New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-22
THE ELMIRA INVESTIGATION.
LEOPOLD COIN TELLS OF HARDsH1PS
ENDURED.
TAKEN BACK TO THE PREPARATORY AFTER
BEING on PAROLE FOR A BREACH OF A
RULE-A long IMPRISONMENT

BEING on PAROLE FOR A BREACH OF A
RuLE-A LONG IMPRISONMENT
WITHOUT A TRIAL
Elmira y Y. June 2l.-The Reformatory investi-
cation resumed this morning, with Leopold
Cohn an inmate with an interesting history, as the
first witness. He said that in 1883 he was sent TO
the Reformatory from Ncw-York city for forgery
in the second degree. He remained one year and
was then released parole. He was arrested on
July TO- 1889 by one Of the officers OF the Reform
atory. He said he had committed new offence.
but had discontinued making monthly reports to
Superintendent Brockway for the reason that he
had left the place where he was employed without
notice and obtained another position. At tho time
OF his he clerk In the distributing de-
partment Of THE New York World" The witness
said he was not taken before any magistrate or a
hearing granted him. or an opportunity TO COM
municate with friends. but was taken back to the
Reformatory. He locked up in the rest
cure" for forty-three days.
After remaining at the Reformatory eleven
months the witness said he sent TO the Auburn
, State Prison. the principal charge against him
being violation OF parole" lie passed twenty
two months Auburn and was returned
to the Reformatory on the recommenda-
ton Of Warden Durston. Two days after
his arrival he made a clerk. and rose
to be chief clerk OF the Reformatory. Then he
.aid a charge OF classifying the books was made
against him unjusily and he was reduced 70 the
lowest grade. The witness said that he wrote 7"
the Board Of Managers asking for a court martlh
but II was denied lie worked up 10 the highest
grade again. In January last. the witness said ne
wrote letter 20 Governor Flower and other letters
TO friends asking for help to obtain his parole ne
sent one Of these ont by released inmate ana loI
that offence reduced TO the lowest gran" ana
had remained In that position since. Inc witness
said that he had been padded only once an" ''''
was for refusing to take castor oil. The witness
said he had seen numbers OF inmates coming from
the bathroom with bruises on their faces ana ne
had seen keepers strike and Kick an inmate named
Pierce.
on cross-examinaton the witness SAID that ne
was playing the races" when he committees t1e
crime which brought him TO the Keiorma'oiy lie
said that he knew that he should make monthly
reports on parole but did not do so after the sec
ond month. ,o.,, o,,o Tho witness cohn severe
cross-rxamination He admitted breaking mnoy,
rules OF the RcfornitOry. but q. lar'I N, ~
/ warrant his Imprisonment for over SIX year t,ir
said that even when he was IN thr hTs' kia-r ~
! II wac against tho rules t. write To- any one oN'lt
relatives. and the boy MAJ no Ir.h.F ls,trr
| describing his case and addressed H. 70 IhT
world /! was -mlFF Wa G rcdnrci 10 The owcs
Grade The witness said he felt particularly orc
sincr his return from Auburn. and nat ne ncl.cDo
/ the Constitution OF IN. Tinted Sti'"' EuH'H
him against imprisonment without n"e P'"'' W.
A. the request Of the proseoIti9in the ieIteg
which Cohn sent the Board 81 MANAGE. W
pathe,ic appeal for a hearing IN his case ana va.
/ couched IN respectful Language. III tmr a'' r.d
! the witness broke down, am "hS u' ~ iii. -
further In answer TO questions 3y r 10y l 'i', ,ybca
the committee Cohn said ih3t .'s 'Hm,i Err hii
mother lie admitted that Dis IL" previous - MR., MS
aTrc,t Ta o ~" D,ro he dd not ~ back 20 MS oil
| associates ana that he cnl"aVor'I % % fS"' "
h' Whe65 he witness finished his testimony he
,,rned 20 tho committee AMI asked II Do, Won J
be ao"1a TO i m,E i" s1 nc .r'any but yoa
! know We have no power 20 parIonn, rurior ~.
six and nalf wears that hayc been O. NM !
have learned lesson ana mink ta MINI me bow
acorn ti,nred and h. topped Or. Flint broke n
with Il don't think You need to say any NOR We
u C"hn then asked can g away with hope
'n Jda sS" L ear rcped II no. prpcr oT ~. 20
say anything. but you may D' sure you nav
'< Thc aT,, witness after ess va DE- ilga1y
Flood q Elmira y no 'Tsu i,cp os Mo toM he
r'rnn,I,cr yesiorlay mat De- nal been I'Tin,nrh,S
injured by Mr. brock"ftl y'' s n..ow par ba,
tha IN his opinion 10 is due % the grip ana n'' -
TT Wey. the Refornatory physician. ,r Gcorre
| VI case "A specialist and Dr Flood t'.''i,'r .l
Shortcll. an inmate who 'laln'u ''", ~ ,,lth The
been injured by pc" o. ts,,,nG a slight optical
-, "a birh could hr rcmcdcl by wearing tiA@a' -
| and which could not have b''n pm, -, m. 10
fr,ra,orv from New York city In 1871 i"r stratIht
! . ,rn,ch AT the Union League cub n" WINS
| Said hat he was chained - the Moor IN th' ,".
+ tary cells day and a night an" H'P' d" Wv
| crtr," sixteen or seventeen days. eli, .t ..,....
Ucnrv Pierce. inmate. wa cau,l i@r am am, T, 4,
,,dmr.l was found % be go deaf mat DE- C'ull N',
Re s,rorr, and examined His conduct rrc"i snow y
mai hn haI been padded IN N"V"mhrr ~ ~ +. .
Fcbruary 1893. and the prosec1non ca"@F -
,,.i snow that his deafness Is tn" result Oh '''''
mcnis and blows and KICKS from 1917 -, IN order
80 A. o'clock the committee took a recess IN "I''I
10 witness Grill Of The rcfornainry r'tiin,m, yl
over 900 inmates The dr!l! TOOK p'ac' IN w. "'i go
ysrd inside the Enclosure. The inmates maze an
attractive appearance in their blue back anu req
.fts according To the different grades IN" inihnil
,t-arms and military manoeuVrc- were perform 20
| H'i,h A precision which would do crrlh 10 cIn,
| militia regiment An incident which caused SllRn'
scnsaflnn occurred when the regiment mar cn' on 10
| r. nsrad. ground. one Of the minor onlc"r-, an
| - raned Rarnett LETT the ranks and walked
! across the grass toward the lnvestgatlng 'pnmt
zoo lie was halted by other officers. stripped OF ms
| suord and placed under arrest He had attempted
30 eneak 10 the committee IN order - MAKE an dp-
| ncnl fhem u lnterfcre IN MS case