New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-31
INVESTIGATING DROCKWAY.
SPECIAL COMMISSION GETS DOWN
TO WORK AT LAST.

w Nav S0-The commission appointed
co,,ornor Flower to reinvestlgate the charges
V -, and inhumanIty In the management or the
e. peformatory got down TO solid work to-day
rosrobers Of the committee. ex-Judge william d.
Inc " NJ Albany: DIR. Austin Flint. OF New-York.
Lea -, # Deyo of Bnghamton. were present.
ana -.oc,,,,on was represented by Frederic r.
inc - ard ex-Judge +. r. Gilbert; opposed were
COu .N II wins of NewYork. and John b. Stanch-
fed. OF EIihra' g ,os,,r,orv was bseun Messrs
pa opd Flint OF the commission. VINO arrived
70. osked for an opportunity to inspect the inst-
MS" rbev were shown through by Assemblyman
'a' Sneaker Robert p Bush. who Is acting gu
any ..ondent al present. They were joined by MT
p '..a before the inspection was finished Superih-
pe'o Rrockway was present at the hearing as
'' also Messrs. Arnot. Peters. Wey, swartwoou
w" pa,hbone Of tie Board of Managers
az =. uas Ills when the inspection was nnisnea anu
u ,,ss,on opened the hearing. Oscar Hoppe, a
INC - ,rmate OF the Refornatory and at present
~. clerk OF the institution. was the nrst WITNESS
eh. So, the prosecution. He said the records OF
cav. ,,,,,ion consist of biographical record MADE
= ,ha time the inmates are admitted; conuuo'
Va snov,ng the performance Of each inmate
lsvo'N' 80, a task record. and several smaller
scn rho record OF offences committed and pun
e ''N inflicted Is included in the conduct record.
,,ness said he had made lists OF the deaths'
Inc an,s transfers for insanity. and similar rec
,r the state Board Of Charities. but had Kept
no COPY OF those hs'S. - ,., -,
W " Indga Gilbert asked the witness number OF
EA 49, drawing out a statement that no separate
go ~ this nature kept at the institution so
~. tho MANAGERS can see at any time now many
" .-a nunished daily or confined IN the soh'ary
nv ~ IN irons The witt oss described the sohtarE
CO. - hs,ng three-cornered iron cells IN the south
," He said there were eight OF Them ana mat
s"e 80 constructed IN 1887 Each cell has grated
he
Nv" y, q bandcuff attached to one wrist In
". arc never confined in solitaries or rSs'-cure
~ tho witness said until ordered by the superlh-
-, and record of confinement Is always kept
w.. aitness said there are about fifty guards ana
ar. and In addition about $50 inmates IN the
Am,,.rv organization. part OF whom are paroeu
M''- IA some &C, as monitors They are expected
a nv. the regular keepers in case OF necessity.
nv. witness described the grades or inmates anu
~, causes fol- reduction in grades ana advancement
y ~ highest grade zach grade wearing oistihc-
tive uniform ,, .A,,.oa corslde-
-" ,,orost in the details of the treatment or In
Av. .rd repeatedly interrupted the examination
-. .o,nss, 70 ask questions themselves. They
- closely about punshments when an Inmate
oor,ed nv A monitor. and drew out the iac'
49,, ,hs denial Of a report led to an addluohai
-, tor living I'm case the first report was sus-
.s,r.s and the latter report might lead to padding
- casa the first offence was a serious one
,r.nscrnt Of the records Of punishment which
=. MADE for the former investigation committee
~. shoun N Mr. Hoppe This contained the names
..n,.,a. IN one column dates OF notices TO them
- ~. s,ner,ntendent In another. admontions by
,ha sunerintendent in a third, and the last column
uas marked No T. and one OF the letters Oh the
anhabet was set down opposite each name. i"e
witness explained that No meant physical treat
mept or padding and that A meant one Dlo"'
two blows and 50 on down the alphabet
Judge Learned asked why the record did not state
IN 50 many words that the man was hogged.
Mr. Hoppe answered II Go not know
rr Flint asked: Was II to concea. the hogg'ngF
Witness answered: II believe II was not done u
conceal the matter as every officer about the pace
knew OF It, 1t was done. think, for the protection
of the prisoner 50 that any one interested IN MN
who might see the records would not Kno" una -"
had been logged unless It explained 70 thei''
The witness said that the entries we're made on
the record from memoranda furnished by Superh-
tendent Brockway and that No. was the room
in which punshments were first inflicted The term
had been retained after the bathroom was USED
At the request OF the prosecution the paddle was
Produced 1t is a black leather strap. attached to
q wooden handle. The strap was measured by Dr
Flint and found 10 be q inches long, inches wide
and SIG Of an inch thick. The handle was hicKory'
and IA inches long The weight OF the Instrument
vas found TO be sixteen ounces when dry anu
eighteen and one-half ounces when dipped In water
done before It was used second
paddle with a broken handle. which had been useu
q number Of years ago. also shown 70 tne
commission A pair OF handouts, used 10 fasteh
men in the solitary cells. was shown . ,r
the refractory inmates out Of cells was shown ~
the commission and considered IN eViueh0e
The second witness DR.. ". {. Wey. a member
q the Board OF Managers since 1873 was QnesionT T
IN relnsiating Mr. Brockway while the former in
yestlgation was being held and In regard TO tne
charges made by the State Board Of Charities.
After recess the prosecution called 10 the WI WI,
Managers. Each admitted signing the memorial
70 the Governor without reading al OF me tes.i-
Ing committee at Auburn. Albany, Dannemora ana
New-York City. This memorial declared the nfsi
% msaaSers 10 a Be adme Savns aa su
perInienden Brockway while the investigation was
ksn 8Re the sn sSSh E were shed
ana ihsy declared that the ony purpose Hernr
Flowers request 10 afford witnesses fun op-
R0Itunity TO testify at the ReformaoTy the resS-
hS, and the one restoring him in February 1884,
WITH undated confidence In his aisci hprnn1bt
oat mat during his suspension Mr. Brockway con.
ssa 70 RESIDE a; the % anq tha ,bem
ana ana directed as 70 their assignments to the IN
James B. Rathbone who was acting snperintend.
eng at that time, testified that Mr. Brockways
Lad nothing TO 20 With III the discipline Of %
the operation Of the departments Of the institu-
Ton. Mr.. Rathbone explained the situation by
saying that In his opinion Mr.. Brockway was sui
ne general superin tendent. though relieved from
duty temporarily
The testimony OF w. II. Peters another of the
managers Sns,gse was similar He caused ereeze by
Investigation: 81 saw and heard enough to con-
vince me that the report was procured
MI Coudert moved strike out the remark.
M: stanchheld. OF the defence objected and said:
We stand on that" Mr. WINS remarked: And
we VIII prove II before get through.
.,Jucge Learned struck out the offensive words on
ne ground that II was not a responsive answer to
me question asked
Matthias H. Arnot and benjamin Swartwood
syssstined 10 signing the memorial to Governor
ROVER, and 10 renstatlng Superintendent Brock
ssy They gave detailed descriptions Of the Methods
~, tne board when 1t sat a court TO parole or
ihsaease Inmates. DR.. Wey, the president OF the
yard was recalled He said that In ninety-eight
sases out Of 100 the recommendation OF the super
.ss.endent resulted in parole and that In order 10
oScssih final release the prisoner was obliged TO
.SS.ain the confidence OF the superintendent. He
rclMi,fed that this power in the hands or an In
roper man would be a dangerous thing. but said II