New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-12
AN ELAIRA INVESTIGATION BEGINH'
THE COMMITTEE PRESIDED OVER BY Ex-JuDGE

TIVE COMMITTEE PRESIDED OVER BY EX-JuDGE
LEARNED BEGINS ITS LABoHs
E,lro,ra \ Y. May IL -Governor Flowers new in
yestigating committee charged with hndihS out the
real facts in the management OF the Helorh"'oiF
and the alleged inhuman treatment OF inmates py
Superintendent Brockway and the misconduct Oh
the local Board of Managers met at the institution
q, II a m to-day Opening arguments OF counsel
as to the line Of evidence TO be INTRODUCED were
heard and all was going smoothly when an inter-
ruption occurred owing to refusal oil the Objects
of the institution 20 permit newspaper correspond
ents TO accompany the committee and counsel on
tour Of the establishment, which was on Inc pro-
gramme. The committee. finding that counse4 couil
not agree as to who should be admitted, announcer
that II would not through the institution llSe'l'
thus ending the controversy in rather a dfaih3'Ic
manner and winding up the present sitting cary IN
the afternoon.
Ex-Judge William T. Learned. Of Albany. the chair-
man OF the committee and Dr. Austin Fllnt oil
New-York. were present. Ex-Assemblyman Israel
r. Deyo OF Binghamton the third member OF the
committee was absent owing to the death OF ie!a-
tive The original charges were investigated by the
State Charities Commissioners. Their report was
made to the State Legislature and the charges We're
declared be fully sustained. The Legislature took
no definite action In the matter. on representations
of The Board Of Managers that the investigation
was not a fair one Governor Flower then sent a
bill to the Legislature which, If passed would have
given him power TO remove Superintendent Brock.
way The bill was not passed. Charges were then
made against The Board of Managers, OF the insutu
ton, and the Governor was asked 10 remove tht
members of the board. The board denied the truth
of the charges. and the present committee was Ap-
pointed to take testimony and report 10 the Gov
ernor. The members of the local board who are re-
qured TO prove their innocence are Matthias II.
Peters, a coal merchant James Il. Rathbone con-
nected with iron rolling mills, and Benjamin Swart-
wood, ex-postmaster of Cayuta. All of the man
ayers and Superintendent Brockway were present
to-day.
The prosecution represented by Frederic 4.
Coudert of New York, and eX-Judge Francis r. Gil
bert who acted judge-advOcate in the former IN
vestigaton. The defendants had counsel William
NJ. WINS Of New-YOrk and John b. Stanchn, a.. OF
this place. Mr.. Coudert said that he and Judge
Gilbert appeared for the compainants and for the
people.
Judge Learned said that he In doubt as u
the right OF counsel y appear 70. the people. the
Attorney Generals office may decide to appear later.
After much discussion ii decided that the
complainantS entitled to read the report Of
the Commissioners OF Charities. and Frederic X.
Coudert, 1r., proceeded read the report giving a
synopsis of the testimony at the former hearing ana
the findings of the committee cOndcmning Supcrn.
1endent Brockway. The reading Of the reply OF the
Board of Managers TO the charges contained In the
petition to the Governor waived. and il de-
cided that the taking OF testimony or witnesses
the prosecution shall begin May 80 the institution
tory have power order the return Of inmates who
have been transferred to Auburn and Dannemora
prisons In order that their testimony may be taken
here. When the committee started 10 20 through
the building the break in the programme noted above
occurred,