The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-28
The EImIra Reformatory.

The Board OF Managers OF the Elmira Re
formatory have presented to the Legislature
memorial In answer TO the charges made
against them and Superintendent BROCK
WAY by Mr.. LITCHFIELD under cover OF the
Board OF Charities. 1t bears the signature Of
every one OF the managers. Some OF them
are men OF State reputation. They earnestly
deny any neglect OF duty upon their part.
and denounce as false and unworthy OF
credit the sincerity OF Mr.. LITCHFIELD's
findings that Superintendent BRoCKwAY
has been guilty OF cruelty or inhuman-
ity. They call attention to many par
ticulars In which apparently any report
against them has been based upon very
slight and insufficient testimony. The
managers answer is q solemn assertion to
the Legislature and to the public. over
their individual signatures. that no injus-
tice, cruelty, or act OF maladministration
can be truthfully laid at their door.
The investigation as originally contem-
plated seems to have wofully mscarried.
Mr.. CRAIG. as President OF the Board OF
Charities. suggested to the Reformatory
managers that IL agreeable TO them. In
order to prevent injury to the institution
by the circulation of slanderous stories. he
would have the Board Of which he was the
official head inquire into the whole Re-
formatory system. The Board OF Chari-
ties had for years annually visited tho
Reformatory. thoroughly investigated 1t.
acquainted themselves with the method Of
discipline In vogue there. and had as regu-
larly commended It In their reports to the
Legislature. Coming from Mr.. CRAIG. this
proposal met with the appreciation OF the
Board OF Managers. He made himself
Chairman OF the committee. and associated
with him DIR. STEPHEN SMITH OF this city as
medical expert. Precedent requiring that
committee OF investigation should consist
Of three members Of the Board, the choice
fell upon Mr.. LITcHFrELp. who solicited the
appointment as he had both the means and
time to enable him to act. Before the case
was half finished. Mr. CRAIG died. and soon
thereafter DR.. SMITH was sent to Paris as
a sanitary commissioner by the United
States Government. The burden OF continu-
Ing the inquiry was then unhesitatingly as
sumed by Mr.. LIToHFIELD. who persisted
In closing 1t up alone. There is every rea-
son for believing that Mr.. CRAIG. before his
death. expressed his conviction that the
charges were unfounded.
Against this one-man committee. the man
ayers protested in vain. Their demand that
the vacancies be filled was met with the an-
swer that they must go on, or report would
DO made by default. Mr.. LIrcHFIRLD sub
mitted his conclusions at full meeting OF
the Board on Friday, March 10. A printed
pamphlet containing the report OF the full
Board to the Legislature appeared SO soon
after the meeting that 1t was obvious it
must have been put In type several days be-
fore the Board met to consider the matter.
What do the managers OF the Reform
atory now ask the Legislature to do
They ask for the appointment OF a legls-
lative committee to impartially investigate
the entire Reformatory system. and for
some sort OF fair determination OF the
charges brought against them by set OF
criminals. This is a fair request. It should
be complied with.
II, after such an Investigation. they should
be adjudged guilty. they are willing to
return their commissions TO the Governor,
and surrender their charge into other
hands. We hope Governor FLOWER and the
Legislature will accede TO the request Of
the Reiormatory managers. Any other
course would be ruinous to the penal adj
vancement OF the past fifty years. and de-
stroy In fact aud In spirit the entire re-
formatory system OF the State.
Mr.. BRoCKwAY. with his lifetime OF ex-
perience and an international reputation
for accomplishing admirable results in the
reformation ofcriminals. is entitled to sus-
pension OF public judgment till fair and I'M
biassed tribunal has rendered its verdict.