that be regulates
the punishment OF conyicts with the approval.
tact or expressed OF the Board OF Managers the
latter have adopted no resolutions formally direct
ing him how To- discipline prisoners. lie used MS
own discretion In the matter. The marking sys-
TEN constituted the principal method OF discipline
tho grade Of the changing with the loss OF
Increase Of privileges Tho only means OF COM
pulsory discipline used is spanking with the
paddle Tho solitary cells arc used more for de-
tcntion than punishment. The feet Of "A prisoner
are never shackled Not all Of those placed In the
solitary cells are hanlcuned. and a prisoner con-
fined in these cells always has an arm free. -Four
DAYS Is the longest time man Is chained 10 'iie
ring bolt In the floor. They are not dark cells
and are above ground. The rations for prisoners
confined In solitary cclls are two meals Day con
s,sting Of hash meat and bread In the morning ana
bread and water tea at night
II a prisoner erred the superintendent hrst urea
admonitl0n- communication land on the secohh
offence a spanking administered, II the prs
oner could not be- reformed by warnings. During
a Spanking the conyicts are handcuned. the GUNS
hcin1 a cord on the window sill. The prisoners
are not usually raised from their feet The excep-
tons are when man being punished wou'u
not stand still He rccollected two cases
where a convict was drawn up from the floor while
! being spanked the suspensions not being for more
than a minute.
Mr.. Brockaway testified that he has used piece
| of old hose three feet long substitute for the
straps where undue severity was necessary. The
strap is dipped water before being used 10 soften
IT, 20 that IL will not hruse. An accurate recoru
is kept by Mr. Brockway himself OF all paddlings.
| The average number Of blows Is six seven and
| the limit is twelve. In "A few instances last year
| this was exceeded and once twenty-four blows
were administered a slight blow will leave a
mark. The effect Of the blows is observed and
when the prisoner is thought TO have softeneh the
| punishment Is discontinued The witness said the
| treatment was not applied to subdue obstinate
men, but rather to stimulate the mind and send a
| man on with renewed purpose. lie Is present at
all the paddllngs and the continuance OF the blows
| rests with him.
| The witness continued:
"The treatment In the bathroom Is TO get the
greatest effect Suddenly addressing them by my
| manner and my voice | endcavor TO change theiI
| dispositions. If this has no effect they are
| spanked
| Have you struck convict In the face as he
| turned his head while being spanked?
| Il have with my hand frequently turned the con
| victs head straight and also knocked him on the
| head. ] have. also. in instance tapped the con
Wet on the forehead with the handle of the strap
| which caused an abrasion the man being thci
skinned have never kicked man in my ire
| am not kicker. daughter. no serious OF
| permanent injury has ever resulted from our pun
| ishments. | have never lOosencd the teeth or 9
| convict by striking him with my fist DO not use
| profane language TO convlcts. but might have use'
| the word d"
| Chairman Craig said the code defined the use Of
| that word profanity
The witness said there have been several attempt,
| at instruction since this investigation has begun
| I'm one six refused 10 pour metal IN th'
| foundry. and they were spanked. one OF them two
| different times. The witness said he had nlppss,
10 refuse to work In the foundry. The incorrlgiD'
| of these were included In the nifty cOnvicts Trans
| ferrcd to Auburn prison short time ago