Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-06-21

inmates OF the Reformatory Make Fresh
Charges of Inhuman Brutality, but Con-
tradict Themselves Several Points.
One Prisoner Claims to BE Crippled.
ELMIRA, N. Y, June 21.-The Elmira
reformatory Investigation has developed a
lies of sensational stories charging SUI
perintendent Brockway with the most in
human cruelties. 1t developed also that
two inmates of the reformatory have been
kept in dark cells since they testified
against the superintendent
Thomas J. Lumsden, n dark, frank eyed
lad, said he had been sent to Elmira in
January, 1899, having pleaded guilty to
the theft of bicycle. In September of
that year witness was padded for having
q newspaper in his cell. After three or
four blows the suffering was so great that
he turned his head. Keeper Halpin there
upon seized him by the throat and turned
his head, while Brockway struck him muir
derous blows on the head, bruising the
eye SO that it pulled up, and striking the
nose, which bled profusely. Two blows,
according to Lumsden, were then laid
across the stomach with the paddle. As
n result Lumsden fell to the floor in n
groggy condition.
Beaten and Kicked.
Then" swore the witness, keepers
Sample and Halpin punched me with
their fists and kicked me as I lay on the
floor. Then they handcuffed me- and hook
ing chain in the shackles they drew me
up so that, though my feet touched the
floor my entire weight was on my hands.
Then Brockway said to me. Steady now,
and I'll let you go. But with that he hit
me another murderous blow on the side of
the face and nose, which was bleeding.
Then they took me down, and a keeper
helped me away after washing the blood
from my face"
DIR. Flint asked that o pair of shackles
be locked on the witness to prove If scar
on his wrist could have been made thus.
DIR. Flint concluded the scar never could
have been made by the shackles as claim
ed. Nor did the doctor find any scar on
the eye.
James ]. Riley, another inmate, was
called. He came in 1891, then aged II
years, from New Brighton, n. Y, where
he had committed forgery. He had been
punished six times, having been struck
above the buttocks and his neck having
been permanently famed, he said.
Inmate John w. Hogan, sent from New
York in 1891 for burglary, was next call
ed by the prosecution. He had been pad
died three times with enough force to
draw Dloou, Delng STRUCK ON the neau ana
face with the paddle.
Crippled by Blows.
Walter f. Lewis, sent up at the age of
Ii years for having stolen boat in Hav
erstraw in 1891, was next called. He had
been padded, he said, II times on the
lower loin and buttocks and had been
struck on the head three times with the
paddle. AS result of his beatings, Lewis
stated, he had constant pains in the loins
and abdomen. Indeed no said he was
broken down and had been transferred
from the shops to the gymnasium because
of his intirmities, and, for like reason, had
been excused from any exercise involving
running or jumping. DR.. Flint examined
him superficially and found some conflict
ing tests Lewis sworc he had been hit
on the head by Mr., Brockway while dis
robing to be padded the superintendent
at the same time explaining the blow as
designed to get some life into him. He
swore that after one padding he had been
in turn kicked toward the door by Mr..
Brockway and two other officials. When
Lewis stepped down, the commission I'D
jOurned