New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-09
ELNIRI REFORMATORY CELLS VISITED.
REEF, CTORY PRISONERS PAINFUL ATTITUDE
COMPLAINTS ABOUT FOOD.

, r;IFR lCTOKY PRISONERS PAINFUL ATTITUDE
COMPLAINTS ABOUT FOOD.
Elmira. y Y. oct S-The Committee OF the
Stat, Board OF Charities. who are investigating
the administration Of affairs at the Emira Re-
formatorv spent the entire day at the institution.
No session was held but the committee were
present at all the exercises IN which the prisoners
take part on Sunday. This morning AT the re-
uglous services 800 Of the inmates were voluntarily
present In the afternoon one OF Professor Monk
exercises in ethical culture was given At the
,los. Of the exercises which lasted for an hour
and a half the committee. accompanied by Act
Ing Superintendent Rathbone alone Inspector '''
mess hall while the inmates were al supper 'acn
man had an apple two slices OF brown brrau anu
a dish OF molasses The members oil inc COM
,nitte. ate some OF the bread. and pronounced II
OF good quality.
rL committee then Unexpectedly expressed n
dosir. IN visit some Of the cells. and proceeded
along IN. corridor where the convict men are CON
fined Chairman craig talked with Few OF 'he
prisoners there.
CO.. man complained Of the bread served. saying
,ha, hits Of wood were mixed In with the uous".
Another criticised the hash. saying 1t coh.a'i,eu
only potatoes and bread. and no meat. Al inns
nnctur. one OF the inmates who. on accouh. Vi
good behavior was allowed about the lower nan
near the messrOom during meal time Whispers" ~
one Of the men accompanying the committee wa"
an evidence Of the pun.shments prdcts'" No"'' ~
found on visiting the two 'rest-cuie ce'is y" wy
second tier Chairman Craig requested MI r'H'''
homo n omen these cells and this was immediately
done In one was young colored man. VINO h"n
been In there for two weeks on TWO lhe"is w
He had refused to obey the officers In the otne'
vas a one-armed convict who had been confined for
..,eral davs for striking an officer. He said the
officer had swung mis- coat IN his face for being out
Of STEP and he retaliated by striking the ol''cer
10 the ground. Neither OF the prisoners ia" wv"
uunlshed otherwise than by confinement
Thu. seciusion cells were then visited There
ro ove inmates confined one standing
nm to the cell door with his wrists handcuned 10
the bars Of the door so ~ to raise ms arms "o''
,is shoulders with only six inches play. lie had
been in that position for ten hours Men nh,''-
c,o(ed IN This manner are kept in that position
from a. IN. until bedtime. Then tntS are NAM"
cuned ~ the iron bar attached to the back wall
- a., coli diroc,lv over the mattress. which rest ;
~. W ~ shca,-iron floor This prisoner was asked
What ne had done 10 cause ms c0hnhInfnt W, -,
lie aid ne had refused TO work rms cOhNers'''o"
Wr CraIg-You understand you VIII be reieaSeu
,,hnn Won promise to behave yourself.
ttiS2 Gn,o Wbv do YOU not promise
prisoner The officer was here YESTERDAY ana
,sked me II would behave myself u ne reieasr'
1n, but / thought / would walt until MONDAY morn
~" Mr. pathbene 10 prisoncr)-I want you to under
stand that You cannot transgress our rules Jus,
because this committee Is mere, lou d vnn viii
,ot he allowed To leave here Monday morning even
II YOU do promise to obey. -, ,,,s -, tho
MIR Craig seemed to approve the reHlirhS vi tn.
oc,inr SUPERINTENDENT and told the prisoner that
the committee did not come here TO interfere IN
The advancement OF the Institution. but to lnvestl-
gate and suggest remedies Tor abuses