New-York tribune., 1894-03-26

! SUPERINTENDENT BROCKWAY DE-
Tended.
| THE TRUE INwARDNEss or TIE "INvESTIGA-
TloN" EXPOSED FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE DIS
REGARDED JUDICIAL PROCEDURE WITH
| 4 VENGEANCE,-A STRONG LETTER
FROM DIR. LEWIS g. JAMES.
| To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: Before the public mind Is rremeiiabiy
bassed I'm opposition TO the present management OF
! the New-York State Reformatory and in condem-
nation Of Superintendent Brockway a few obvious
considerations should be taken into account
| Ffrst-The charges against the institution were
brought by sensational newspaper and maintained
by ultra sensational methods. the result or which IS
| that the entire case has been prejudged from the
outset without even superficial pretence OF Ju-
dcial investigation or the recognition or the ordi-
nary principles OF fairness and justice we'll
| known principle Of criminal law prescribes that
person charged with offence should be regarded
as innocent until proved to be guilty but in TINS
procedure as in most cases OF sensational trial by
newspaper" tho proposition has been reversed
| Second-For the examination which has been con-
Quoted under the direction Of the State Board OF
| CharItles n committee OF three was originally APP
pointed. by the death Of the president the Hon
| oscar Craig nearly three months ago. the com
mttce reduced to two; and by the departure
| Of Or Smitc TO Europe. as a commissioner APP
pointed by President Cleveland. II was further re-
! duced to one No effort made to fill these va
cancies The gentleman who has conducted the ex-
| animation to it's lame and impotcnt conclusion IS
| conspicuously disqualified 10y temperament ana as
! sociations for the work which he performed. Ills
whole course has been that OF an advocate re-
tanned by the prosecution rather than that OF an
inpartlal iunge I'm proof OF this assertion it may
bc stated that letter OF his, in the possession
OF the friends OF the Reformatory. written after the
| testimony FOR the prosecution was concluded ana
before all the evidence for the defence had been re-
cofvoI more than intimacd that unless the defence
| should proceed a. once he was ready 10 make I'D
his report the eN parte testimony already taken
| This fact Of Itself is sufficient completely to as
credit the fairness Of his report
Thlrl-The report as finally rendered Is not that
of the subcommittee OF one. but OF the entire state
! RoorJ or charities The conclusions Of Mr.. ldtch-
field were submitted At full meeting Of the board
an Frllav the 18th inst. on Monday. the 18TH. n
printed pamphlet containing the full report. signed
bv the president and secretary Of the board was IN
oyery ncwspaner Office In NcwYork. Obviously,
| ana an several days before the board mot 10 con-
slider its subject matter TINS Is Jul'iai pIo,'n,r .
| win a vengeance, ON tn" authority OF ths report
h. Governor and Legislature Of the state OF New"
n"rH ,r'd pt r~pntaton AS model reformatory OF
Who. bv hly own genius and devotion has made II
Fourh-The testimony on which the present mt
| m. Board II Charities has been almost eNcuSNeiy
nat of criminals a MnI Iowa; mas grad Of such cri
inas in ccI for on four-hfths Of n inmatrS coz coz
| i adieI The testimony 90 catholic priest. VINO
for VOCATION q the ru'"s Of tn" institution tending
mIns,'a6n % in T. ami Of Two three sher PerTons sr
who evidently admirers OF the % styl" ot nlsV ,,
risky and amlahlc warden Of sing sing Prison
c,lr lt,r " Toey ar" ali people with gruiges. who
| deslrr to get even with the management -.
| arI
testimony NJ charges 9i per'hah,nt gu,E ~ a ba ye
sixth The legality Of corporal punishment was was
Eoori Of Charities does not hesitate to contemplate
the alvisabty and necessity OF us h h IN u
der certain restrictions. when dlrec'el nE ln IT, IT,
| tees of the institution The morbid sentimentaism m
SromgE, mm INTO, To- rsuctio al absurium by the recon-
mendaton apparently in sober earnest; that when,
| sheu - incasrl in "a stout leather jacket
Permit me to say. in conclusion. that have no no
| Wcw.yorE earnestly desrous OF the Improvement
,na1 1n' and effective measures in treatment and
| reform Of criminals. have had several oPpott
tnni,i,@s nrin i,s Dr Methods have conversei with It's
| inmates and those who have ben pirolei or as
cnn1ton ~ he spcrintenicnt or his subrllnates
am as strongly opposed TO cruelty and inhumanity
hat such creltles have been inflicted by Mr. Brock
way would gladly have all institutions conducted
| without corporal punishment II Il were possible
but physc anr c0eTs9n % sysem n % wRo"t S[" discipline
conli not be maintained for day in any penal In
| inn" is rorbdlcd seem quite as cruel and men
| tally more degrading and demoralzing PuttinS
n1,r" mane ond nrecve methods Of treating criminals
devoid Of all retributory PURPOSE ana aiming yIg ,,
| arc reform. character building ana the protection
u know Of no intelligent friend Of prison reform
forfeited the confidence Of the humane and int"ic
| The Prison Reform Association, took pains TO as
spT s"ntnned ae eondrnce in Mr Brockway and the
R~formatory methods Mr. William NJ. r Round.
spi,,i"n recently in the columns of The Christian
at Work" DR. Felix Adler testified In favor Of the
The Hon Frank II Sanborn. president Of the Mass
chuscts state Eoard Of Ch%ri,es AFTER reanS a n
Mr. Brockway. and with personal acqualnance win
' Ter Of Indignant protest against the injustice OF
their decision. which he has read, he says. with
| lie calls attention to the obvious fact that II the
had performed It's duty in times past cNnG s%GG
have been made such state of things dnss
Mr. Ghs1 % GescrGs' hs nany aniry cov nS, hsye
existed for live years unless the Board Of Charities
some ss Sp3t pf the board thercore he adds Il prefer
beye they hgy Ss@ weSk ee 9e s IN 70 an ber EGry ra
| duties for many years. However far Mr.. i.itch-
ea may X nnHe TEe Wor hs me
10 have travelled still further from truth ana dis
creiIon, i have seen many Investigations. but never
r''i one in which ;he plain requirements OF common
| sense in the ascertainment OF truth seemed to be
more completely aside than In this OF Mr.. Litch
field" ., -. - :, ,
| character huma nifty and abiity-an expert In the
PRACTICAL work OF supervising the conduct of penal
| and rcformatory institutions. and master OF
| nenaIogIcal science. I submit that his unbiased
trdcment is worth that OF all the sensa ona news
| nnaners in Christendom and should bid us pause in
| accepting a report OF the Board of Charities which
| &C. a practical confession OF their own incompetency
and neglect OF duty. I trust the backbone Of Gov
| arror Flower and the common sense Of our legisa-
| ,,rs viii save the state OF New-York from the
,nane disgrace OF an irremediable act OF injustice